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.
Take the reins by the ears
Posted: October 18, 2012 Filed under: ANIMALS, BODY PARTS, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, bull by the horns, expressions, mixed idioms, reindeer, take the reins, words Leave a commentA fellow blogger, TerriblyWrite, and follower of this site sent this gem to me. She said her daughter’s boss uttered it, and when explained that it was a malaphor mix of “take the reins” and “take the bull by the horns”, he responded, “Oh, I thought it had something to do with reindeer.”
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).
Up a tree without a paddle
Posted: September 26, 2012 Filed under: THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, creek, difficult situation, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, paddle, tree, up a creek without a paddle, up a tree, words Leave a commentThis one is a mash up of “up a tree” and “up a creek without a paddle”, both meaning having difficulty or being in a difficult situation. The confusion is obvious: both idioms have similar meanings, both contain the word “up”, and there is assonance in the words “tree” and “creek”. I suppose in a flood you actually might be up a tree without a paddle!
You hit the nose on the head
Posted: September 23, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, correct, expressions, head, hit the nail on the head, malaphors, mixed idioms, nose, on the nose, words Leave a commentIf you type this malaphor on a google search, you get hundreds of responses, reflecting how often this malaphor is written/spoken. It is a blend of “hit it on the nose” and “hit the nail on the head”, both phrases meaning getting something exactly right. I suspect the confusion here is also prompted by two words that are both body parts and four letter words. It also could be from watching too many Three Stooges comedies.
Don’t air your dirty laundry in the closet
Posted: September 22, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, CLOTHING, PLACES, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, dirty laundry, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, out of the closet, skeletons in the closet, words 2 CommentsCertainly words of wisdom. This is a mash up of “don’t air your dirty laundry” (don’t reveal secrets publicly), “out of the closet” (a secret revealed to the public) and “skeletons in the closet” (deep secrets one does not want revealed), all referring to secrets. And of course dirty laundry often is collected in hampers in the closet so laundry and closet are word associations. On the other hand, maybe the speaker was being literal and recommending that dirty laundry in a closet will eventually make your closet smell….doubtful.
Don’t rock the trough!
Posted: September 21, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: bite the hand that feeds you, blended idioms, compliance, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, passivity, rock the boat, words Leave a commentA personal favorite of mine (in fact it is the tagline under my picture), this is a mixture of “don’t rock the boat” (don’t upset people by trying to change the situation) and “feed at the trough” (getting something, usually money, without working), both describing passivity and compliance. This malaphor is unusual in that the combination actually is closer in definition to a third phrase – “don’t bite the hand that feeds you” (don’t criticize the person or organization that helps or pays you).
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