Sweating at the seams
Posted: April 17, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Adam Mockler, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Trump, words 1 CommentIn this YouTube video, commentator Adam Mockler is describing a Republican congressman who went on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopolous. Mockler describes the guy as nervous, and “sweating at the seams”. The malaphor appears around 38 seconds into the video:
This is a conflation of “sweating like a pig” (sweat profusely) and “bursting at the seams” (very full to overflowing). If perspiration appeared on his jacket or shirt, perhaps this isn’t a malaphor after all. A big thank you once again to Mike Kovacs for spotting this one and sending it in.
Illegal orders leave thousands of soldiers hanging in the lurch
Posted: April 15, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, malaphors, mixed idioms, Trump, words 1 CommentThis one was heard on the podcast, The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell. Lt. General Mark Hertling was talking about Trump’s statement of ending a civilization (genocide) and bombing civilian targets. The malaphor is heard around 40:50:
This is a congruent conflation of “left in the lurch” and “hanging/twisting in the wind”, both meaning to be left without assistance in a difficult situation. A big thanks to Frank King for spotting this one.
How it all shaped out
Posted: April 13, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentSeen on X, this is a mashup of “all shook out” (or sorted out) and “all shaped up” (developed in a particular way). Here is the post:
Kudos to Bruce Ryan for spotting this one and sending it in.
All the cards are in the air
Posted: April 10, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, Heather Cox Richardson, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Trump, words 1 CommentIn a Heather Cox Richardson YouTube video entitled “America’s Reputation and Recent Administration Firings”, Ms. Richardson discusses the many issues the Trump administation has created and is facing and says “all the cards are in the air”. You can hear this at approx 11:28 of the video:
This is a conflation of “keep balls in the air” (deal with many different things at the same time) and “put one’s cards on the table” (be completely honest about one’s intentions). “Up in the air” (unresolved) is probably also in the mix given the context. A big shout out to Mike Kovacs for spotting this one and sending it in!
You should plant a breadcrumb
Posted: April 8, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 1 CommentThis was overheard at work. One employee was suggesting that another give the supervisor an idea. This is a mashup of “plant a seed” (to lay the groundwork for something that can develop in the future) and “a trail of breadcrumbs” (a series of connected pieces of information or evidence). A big thank you to Jack for sending this one into the website.
I’m back to the grindstone
Posted: April 6, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, Gold Rush, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 1 CommentOn the television series, Gold Rush, a gold miner wasn’t having success capturing gold and made some changes to his wash plant. His quote was “I’m back to the grindstone”. This is a mashup of “back to the drawing board” (back to the beginning of a process to start it again) and “nose to the grindstone” (work hard and constantly). Mike Ameel heard this one, as well as another grindstone malaphor posted last year: “He keeps his head to the grindstone”. https://malaphors.com/2025/06/16/he-just-keeps-his-head-to-the-grindstone/ That one was a contender for Malaphor of the Year. Mike’s double play on “grindstone” is very much appreciated here at Malaphor Central. Thanks Mike! Mike also mentioned that the Gold Rush malaphor is the name of a Ronnie Milsap song released in 1991 – “Back to the Grindstone”. Who knew?
Crazy as a fox
Posted: April 3, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: All In With Chris Hayes, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Trump, words 1 CommentThis one is subtle, but nevertheless a good malaphor. Heard on the podcast, All In with Chris Hayes, Miles Keller says this at approx 12:45 in the podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-in-with-chris-hayes/id1314170606?i=1000754959229
This is a mashup of “crazy like a fox” (someone who acts foolish but is actually very clever) and “crazy as a loon/bedbug” (someone who is completely mad). Keller was describing Trump and his so-called strategies overseas. He meant the latter. A big thanks to Frank King for hearing this one and sending it in!
Our wishes have been answered
Posted: March 30, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, Josh Getzoff, language, malaphors, Pittsburgh Penguins, words 1 CommentDuring a Pittsburgh Penguins pre-game show, Josh Getzoff uttered this nice congruent conflation of “our prayers have been answered” and “our wishes have been granted”, both phrases confirming that a request has been fulfilled. Props to Steve Kovacs for hearing this subtle malaphor and sending it in!
We built too big of a hole
Posted: March 27, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Darian Devries, expressions, humor, IU basketball, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis is an incongruent conflation (mix of two idioms with opposite meanings) of “built too big of a lead” and “dug too big of a hole”. You don’t build a hole. A big thanks to Bruce Ryan for spotting this one.
It’s no walk in the roses
Posted: March 23, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, People's Pharmacy, words 1 CommentThis one was heard on “The People’s Pharmacy” podcast, show 1461. Occurs around the 12:40 mark. Here is the excerpt:
This is a congruent conflation of “no bed of roses” and “no walk in the park”, both referring to something that is not easy to accomplish. I suppose that is true unless you have been honored to walk in the Rose Parade, right? Kudos to Yvonne Stam for hearing this one and sending it in.
Malaphors 
Recent Comments