The word "cloying" is an adjective that describes something that is too sweet, rich, or sentimental to the point that it becomes unpleasant. It often refers to tastes or smells, but it can also describe emotions or expressions that feel excessive or overly sweet.
In advanced contexts, "cloying" can describe overly sentimental or exaggerated expressions of love or affection. For example: - "His cloying compliments made me uncomfortable because they felt insincere."
While "cloying" primarily conveys the idea of something being excessively sweet or sentimental, it generally carries a negative connotation, implying that the sweetness is overwhelming or undesirable.
Some synonyms for "cloying" include: - Overly sweet - Saccharine - Sappy - Sentimental - Excessive
There aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "cloying," but you might encounter phrases like: - "Too much of a good thing," which speaks to the idea that even sweet or positive things can become overwhelming if experienced in excess.
To sum up, "cloying" is a word used to describe something that is excessively sweet or sentimental, often leading to discomfort or annoyance.