I’m not going out of my day to pull stuff up for you guys

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

This one was seen on X, formerly known as Twitter. It’s a congruent conflation of “not going out of my way” and “not taking time out of my day”, both meaning to not make a special effort to do something. A big thank you to Kris for spotting this subtle one and sending it in.

People are having trouble keeping their nose above water

Posted: November 21, 2025 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This was heard on CNN’s Saturday Morning Table for Five with Abby Phillip. Scott Jennings was defending Trump as usual but also acknowledging high prices, and how people are having a hard time making ends meet. He then made the above statement. This is a mashup of “keeping (one’s) head above water” (able to just manage, usually referring to finances) and I think “keeping (one’s) nose clean” (stay out of trouble). The word “trouble” probably caused the mental hiccup, with Jennings reaching for “nose” instead of “head”. He may also have been visualizing a dog swimming with the nose extended out of the water. A big thanks to Kathy Meinhardt for hearing this one and sending it in!

Turned back the fountain of time

Posted: November 14, 2025 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This malaphor was uttered by Drew Mindell of the Illegal Curve Hockey Show at 29:25 of https://www.youtube.com/live/J_4e-wKHKWc?si=SxMlLjTYBThPGEW6&t=1764

It is a congruent conflation of “fountain of youth” and “turn back the hands of time/clock”, both meaning to restore one’s youth. A big thanks to Will for spotting this one and sending it in.

Healthy as a whistle

Posted: November 10, 2025 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

This one was overheard at a dentist’s office. It is a mashup of “clean as a whistle (completely, entirely, or very neat) and “healthy as a horse” (someone in excellent physical shape and very strong/energetic). This one is another in “whistle” malaphors. What is it with mixing idioms with the word “whistle”? Other posts include “sharp as a whistle”, “security is tight as a whistle”, and “all those hoops and whistles”. https://malaphors.com/2025/02/05/sharp-as-a-whistle/ https://malaphors.com/2022/03/14/security-is-tight-as-a-whistle/ https://malaphors.com/2023/05/01/i-have-to-jump-through-all-those-bells-and-whistles/

Kudos to Lou Pugliese for hearing this one and sending it in.

He will win on his Dad’s coat strings!

Posted: November 5, 2025 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This one was a Facebook post. The poster was responding to Corey O’Connor’s bid for mayor of Pittsburgh. He is the son of former mayor Bob O’Connor. This is a blend of “on the coattails of (someone)” (benefiting from someone else’s success as a means to achieve one’s own success) and “play/tug on (one’s) heartstrings” (elicit strong feelings of sympathy or fondness). The poster may have been not only thinking of the mayor connection but also of Bob’s untimely death because of cancer cutting short his term in office as mayor. A big thanks to Dan Simon for spotting this one in the Facebook comments wild (by the way, Corey did win!).

Consumers tighten their wallets

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

Fox News anchor Kayleigh McEnany was discussing rising grocery prices, and noted that budget meal Hamburger Helper was making a comeback. She said, “one tried and true brand is making a big comeback as consumers tighten their wallets – Hamburger Helper.” This is an incongruent conflation (mix of two idioms with opposite meanings) of “tighten (one’s) belt” (live more frugally) and “lighten (one’s) wallet” (spend money, usually more than expected). The similarly sounding words “lighten” and “tighten” may have played a role in the mix up. Here’s the quote:

A big thank you to Frank King for spotting this one and sending it in!