### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/1 "2006-01-06T21:31:34Z")
You’ve seen them. God, you’ve seen them. The trite situations that ad agencies can’t seem to get away from. Not just a single advertiser, but all across the board.
For instance:
Husband (eating/drinking/using “Blammo”). “I really love Blammo.”
Wife: “That’s not Blammo you’re \.”
Husband (horrified): “It’s not?”
Wife: “No. It’s new _improved_ Blammo!”
Or
Car drives at excessive speed over winding road (or up a hill on on a city street). It’s the only car on the road. The fine print says “Professional driver on a closed course.”
What are your choices?
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### Author:  [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/2 "2006-01-06T21:51:29Z")
The faux-Film-Noir hardboiled detective bit, especially when used to advertise something like cold medicine, makes me grind my teeth.
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### Author:  [@Giant\_Spongess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giant_Spongess)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/3 "2006-01-06T22:00:39Z")
Kid/dog makes a mess. Mother runs in, gasps, and pulls a giant grin out of her ass because now she can use her new, improved HandiMop!
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### Author:  [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/4 "2006-01-06T22:02:57Z")
A guy tries to do something around the house and is completely clueless as to how to, say, wash dishes, mop the floor, dial a telephone…
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### Author:  [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/5 "2006-01-06T22:08:03Z")
Any commercial involving a car. “Sales event going on now at your local X dealer!” You don’t say.
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### Author:  [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/6 "2006-01-06T22:22:25Z")
Everyone who needs to clean the kitchen has not just any little kitchen nook; no, they have a kitchen large enough to house a small family of elephants.
Or those ads that say, “Do you have a problem with soap scum?” And show the scummiest, most impossible soap scum mess in the world. I understand what they’re trying to say, but when you ask me that question, and show me that picture, I’m going to say, “Honestly? I’ve never had _that_ much of a problem with soap scum in my life. And if my shower looked that bad, I’m going to need more than bottle of SCUM-B-GON! to help me.”
I suppose the first problem I should address is why I speak back to my television set. But it _did_ ask.
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### Author:  [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2006, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/7 "2006-01-06T23:23:58Z")
> [@Giant\_Spongess](#):
>
> Mother runs in, gasps, and \*\*pulls a giant grin out of her ass \*\*because now she can use her new, improved HandiMop!
You mean she cracks a smile? 😃
Ooh, ow, OUCH!! Stop hitting me!
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/8 "2006-01-06T23:42:13Z")
Lists comprising phrases beginning with the word “FACT:…” (usually at least a few of the items on the list are not facts at all, but opinions.
And ‘Simply the best!’ this seems to be a common little phrase that small businesses will paint on their vans below the logo; their company name will inevitably consist of two or three initials (probably those of the owner) and a word describing their trade, i.e.: “JPB Plumbing - Simply The Best!” or “PHG kitchens - Simply The Best!”. Every time I see this (which is a fair bit) I can’t help imagining that the guy who owns the company was just totally wowed by Tina Turner one day and thought to himself that it would be incredibly original to use ‘Simply The Best’ as the company catchphrase - yeah, I mean, who else would think of it?.
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### Author:  [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/9 "2006-01-06T23:53:15Z")
Blobs got that SMILE again 😃 …
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### Author:  [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/10 "2006-01-07T00:22:30Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#):
>
> A guy tries to do something around the house and is completely clueless as to how to, say, wash dishes, mop the floor, dial a telephone…
Or just about anything. Clueless guy; always makes the wrong choice until his woman, infinitely smarter of course, steps in with an exasperated look (which turns into wry, knowing smile) and _saves the day_! by using brand A rather than brand B. Because, you know, only an idiot (or a guy; same difference) would use brand B.
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### Author:  [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/11 "2006-01-07T00:30:03Z")
Any ad with an animal talking or singing. It’s just _wrong_.
