They aren’t clicking on all cylinders
Posted: May 1, 2013 Filed under: clicking, cylinders | Tags: blended idioms, click, cylinders, firing on all cylinders, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Pittsburgh Pirates, words 1 Comment
English: Pittsburgh Pirates cap insignia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
An announcer from the Pittsburgh Pirates pre-game show last night (4/30/13) said that while the
Pirates are doing well, “they aren’t clicking on all cylinders yet”. This is a mash-up of “firing (or hitting) on all cylinders” (working at full strength) and “clicking with (someone)” (understood by someone suddenly). A malaphor salute to Mitchell Hoyson for sending this one in!
I don’t know him from a hole in the wall
Posted: April 30, 2013 Filed under: hole, wall | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, hole, hole in the ground, hole in the wall, humor, language, malaphors, Marilyn Milian, mixed idioms, People's Court, wall, words Leave a comment
The People’s Court (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This is a mash up of “a hole in the wall” (obscure place) and “I wouldn’t know him from a hole in the ground” (obscure person). Also in the mix has to be “doesn’t know him from Adam” and “he doesn’t know his ass from a hole in the ground”, as well as the visual of punching holes in the wall. This blended idiom comes to us compliments of Barry Eigen, who heard it on yesterday’s (4/29/13) episode of The People’s Court, uttered by “Judge” Marilyn Milian.
We aren’t going to throw in the white flag
Posted: April 28, 2013 Filed under: flag, throw, towel | Tags: blended idioms, Dwight Howard, expressions, flag, humor, language, Los Angeles Lakers, malaphors, mixed idioms, surrender, throw in the twoel, towel, wave the white flag, words Leave a comment
Dwight Howard (Photo credit: Keith Allison)
Commenting on the Lakers’ ability to play in the series when so many
players were injured, Los Angeles Laker Dwight Howard remarked that the players were
not about “to throw in the white flag.” Thanks to “My ol’ pal” who heard this gem on the 5:00 pm local L.A. news. It is a mash up of “throw in the towel” and “wave the white flag”, both meaning to surrender. Perhaps a white towel (a common sight with athletes) was also in the confusion.
I want to hold my powder
Posted: April 15, 2013 Filed under: fire, powder | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, fire, hold fire, hold your tongue, humor, keep the powder dry, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Morning Joe, Paul Ryan, powder, words Leave a commentThis malaphor was spoken by Congressman Paul Ryan (R – Wis) during his appearance on Morning Joe when asked for his “prebuttal” on Obama’s forthcoming budget. It is a mash up of “hold one’s fire” (refrain from criticism) and “keep one’s powder dry” (ready to take action if necessary). To “hold one’s tongue” also might be in the mix as it has a similar meaning and fits in the context. Or maybe Rep. ryan is changing his mind on the current gun legislation proposals? Many thanks to Mike Kovacs for spotting this one.
Official portrait of Congressman . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I’m at the end of the straw
Posted: April 12, 2013 Filed under: rope, straw | Tags: blended idioms, end of my rope, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, rope, straw, the last straw, words Leave a commentThis beauty is a combo of “at the end of my rope” and “the last straw”, both meaning to be at the end of one’s endurance. Straws and ropes are similar in shape and even texture, adding to the mental confusion. A tip of the toque to Paula Fow for sending this congruent conflation to me.
You’re just rubbing sand in it
Posted: March 27, 2013 Filed under: rub, salt, sand | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, rub salt in the wound, salt, sand, Today, Willie Geist, words Leave a commentI heard this one by Willie Geist on the Today show. He meant to say “you’re just rubbing salt in the wound” as he was explaining that the person’s actions were making the situation worse. As for the other expression, not sure but certainly sand is abrasive and can hurt if in a wound. It also conjures up in my mind the guy kicking sand in the other’s face, aggravating the situation.
That was the only flaw in the ointment
Posted: March 26, 2013 Filed under: fly, ointment | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, flaw, fly, fly in the ointment, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis is a mash up of “fly in the ointment” and “flaw in the logic”, both referring to a drawback. Confusion may also be caused by the similar sounding words “fly” and “flaw”. Thanks to Barry Eigen for passing this gem along!
It’s a thorn in the foot
Posted: March 21, 2013 Filed under: BODY PARTS, foot, thorn | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, fables, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, thorn, thorn in the side, words Leave a commentThis was uttered at a presentation where the speaker was describing a problem. It is a mash up of “thorn in the side” and possibly “shoot yourself in the foot”, but probably the speaker was thinking of the Aesop fable where the lion has a thorn in his paw. Or, as “my ol’ pal” notes, we sometimes get slivers in our feet when walking barefoot. Thanks to Cecily for sending this one to me!
He’s really having his day in the shade
Posted: March 16, 2013 Filed under: shade, sun | Tags: blended idioms, day in the sun, expressions, humor, language, made in the shade, malaphors, mixed idioms, shade, sun, words 3 Comments
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