We know them. We laugh at them. And we hope that we don’t accidentally weave them into our work.
I created this because I wanted my own running list of ‘wait-haven’t-I-heard-that-somewhere-before’-isms. Some of these cliches come from memory; many are sourced from the internet (h/t to /screenwriting on Reddit, Scott Myers’s fantastic blog, and others).
Feel free to add more in the comments.
Dialogue Clichés
- _____ is my middle name.
- Aha! I knew it!
- Are you sitting down?
- Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
- As many of you know/As you know…
- Awkward!
- Aww, shieet/Aw, hell nah!
- Breathe, dammit!
- Check, please.
- Cover me. I’m going in.
- Did I just say that out loud?
- Don’t even go there.
- Don’t just stand there. Do something!
- Don’t you die on me!
- Follow that car.
- Forget everything you think you know.
- Get outta there!
- How hard can it be?
- I’d like that. (After person is asked out on a date)
- I’m getting too old for this.
- I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
- I bet you’re probably wondering how I got here.
- I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.
- I didn’t sign up for this.
- I got this. I got this. I don’t got this.
- I have a bad feeling about this.
- I think you should come take a look at this.
- I was born ready.
- I wouldn’t do that if I were you.
- If I’m not back in x minutes…
- If we’re going to get through this, you’re going to have to trust me.
- If you (even) touch one hair on his/her head.
- (after hearing something scientific) In English, please?
- Is that all you got?/I’m just getting started/warmed up.
- Is that clear?/Crystal.
- It’s called……. You should try it sometime.
- It’s/She’s gonna blow…!
- It’s not what it looks like.
- It’s not you. It’s me.
- It’s quiet. Too quiet.
- It’s settled then.
- Leave it. He/she/they’re not worth it.
- Let’s get out of here.
- Let’s go! (This place is giving me the creeps.)
- Let me get this straight.
- Let me guess…
- Listen/No, you listen.
- Lock and load!
- Looking good (said into mirror)
- Not on my watch.
- Not so fast!
- Note to self.
- Now that’s what I’m talking about.
- Now…where were we?
- Oh yeah? You and whose army?
- …Or die trying.
- S/he’s standing right behind me, isn’t s/he?
- Shut up and kiss me!
- So, we meet again.
- Stay here/No way, I’m coming with you.
- Tell my wife and kids that I love them.
- That’s gonna leave a mark!
- That’s it! You’re off the case!
- That’s what I’m talking about.
- That went well.
- There’s a storm coming.
- There’s only one way to find out.
- There’s something you need to see.
- This ends now/tonight.
- This is not happening. This is not happening.
- Try me.
- Wait! I can explain! This isn’t what it looks like!
- Wait a minute. Are you saying…?
- Watch me.
- We’ll never make it in time!
- We’re not so different, you and I.
- We’ve got company.
- We’ve got to stop meeting like this.
- We could do this the easy way or the hard way.
- Well, well, well…what do we have here?
- What are you doing here?/I was about to ask you the same thing.
- What have we got to lose?
- What is this place?
- What’s the worst that could happen?
- What just happened?
- What part of _____ don’t you understand?
- What seems to be the problem, Officer?
- Whatever you do, don’t look down!
- Who are you? Why are you doing this?
- You ain’t seen nothing yet!
- You can have anything you want. Just let her go!
- You don’t wanna know.
- You got the wrong guy/girl, mister.
- You’re acting like a crazy person!
- You gotta do what you gotta do.
- You say that like it’s a bad thing.
- You (still/just) don’t get it, do you?
- You’ll never get away with this!
- You’re going to get us/all both killed!