What Makes a Cliche?

Some cliches are obvious - they hit you like a bolt of lightning.  Other phrases or images seem more original…until you come across them in two totally different books that you happen to be reading at the same time (which, of course, just happened to me this weekend).

Is there any way to avoid this? 

Assuming that plagiarism is not a factor, there’s no way that you can be sure that nobody else has used your beautiful phrase.  Unless you’ve come up with something harvested from the depths of your own twisted imagination.  But even then, you run the risk that your phrase/description/metaphor won’t work for anyone who doesn’t share your twisted imagination.

I know some people who are masters of metaphor, but for many others, I feel like less is more.  You’re better off using simple, direct language, especially at the peak of an important scene, rather than attempting flowery language that ends up as dead as my garden in November.  The right words can enhance a scene, but dried up plants and weeds are really just a distraction from what’s important.