2019 Malaphor of the Year – Number 3

This one submitted just a few weeks ago struck me as a perfectly formed malaphor and so it comes in at number 3 this year.

He’s on a thin leash

This beauty was uttered by someone who was asked if he thought the Cowboys’ football coach, Jason Garrett, would be fired soon.  It is a mashup of “on thin ice” (close to being in trouble) and “on a tight leash” (strict control over someone).  The words “thin” and “tight” are close in sound and meaning.  A big thanks to John Kooser who heard this one and passed it on!