Cliche. A form of expression or are they?

Question

what do you think of cliches?

Answer 1

not much

Answer 2

Depends...a lot of people mistake old adages for a cliche'.  "There's no place like home." is not a real cliche'.  But when you say...flat as a pancake-you just may very well want that person to understand the largeness of the statement.  I could say... "You have a flat tire." or I can say, "Your tire is as flat as a pancake."  To some people, a flat tire means it needs some air, and is otherwise alright.