Also, pretty much any car ad. They seem to suggest that their car will cause all other cars on the road to disappear, that you will become a talented stunt driver, that your coffee will never spill, and that your family will be blissfully happy just for the privilege of riding in it. Also, you will be able to fit anything, ANYTHING into the trunk. If you’re old, it will make you younger, if you are young, it will make you seem more dignified. If you’re a girl, it will make you drive like a man and if you’re a man, it will get you laid. I have yet to see any car do any of these things.
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### Author:  [@Thirty-Nine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thirty-Nine)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/12 "2006-01-07T01:36:06Z")
A man mistaking a woman’s enthusiasm for the advertised food product (which either he or she is eating) for sexual advances.
Not the most overused, but I’ve seen it enough times to be irritated.
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### Author:  [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/13 "2006-01-07T01:46:31Z")
If I get a dime every a product uses this cliche…
- Enters a girl with bad hair problem/bad acne problem/bad skin problem/bad-whatever-the-hell
- Shows the girl in a very embrassassing moment because of the forementioned problem. (“I don’t dare to go near the cute guy because of my split and horrid hair!”)
- Optional: Has the girl says, “Due to my split hair/ugly face/ugly black mole on the centre of my forehead/my unpredictable period which doesn’t stick to any schedule/whatever else that is bothering me, I don’t have _any confidence in anything that I do! Waa…_”
- Shows up a friend/mother/lab assistant/random stranger from the street who passes the **Miracle Cure-All Product** to the girl
- Girl uses the **Miracle Cure-All Product**
- Astonishing shot of the girl going from an ugly ducking to a strutting peacock.
- Girl and cute guy gets together.
- “ **Miracle Cure-All Product** has restored my self-esteem and confidence, guaranteeing many years of prosperity, success at work and tonnes of friends! I will live happily ever after!”
Bleh.
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### Author:  [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/14 "2006-01-07T02:07:58Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#):
>
> Blobs got that SMILE again 😃 …
blob got some “Male enhancement”…spare the F@ck outta me…these make me waanna …nevermind… :smack:
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### Author:  [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/15 "2006-01-07T15:57:39Z")
This reminded me of 2 specific advertising campaigns that I absolutely hate:
- Commercials for tampons where the two women are talking and one says, “Do you ever have one of those days when you’re feeling… **not so fresh**?”
- The Herbal Essesence commercials where the woman is so totally getting off while shampooing her hair, then they end with the tag line, “A totally organic experience”. What’s worse is that this commercial has shown up in the middle of children’s programming.
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### Author:  [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/16 "2006-01-07T16:05:23Z")
Person perfoming task the “old-fashioned” way–as graceful as a spastic moose on crack.
Person using efficient new “cool” gadget to perform same task–suddenly coordinated enough to ballet dance on a high wire during a hurricane.
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### Author:  [@PooterMommy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PooterMommy)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/17 "2006-01-07T16:46:56Z")
Car ads that use classic rock songs in them. Music (esp. the great rock songs from the 70’s) is sacred to me and once I associate the song with a car…total buzzkill.
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### Author:  [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/18 "2006-01-07T17:00:13Z")
Kids that know everything about computors at six years old.
Dads being utterly useless and having to be led around by the nose by six year old kids.
I boycott such products that portray men as being such useless ineffectual beings.
Dads who have stupid opinions until corrected by the wise all knowing wife, six year old etc.
Its really a wonder that men can actually feed themselves and hold down a job at all.
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### Author:  [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/19 "2006-01-07T17:09:59Z")
Nearly naked women in beer commercials (Not that I mind :D, but they are overused)
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-tiresome-cliches-in-advertising/338801/20 "2006-01-07T17:14:37Z")
Pretty. Stupid. Slogans.
Real. Dumb. Jokes.
Okay, it was funny maybe the first time you parsed out 3 words to tell me that your product is “pretty” AND “tough” AND it’s also “Pretty tough!” And guess what? It’s also a countertop! Pretty. Tough. Countertops! HAHAHAHA! That’s funny! If only you and a million other people didn’t do the same thing I’d be laughing my ass off!
(yes, I’ve been wanting to post this for some time.)
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