I heard it on the gravy train
Posted: February 29, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentA sheepish malaphor follower, Max, sent this one in a few weeks ago. He said this one while talking to his girlfriend. While relaying something someone had said recently he said “I heard it on the gravy train”. This is a mash up of “on the gravy train” (to be in a position of making an excessive amount of money without expending much effort) and “heard it through the grapevine” (hearing news from someone who heard that news from someone else). Grape and gravy are similar sounding and could be the culprits for the mix. The old t.v. show “Soul Train” also comes to mind, where the great Motown song “Heard it Through the Grapevine” was played a lot. Thanks to Max for sending this one in!
She’s got a new project on the fire
Posted: February 26, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, irons in the fire, language, malaphor, malaphors, on the back burner, on the front burner, words Leave a commentIt didn’t carry any water with the Judge
Posted: February 22, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Adam Sandler, Aquarius, carry someone's water, carry weight with, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words 3 CommentsThis was heard on NPR’s Morning Edition. The reporter was describing the argument on the motion to dismiss the criminal charges in Pennsylvania by Bill Cosby’s lawyers as follows: “it didn’t carry any water with the judge.” This is a mashup of “carry weight with” (be influential) and “carry (someone’s) water” (do someone’s bidding or to be subservient to someone). The word carry is used in the same phrases contributing to the mix up. Weight and water both begin with W and have similar sounds. Also, the visual of a water carrier (Aquarius or Adam Sandler?) might have “sprung” up in the speaker’s mind. A big thanks to multiple malaphor contributor Yvonne Stam for hearing this one! She has ears like a hawk.
He bent over hoops for me
Posted: February 19, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bend over backwards, congruent conflation, humor, idioms, jump through hoops, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentNow that’s impressive! This ditty was overheard at a benefits hearing where the claimant was referring to someone who was assisting her. It is a congruent conflation of “jump through hoops” and “bend over backwards”, both meaning to do everything possible to please someone or accomplish something. Bending over hoops is probably the ultimate in pleasing someone. The mix up is caused, I think, by the action words bend and jump, and by the similar meanings of the phrases. A shout out to Sam Edelmann who heard this one and passed it along.
You hit the nail on the coffin
Posted: February 17, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: another nail in the coffin, expressions, final nail in the coffin, hit the nail on the head, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words 2 CommentsThis jumble involves the word nail and perhaps vampires? It is a mash up of “hit the nail on the head” (to get exactly right) and “the final nail in the coffin” (an event that ultimately leads to the failure of a situation or event that has already begun to fail). Also in the mix is probably “another nail in the coffin” (something that will harm or destroy someone – e.g., cigarette). Certainly the common word “nail” is the culprit here, but also the phrases conjure up the image of hitting a nail on something. For me, the image of the wooden stake (nail?) being driven in the heart of a vampire might be adding to the mix-up. A big thank you to Lou Holtzman, who heard this from a co-worker and immediately send it to Malaphor Central. That was the right thing to do, Lou; otherwise you would have forgotten it, as the best malaphors are fleeting thoughts.
It could be the turning factor in the game
Posted: February 13, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: deciding factor, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, turning point, words Leave a commentAnother gem from the sports world. This one was heard on the local Root sports network in Pittsburgh. During a University of Pittsburgh basketball game, the play by play announcer uttered this malaphor. It is a mash up of “turning point” (a point at which a change of course is possible) and “deciding factor” (that which influences the decision). I like this mixed idiom as it describes the “something” that turns a game around, as opposed to the point in time. A shout out to Kathy Yeskey Vose for hearing this one and sending it in!
I always like to give people the shadow of the doubt
Posted: February 10, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: benefit of the doubt, beyond a shadow of a doubt, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentAlbie, a malaphor follower, overheard one of his friends in conversation talking about someone who they thought was lying to them. He said “Now, I always like to give people the shadow of the doubt, but…” This is a mash up of “benefit of the doubt” (a judgment in one’s favor when neither the evidence is for or against one) and “without (or beyond) a shadow of a doubt” (without the smallest of doubt). Certainly the word “doubt” used in each phrase and as a noun contributed to the mix up. For me, giving the shadow of the doubt conjures up the Reagan expression, “trust but verify”. A big thank you to Albie for sending this one in!
She hit the goldpot
Posted: February 8, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, hit the jackpot, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, pot of gold, strike gold, words 1 CommentThis was overheard in a conversation recently. It is a nice congruent conflation of “struck gold” and “hit the jackpot”, both meaning to become rich. Perhaps a little leprechaun and his pot o’ gold were in the speaker’s mind as well. A big thanks to Katie Hatfield for sharing this one.
At least you’ve got a leg in the door
Posted: February 7, 2016 Filed under: BODY PARTS, foot, leg | Tags: expressions, foot in the door, humor, language, leg up, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentThis was spoken by Ian, a longtime malaphor follower. He said this to his wife regarding the use of acronyms at their respective jobs, and how she knows more of the lingo in his field (biological sciences) than he does of hers (clinical psychology) owing to her background. It is a nice mash up of “leg up” (an advantage) and “a foot in the door” (first step in a process). The anatomical mix up is evident, as it is in many malaphors. Thanks to Ian for sharing this one!
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