And I’ve only jumped through the first one of these hurdles
Posted: April 25, 2014 Filed under: ACTION, hoops, hurdles, jump, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, Bradley manning, Chelsea Manning, clear a hurdle, expressions, humor, jump through hoops, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis malaphor is similar to my posting of August 5, 2013 but bears repeating. This is a wonderful mix of “jump through hoops” (do everything possible to please or obey someone) and “clear a hurdle” (overcome an obstacle). The confusion lies with hoops and hurdles, things you jump through and jump over. It was spoken by Chelsea Manning (formerly Bradley Manning) on announcing her name change. Here is the context:
“Unfortunately, the trans* community faces three major obstacles to living a normal life in America: identity documentation, gender segregated institutions, and access to healthcare. And I’ve only just jumped through the first one of these hurdles.”
http://www.chelseamanning.org/featured/chelsea-mannings-statement-on-her-legal-name-change
Many thanks to Guy Patterson for spotting this malaphor!
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