He rubbed his face in the wound
Posted: October 1, 2013 Filed under: ACTION, rub, salt, wound | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, rub salt in the wound, rub your nose in it, words Leave a commentThis beauty is a mash up of “rubbed salt in the wound” (make someone feel worse about something) and “rubbed his nose in it” (remind someone of something one has done wrong). Perhaps the speaker was reminding someone of a mistake and bragging about it at the same time. Or maybe this is a new form of medical treatment? A big thank you to Ed Brady for hearing and sending this one in.
Put on another cup of coffee
Posted: September 15, 2013 Filed under: coffee | Tags: blended idioms, Coffee, cup of coffee, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, pot of coffee, words Leave a commentThis is a mash up of “put on a pot of coffee” and “get another cup of coffee”. I just heard this one on the CW UPMC nightly sports call with Bob Pompeani, and yes Bob uttered this one as he was telling listeners to kick back and watch the show. This is a Pittsburgh call in sports show that is very entertaining.
We’ll drop a line in the water and see what sticks
Posted: September 9, 2013 Filed under: ACTION, drop, FOOD, water | Tags: blended idioms, dip a toe in the water, expressions, humor, language, make it stick, malaphors, Mike Tomlin, mixed idioms, Pittsburgh Steelers, Running back, words Leave a comment
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin – September 16, 2007 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This jumble was apparently uttered by Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin a few weeks ago in response to the running backs situation. It is a mash up of “dip a toe in the water” (to test or try out something) and “make (something) stick” (to cause to be accepted). “Throw dirt enough and some will stick” might also be in the equation. Given the Steelers first performance, apparently the line was made of teflon. Thanks to Dan Geier for overhearing this one on the radio.
There’s no use crying over fish in the sea
Posted: August 27, 2013 Filed under: ANIMALS, cry, fish, milk | Tags: blended idioms, Don Draper, don't cry over spilled milk, expressions, humor, language, Mad Men, malaphors, mixed idioms, plenty of fish in the sea, television, words Leave a comment
Don Draper of Mad Men works on Madison Avenue (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I’ve opened up a can of beans
Posted: July 31, 2013 Filed under: bean, can | Tags: beans, blended idioms, can of worms, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, spill the beans, words, worms 1 CommentThis is a mash up of “”can of worms” and “spill the beans”. Of course, by itself it could be meant literally as opening a can of beans, but in the context the speaker meant to say “I’ve opened up a can of worms”. This malaphor is similar to a previous malaphor post – “That’s a real ball of worms” (12/18/12), mixing “can of worms” with “ball of wax”. Thanks to Denita for sending this one in!
Don’t let the bean out of the bag
Posted: March 12, 2013 Filed under: ANIMALS, bean, cat, FOOD | Tags: beans, blended idioms, cat, cat out of the bag, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, spill the beans, words Leave a commentThis strange expression is a mash up of “cat out of the bag” and “spill the beans”, both meaning to give away a secret or surprise. The speaker may also have been thinking of bean bags. Who didn’t have a bean bag chair adorning their living room in the 70s and 80s? Mine was a beautiful pukish brown with a corduroy cover – stylish. Thanks to Cathy Miller for this one!
Bean Bag Chair (Photo credit: Clover_1)
That’s water under the dam
Posted: March 6, 2013 Filed under: bridge, dam, THINGS, water | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, water over the dam, water under the bridge, words Leave a commentThis is a commonly used malaphor, blending two idioms – “water under the bridge” and “water over the dam” – that contain the same word (water) and have the same meaning (past and unchangeable events). Add two words that both describe direction (over and under), and two structures that are in or over water (dams and bridges) and you get a subtle mix-up. I have posted a few similar malaphors – see “that’s water over the bridge” (8/4/12) and “that’s just blood under the bridge” (11/9/12). Many thanks to John Costello for this one.
That would be a tough nut to swallow
Posted: February 20, 2013 Filed under: ACTION, crack, FOOD, nut, pill, swallow, THINGS | Tags: bitter pill to swallow, blended idioms, conflations, crack, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, nut, pill, swallow, tough nut to crack, words 3 CommentsThis clever congruent conflation is a blend of “tough nut to crack” and “bitter pill to swallow”, both referring to hard things to do. Both also contain four words, and both involve actions. And of course a tough nut is always hard to swallow,
right? A big shout out to Susan E for sending me this one that she heard her husband utter last week.
He’s as clean as apple pie
Posted: February 15, 2013 Filed under: Apple pie, FOOD, Whistle | Tags: apple pie, blended idioms, C Gonzalez, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Washington nationals, whistle, words Leave a commentThis beauty was uttered by Max Gonzalez, the father of Washington Nationals’ pitcher, Gio Gonzalez, in response to accusations that his son took steroids. It is a mash up of “clean as a whistle” and “American as apple pie”. Thanks to Bruce for sending this one. For more on this malaphor and the Washington Post story, check out my Facebook page, Malaphors.
Don’t rock the apple cart
Posted: January 10, 2013 Filed under: apple, boat, cart, FOOD, THINGS | Tags: apple, blended idioms, boat, expressions, language, linguistics, malaphors, mixed idioms, rock, rock the boat, upset the apple cart, wordplay, words 1 CommentThis congruent malaphor mixes the similar meaning phrases “upset the apple cart” and “rock the boat”. A good example of the use of this malaphor is in a description of an Upper West Side apartment for rent:
“Minimum Age Limit For Renters : If you are coming to NYC for a big party weekend, this is probably not your place. I have fabulous neighbors and there is a great, great staff and take great care to not rock the apple cart.”
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