Cliché: look what the cat dragged in

Meaning: Surprised (sometimes feigned) reaction to a mess or uncomfortable situation either brought in or caused by someone. (example)


Rewrite 1: Look what the dog dumped on our doorstep
Rewrite 2: Look what Poppa brought home
Rewrite 3: Look what the birds dropped on the window
Rewrite 4: Look what scurried under the door


Comment: Often considered simply an idiom instead of a cliché, but it's still overused and could be rewritten.


Check out the searchable alphabetical list of my cliché rewrites with my archived list.