cliché: lower the boom

Meaning:  Various: To punch out; to chastise or punish.

Example: After his cheeky remark, I lowered the boom, delivering my own one-two verbal punch.

Origins: Sailing (beam securing sails to masts, which when swung across the deck may hit someone or knock them overboard); also Theater (beam for staging that might fall or be lowered quickly to knock someone down).

(Definitions and origins.)

Rewrites:

• lower the beam
• let loose the boom
• exercise the boom
• give chase with the tackle
• unleash the scaffolding
• rock the rigging

Discussion: There are lots of ways to say "wrecking ball" with either sailing or thespian jargon, but you need to be careful not to be obscure. In the end, I deleted a couple that though they applied probably wouldn’t have been clear. 

cliché: all that glitters is not gold

Meaning: A proverb: All that appears expensive and genuine isn't so.

Example: That minted coin looks like a good deal, but all that glitters is not gold.

Origins: In various forms dates before the 12^th century, perhaps even before Aesop, but in modern usage dates back to Shakespeare’s The Merchants of Venice.

Meaning, origins, and example. More examples.

Rewrites:

• all that sparkles is not diamonds
• all that shines is not silver
• gold and brass glitter alike
• much glitter is as good as the gutter
• fool's gold fools many fools

Discussion: I tried to stay true to the precious metals and gems roots of the saying, but can you imagine a recasting of this proverb in terms of flashy brands and gadgets?