Cut to the crux
Posted: November 4, 2012 Filed under: ACTION | Tags: blended idioms, crux of the matter, cut to the chase, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 2 CommentsThis classic from the “Master” mixes “cut to the chase” (get to the point) and “crux of the matter” (important point), creating perhaps a better expression as it describes going directly to the important point of a story/problem/issue. The “Master” was indeed ahead of his time, coining this beauty in 1981. Interestingly, a google search of this phrase produced over 5,000 results, making it a commonly used malaphor.
I hit him right between the nose
Posted: November 3, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, on the nose, right between the eyes, words Leave a commentWonderful mash-up of “right between the eyes” and “on the nose”, both referring to exactitude. Facial features seem to be popular in malaphors….also expressions using animals.
It was nip and go
Posted: November 2, 2012 Filed under: ACTION | Tags: blended idioms, express plastic surgery, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, nip and tuck, touch and go, words Leave a commentThis is a wonderful blend of “nip and tuck” (close race) and “touch and go” (dangerous or uncertain). It evokes a race that is close and the outcome uncertain, perhaps like the current presidential race. Then again, it could be describing an express plastic surgery center. I can see it now: “Excess body fat removed in 5 minutes!! Visit your neighborhood Nip and Go Center TODAY!”
Do the science
Posted: November 1, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, do the math, expressions, howard stern, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentMalaphor follower Mike K. heard this one on the Howard Stern show a few days ago. A 9/11 conspiracist, taking about the unlikelihood of the “third tower” collapsing at 5pm on 9/11, said “Do the science…” This is probably a mix up of “do the math” (figure it out) and “down to a science” (exactly), but then the caller might be just mixing up his school courses.
Right out of the bat
Posted: October 27, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: baseball, blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, off the bat, out of the box, words 2 CommentsThis is a mixture of “right out of the box” and “right off the bat”, both baseball metaphors and both meaning “first thing.” Thanks to John C. for passing this one along!
They blew it out of the park
Posted: October 27, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, hit one out of the park, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 2 CommentsHeard on HGTV’s Kitchen Cousins by faithful follower Yvonne: “they blew it out of the park” for an excellent new kitchen. This is a mash up of “hit it out of the park” and “blew it out of the water” (both meaning outstanding achievement). Wow, what a kitchen!
This is a delicate balance that Facebook has to juggle
Posted: October 23, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, delicate balance, expressions, facebook, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis was heard on Good Morning America last week. Not sure this is a true malaphor as it seems to be combining two complete idioms but not mixing them, but it was too good to pass up. Thanks to Barry for sending this one to me.
I didn’t want to throw a wet towel on it
Posted: October 18, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, throw in the towel, wet blanket, words Leave a commentThis is a mash up of “I don’t want to be a wet blanket” (a downer or a party pooper) and “throw in the towel” (resign or give up). In context, the speaker wanted to stop the activity (walking) but didn’t want to ruin the fun for others so kept walking. The malaphor cleverly combines the two thoughts. (heard at the Australia Zoo – Beerwah, Queensland).
If you can’t beat ’em, lick ’em
Posted: October 11, 2012 Filed under: ACTION | Tags: beat, blended idioms, expressions, lick, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentHeard this one down under from my nephew, Erik. Not sure if it is an Aussie malaphor, but it shows malaphors are a world wide sensation.
that’s a hard row to climb
Posted: September 25, 2012 Filed under: ACTION | Tags: blended idoms, challenge, expressions, hard row to hoe, malaphors, mixed idioms, uphill climb, words Leave a commentI think this is a mash up of “hard row to hoe” and “it’s an uphill climb”, both meaning a difficult situation to deal with. The speaker may also have been thinking “road” instead of “row” and perhaps meant to say a “hard road ahead” or a “rocky road”, again meaning a challenging situation. Farmers sometimes do terrace farming on hill sides, so the speaker may have been thinking rows to hoe uphill. Who knows what lurks in the mind of the malaphor speaker?
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