You’re preaching to the band
Posted: July 22, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: band, choir, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 2 CommentsThis is a strange malaphor, as the mix-up is not an obvious one – “preaching to the choir” and “jumping on the bandwagon” perhaps? I heard this on tv years ago. Maybe the advent of rock bands in new age churches replacing traditional choirs confused the speaker?
Put your shoulder to the grindstone
Posted: July 20, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS, THINGS | Tags: expressions, grindstone, malaphor, mixed idiom, shoulder, words 4 CommentsThe Master uttered this advice to a co-worker many years ago. A brilliant malaphor, it is a mix-up of “nose to the grindstone” and “put your shoulder to the wheel”. As a grindstone is a type of wheel, the confusion unfolded and another masterpiece was born.
Throw in the hat
Posted: July 19, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, CLOTHING | Tags: expressions, hat, malaphor, mixed idiom, words 1 CommentThis malaphor mixes two idioms with opposite meanings – “throw in the towel” and “hat in the ring”. When I heard it, the speaker intended to say”throw in the towel”. Maybe he didn’t really want to give up? Or maybe it was that second martini talking….
Get out of my hair!
Posted: July 17, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS | Tags: malaphor, mixed idiom 1 Comment
Just about right, except for the body part. This is a mash-up of “get off my back” and “out of my hair”. Perhaps the “malaphoree” had an impressive hairdo?
Out like a log
Posted: July 15, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS Leave a comment
This is a fairly common malaphor, as it mixes two idioms with the same theme – sleeping. The word “like” is used in both, and the mixed up word begins with an L. No wonder the brain’s search function occasionally makes a mistake.
He’s been shuffling the buck
Posted: July 14, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: malaphor, mixed idiom 2 Comments
I think this mix-up is caused by two similar looking four letter words – buck and deck. Both expressions also have similar meanings – not addressing issues squarely. Finally, maybe the brain reads “shuffle” equating to shuffleboard and then thinks pucks and it comes out buck. Is that a stretch? As “ol pal” notes, this mash up probably includes the phrase “passing the buck” as well, and my guess is that this is what the speaker intended to say. Again, passing is similar to shuffling as in shuffleboard (pushing or passing the shuffleboard puck).
No turn on right
Posted: July 13, 2012 Filed under: ACTION | Tags: jumbled phrase, malaphor, mixed idiom Leave a comment
This might be one we have all said after driving all day and the mind has turned to mush. One sees the ubiquitous sign “no turn on red”, processes that as not being able to turn right on a red light, and mumbles, “Crap, no turn on right”.
Shoot from the lip
Posted: July 12, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS 2 Comments
I heard this one at a meeting several years ago and thought it was an improvement over “shoot from the hip”. It is of course a mash up of shooting from the hip and giving lip, but has a distinct meaning that clearly describes those who speak before they think. I think this one deserves to be added to the idiom lexicon, don’t you?
He’ll do anything at the drop of a bucket
Posted: July 11, 2012 Filed under: bucket, CLOTHING, drop, hat, THINGS | Tags: jumbled phrase, malaphor, mixed idiom 2 Comments
I think the brain twists drop and kick together and comes up with this excellent malaphor. I have heard this one several times so the synapse must be weak….
He smokes like a fish
Posted: July 10, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, ANIMALS, fish, smoke 1 Comment
“The Master” sputtered this observation during a heated bowling match, and after several gin and tonics. It is a brilliant malaphor, mixing two common idioms – smokes like a chimney and drinks like a fish – with the ingenious result of smoked fish.
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