We went to Buckminster Palace
Posted: December 17, 2012 Filed under: Buckingham Palace, PLACES, Westminster Abbey, WORD BLENDS | Tags: blended idioms, buckingham palace, buckminster fuller, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, westminster abbey, words 7 CommentsThis malaphor is a word blend, as distinguished from the other malaphors posted up to this point, which are phrase blends. This is a mixture of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Both are, of course, famous places in London, hence the unintentional misuse. Buckminster Fuller might also be in the mix, although “my ‘ol pal” pointed out that many have never heard of him. Still, you never know what the brain may have picked up and deposited in the unconscious.
This mash up has apparently been used a lot, given the number of google hits. It even appears in ads by travel agents.
We’ve got a lot of irons in the pipeline
Posted: December 13, 2012 Filed under: fire, pipeline, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, in the pipeline, irons in the fire, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis is a conflation of “in the pipeline” (plan being developed) and “irons in the fire” ( a number of jobs or possibilities available at the same time). I saw this in a memo years ago. As with most great unintentional malaphors, if you heard this at a meeting it might give you slight pause but it fits in the context so you probably would not remember it minutes later.
They dug their own snare
Posted: December 9, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, grave, PLACES, snare | Tags: alan simpson, blended idioms, dug their own grave, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, snare, today show, words Leave a commentThis conflation of “dug their own grave” and “caught in a snare” was spoken by former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson on the Today show last week, referring to Congress and the President not acting yet on the approaching fiscal cliff. Thank you to my old friend Dave Thorp for spotting this one.
He led me on a blind goose chase
Posted: November 28, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, alley, ANIMALS, goose, PLACES | Tags: blended idioms, blind alley, expressions, futile pursuits, malaphors, mixed idioms, wild goose chase, words 2 CommentsThis is a mash up of “down a blind alley” and “led on a wild goose chase”, both meaning an unproductive or futile pursuit. Blind and wild are similar sounding words, so the brain chose the wrong swirling fragment. This seems to be a common malaphor, based on the many internet hits. Reminds me of the proverb: A blind goose is as good as a deaf duck (ok, I made that up – just trying to be a wise quacker).
He’s out to butter his own nest
Posted: November 27, 2012 Filed under: ANIMALS, bread, butter, FOOD, nest, PLACES, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, bread and butter, expressioins, feather, feather your own next, know which side your bread is buttered on, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 3 Comments
English: A pat of butter, served on a leaf, with a butter knife and bread (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This slippery malaphor is a mash up of “feather your own nest” (use power and prestige to one’s advantage selfishly) and perhaps “know which side your bread is buttered on” (to be loyal to the person who will benefit you the most). “Bread and butter” (someone’s livelihood or source of income) could also be a player here. There is also an Hungarian expression -több mindent jelenthet – roughly translated “butter one’s bread on both sides” and meaning leaving nothing for others to argue or complain. My ol’ pal indicates “buttering your own bread” (using power to gain income selfishly) may also be part of this mix up.
When in Vegas…
Posted: November 23, 2012 Filed under: PLACES, Rome, Vegas | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, Rome, Vegas, what happens in Vegas, when in Rome, words Leave a comment
English: Vector image of the Las Vegas sign. Português: Imagems vectorial da placa de Las Vegas. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This is a subtle mash up of “when in Rome” (adapt yourself to the behavior of others or places around you) and “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” (details of a weekend spent away from home not revealed). Thanks to Anna Washabaugh for sending in this one.
the last straw in the coffin
Posted: November 22, 2012 Filed under: coffin, nail, PLACES, straw, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, conflation, expressions, last straw, malaphors, mixed idioms, nail in the coffin, words 3 CommentsThis is a mash up of “the last straw” and “another nail in the coffin” (both meaning the final problem that will lead to a collapse or end). I saw this one on yardflex.com, which is a website about Jamaican issues:
“All respect to Trinidad, but they own more of the country’s assets than we do, selling them Air Jamaica will now be the last straw in the coffin.”
http://www.yardflex.com/archives/005475.html
I AM the malaphor king, mon.
We’ll be here ’til the cows come to Capistrano
Posted: November 20, 2012 Filed under: ANIMALS, Capistrano, cow | Tags: Alabama, Birmingham, blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, San Juan Capistrano California, swallows return to Capistrano, till the cows come home, words Leave a commentThis beauty was uttered by Alabama State Representative John Rogers, in response to questions about his protests outside a hospital that is about to be closed. This is a mash up of “until the cows come home” (for a very long time) and the song “when the Swallows come back to Capistrano”. Warning: when you visit San Juan Capistrano, be sure and watch out for cow droppings from the sky….
http://blog.al.com/archiblog/2012/11/why_not_give_rep_john_rogers_w.html
Thanks to David S. for sending this one to me all the way from Birmingham.
English: Basilica San Juan Capistrano, California, United States. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
If you can’t cut the cheese, get out of the kitchen
Posted: November 19, 2012 Filed under: cheese, FOOD, kitchen, mustard | Tags: blended idioms, can't cut the mustard, cut the cheese, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a comment
cheeses (Photo credit: uberculture)
This malaphor combines several thoughts, resulting in a humorous saying. Certainly “can’t cut the mustard” (one who cannot meet the required standard) and ” if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen” (don’t persist in a task if it is too much for you) are involved, but what about “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”? Also let’s not forget “who cut the cheese”? (who farted?) Given these idioms and sayings, I think it is more appropriate to say, “if you cut the cheese, get out of the kitchen”.
Malaphors 
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