I think I have put in my stripes

Subtlety makes the best malaphor.  When spoken, you pause and consider if  the phrase was correct.  It is a passing thought, because you will quickly forget it.  Today’s malaphor fits that bill.  The speaker was explaining why he should retire.  It is a mash up of “earned my stripes” and “put in my time”, both meaning hard work that deserves an award.  Kudos to Ed Brady for sending me this congruent conflation!