He’s sharp as a whip

Posted: March 11, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This malaphor was heard on “Hardball” with Chris Matthews.  Political pundit Charles Cook was describing former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards, now elderly, whom he saw recently.  This is a congruent conflation of “smart as a whip” and “sharp as a tack”, both meaning to be very intelligent.  Both idioms contain the same number of words, and “sharp” and “smart” have similar sounds.  I can see where these metaphor can be easily mixed.  A big shout out to “my ol’ pal” Beatrice Zablocki for hearing this one and passing it on!

 

This lets them fire on both barrels

Posted: March 10, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

This is a nice subtle malaphor, conflating “with both barrels” (with as much energy as possible) and “fire on all cylinders” (to function as efficient as possible).  Both idioms are similar in meaning, and both involve combustion. “Both” and “all” might also be contributing to the confusion.  In context, the writer was discussing certain marketers that produce content efficiently but also are audience-focused.  Hence “this lets them fire on both barrels: quantity and quality.”  A big thanks to Marcia Riefer Johnston for sending this one in!  You can boost your writing skills by visiting her wonderful website at http://writing.rocks.

He’s not the sharpest light bulb in the pack

Posted: March 4, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What’s with light bulbs and tools being confused?  A familiar mash up, this time the congruent conflation is “not the sharpest tool in the shed” and “not the brightest light bulb in the pack”, both describing someone who is not very intelligent.  The various sayings describing a dimwit are similar sounding and involve something in a unit or package that is unique, hence the confusion.   I have posted other variations on this theme – see https://malaphors.com/2015/12/07/youre-not-the-brightest-toolbox-in-the-shed/ and https://malaphors.com/2013/06/24/not-the-brightest-tool-in-the-shed/.

I call the above “idiom overload” when there are just too many sayings swirling around in the head that have the same meaning.  Another example of idiom overload is describing the obvious: “is the Pope Catholic?”. “Does a bear shit in the woods?” etc.  These get mixed up regularly.  A big thanks to Gary Kelly for hearing this one and passing it on!

 

 

 

We don’t want to get caught with our pants off

Posted: March 1, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Marykathryn strikes again!  In preparing for a trial, she and her husband were discussing strategy and who was going to do what. She told him they had better really study the transcript from the Deposition and be prepared to catch the witness in any lies. He agreed. She then uttered, “Well after all, we do not want to get caught with our pants off.”  This is a great congruent conflation of “caught off guard” and “caught with our pants down”, both meaning to be taken by surprise.  This is an amusing mash up, for many reasons.  First, it uses the word “off” in the wrong place.  Adding to the confusion is the word “caught” found in both phrases.  “Pants off” and “pants down” achieve the same purpose, so I can see why the speaker mixed up her idioms.   Another shout out to Marykathryn Kopec for providing a great malaphor!

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