They don’t know their grain of salt

Posted: October 27, 2025 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

There was a discussion on Reddit about the hiring process of a research data specialist job and an exam to weed out those that don’t qualify. One reddit commenter posted: “It could also just be a test to weed out anyone who doesn’t know their grain of salt.” This is a triple mashup of “know their stuff” (have knowledge of a subject),” “worth their salt” (competent at the profession specified),” and “take it with a grain of salt” (be skeptical). A big thanks to Gabriel for spotting this one and sending it in!

Research Data Specialist I (RDS I) Written Exercise Expectations
byu/TiramisuL0v3r inCAStateWorkers

The Steelers have too many players that are over their hill

Posted: October 24, 2025 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Andrew Fillipponi on Pittsburgh sports talk radio 93.7 The Fan was talking about the Steelers defense and said there are too many players that are “over their hill”. This is a congruent conflation of “over the hill” and “past their prime”, both meaning to be too old. A shout out to John Kooser for hearing this subtle malaphor and sending it in.

The sports world is such a treasure trove of malaphors, that I have devoted my next malaphor book to them entitled “Backseat Quarterback”. It will be published soon so get ready to buy that perfect stocking stuffer!

Rome wasn’t built overnight

Posted: October 20, 2025 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

This was spoken by a Walgreens pharmacy clerk after she was informed the doctor’s office had authorized the refill. It was the third time in a week that this was attempted to be straightened out, and after saying “something’s gotta give” and she uttered the aforesaid. This is a mashup of “Rome wasn’t built in a day” (significant accomplishments take time and effort) and “it didn’t happen overnight” (develop slowly over time with hard work). A big thanks to Tom Justice for hearing this one and sending it in.

George Washingtonhouse

Posted: October 17, 2025 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment

On a tour of the Frick mansion (Clayton) in Pittsburgh, I overheard this single word blend from someone asking a question about George Westinghouse’s relationship with Frick. Instead of Westinghouse the person said Washingtonhouse, a blend of George Washington and George Westinghouse. I have posted a few word blends of people and places before. Favorites include Buckminster Palace, Wegners, Stormy McDaniels, and Strunk and Wagnalls. https://malaphors.com/2012/12/17/we-went-to-buckminster-palace/ https://malaphors.com/2022/08/17/wegners/ https://malaphors.com/2018/08/23/stormy-mcdaniels/ https://malaphors.com/2018/11/26/you-can-look-it-up-in-your-strunk-and-wagnalls/

Something they can dive their teeth into

Posted: October 4, 2025 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Magician, Comic, and Podcast host Matt Donnelly (Penn’s Sunday School) said this one on a recent episode when he was encouraging a guest to give more details on a story that he was telling. This is a congruent conflation of “dive in” and “sink (one’s) teeth into”, both meaning to undertake an endeavor energetically. A big shout out goes to Frozen Cusser for hearing this one and sending it in.

There’s a disturbance in the matrix

Posted: October 1, 2025 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This one was overheard in a conversation between a waitress and a customer. Perhaps one might overlook this jumbled phrase if one was not familiar with syfy, but our contributor, Dave Nemcsik recognized the malaphor. It is a mashup of “a disturbance in the Force” (said by Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: A New Hope) and “a glitch in the Matrix” (discussed in The Matrix). Kudos to Dave Nemcsik for hearing this one and sending it in!