I fall asleep at the drop of a dime
Posted: June 26, 2014 Filed under: ACTION, CLOTHING, dime, hat, sleep, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, congruent conflation, drop of a hat, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, stop on a dime, words 6 CommentsThis wonderful congruent conflation is a mash up of “at the drop of a hat” and “stop on a dime”, both meaning an action done instantly. Drop and stop are four letter words that rhyme, adding to the befuddlement. This beauty was heard at a court hearing. Kudos to Sam Edelmann for sending this one into Malaphor central!
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I just saw a new one on an SSA retirement announcement. It said after more than 30 years with the agency he was “throwing in his hat.” I assume that is a mix of throwing in the towel and throwing his hat in the ring. MALAPHOR!!!!!
Debbie Rose
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Debbie,
Excellent one but I already posted this malaphor back in 2012. See July 19, 2012 entry.
I want to know, is there any specific situation or condition which differ the usage of both of the idioms. Please suggest if any.
Thanks,
Annabel
[…] dimed”, etc. Some previous posts include “I fall asleep at the drop of a dime” (https://malaphors.com/2014/06/26/i-fall-asleep-at-the-drop-of-a-dime/) and “you had to figure out what to do on a dime’s notice” […]
[…] and dimed”, etc. Some previous posts include “I fall asleep at the drop of a dime” (https://malaphors.com/2014/06/26/i-fall-asleep-at-the-drop-of-a-dime/) and “you had to figure out what to do on a dime’s notice” […]
I always thought that “at the drop of a dime” meant “immediately, without forthought” because it was a modern variant of “at the drop of a hat”; presumably because nowadays, people are happy to spend (“drop”) ten cents for something they want, e.g. “drop a dime” without thinking.
Once I learned of the Wild West origin of “at the drop of a hat” (as in, when someone would take off their hat just before starting a brawl), I assumed that the fact that modern people don’t often wear everyday hats anymore may have further influenced the dime variation.