I don’t want to step on your parade

During a garden club Zoom meeting, one of the board members said at one point, “I don’t want to step on your parade.” This is a mashup of “step on your toes” (offend someone by encroaching on their responsibility) and “rain on your parade” (spoil someone’s plans). Both idioms describe upsetting someone, leading to the mental mixup. And of course one takes a lot of steps in a parade. Many thanks to Barry Eigen who heard this one and sent it in.

Did you enjoy this malaphor? If so, try one of my books, He Smokes Like a Fish and Other Malaphors, and Things Are Not Rosy-Dory: Malaphors From Politicians and Pundits. Both are on Amazon and cheap. They are real page burners and you’ll want to read them from front to cover! https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205