A phrase deeply embedded in the linguistic culture of a society, such that it’s meaning is immediately apprehended by hearers or readers.

I personally love them, no matter what you call them. My mom, grandparents, aunts and uncles, all used a lot of that type language. But then I guess they aren’t so much cliche as a descriptions, like, “busier than a one armed paper hanger” “more nervous than a long tail cat in a room full of rockers” “so many you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting one” “you couldn’t find your butt with both hands tied behind your back”. We got a million of em down in the south, and especially in Texas.

The only time they bug me is when they are said to the grieving or the hurting. Sometimes tears and hugs are worth more than any words.