In our second Gelf Cliché Watch, we have compiled even more of the assorted random pop-culture references that journalists like to sprinkle on their prose. Here's one of our favorites, but there are plenty more after the jump.

Ballard's problem is that he's filling a niche that has been shrinking faster than Lindsay Lohan's waistline. He's a master of the cinematic endangered species known as "family film"—Chicago Tribune, August 5.
The astute Gelf reader will remember that the exact same phrasing about Miss Lohan was used in a Newsweek article about Blockbuster profiled in Gelf's first Cliché Watch. Gelf does not believe that there are proprietary rights to similes.

This illustrates the state of modern country music, where authenticity is shrinking faster than a newly washed pair of jeans—Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 7.

Taken as a whole, the Caribbean comment was a tiny sound bite from another lengthy diatribe on the inadequacies of a club sinking faster than Lou Seal floundering in McCovey Cove—Redding Record Searchlight, August 14.

The prices of such items as flat screen televisions, DVD players and digital cameras are falling faster than pitchers on the New York Yankees—Brockton Enterprise, August 13.

Piper Perabo's career clearly is falling quicker than her spelunker character Charlie in this abomination—McKeesport Daily News, August 26.

In the six years that I have been this newspaper's restaurant critic, I have seen prices at the top end rising faster than a pensioner on Viagra—The Guardian (UK), August 21.

The baseball card industry has been shrinking faster than the manly equipment on a steroid-fueled centerfielder—Forth Worth Weekly, August 24.

And down at the Jersey Shore, prices of second homes are rising faster than Enron stock in the 1990s—Philadelphia Inquirer, August 14.

With gas prices swelling faster than a dead fish on a hot afternoon, I wonder what the oil companies are doing with all those fat profits—Dallas Morning News, August 28.

No bull, the opportunity for old-fashioned elk hunters who value the freedom to buy a license at sporting-goods stores and choose their hunting destination at the last minute is shrinking like summer velvet peeling from the antlers they would covet—Rocky Mountain News, August 10.

Spot an interesting cliché, simile, or turn of phrase on television, in a magazine or newspaper, or on a news website or blog? E-mail Gelf with your find.

Email this entry to:

Your email address:

Message (optional):