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The Top Ten: Elegant variations

 

John Rentoul
Saturday 12 July 2014 23:00 BST
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Thinking inside the box: Consistently reliable methodology
Thinking inside the box: Consistently reliable methodology (Getty Images)

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I think it was Lloyd Bracey who started this game of inverting or altering clichés to make them fresh again (a cliché originally being a stencil). We started with a 'yes-brainer', which was his, and Will Brett's 'might-read', which is something between a must-read and a 'tl;dr': 'too long, didn't read'.

1. Near fetched Entirely plausible. Nominated by Adam Huntley.

2. Thinking inside the box Consistently reliable methodology. Again from Adam Huntley.

3. A shoo-out Suggested by Neal Baker.

4. Auto-incorrect. Courtesy of Guido Fawkes.

5. A foregone introduction From Andy Cowper.

6. If at first you don't succeed, try two more times so that your failure is statistically significant Sam Freedman.

7. Rare sense Also from Andy Cowper.

8. In empty flow That man Andy Cowper again.

9. That's a taken From Brian Spanner.

10. A flawed storm

Next week: MPs who are related to other MPs

Coming soon: Misfired idioms, such as 'a bit of a wet fish' or 'cheap at half the price'. Send your suggestions, and ideas for future Top 10s, to top10@independent.co.uk

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