I think Hillary really had the upper leg
Posted: November 8, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, Hillary Clinton, humor, Kamala Harris, malaphor, malaphors, New York times, words Leave a commentThis one was spotted in a New York Times article about how undecided voters are making up their minds. The one lady named Morgan said about the comparison between Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris:
“I think it’s unfair. I think Hillary was much more versed going into her campaign. I feel that Harris is not nearly as prepared as Hillary was. I do see some similarities, in terms of the name-calling and belittling. I think Hillary really had the upper leg, if you had to compare the two.”
This is a nice congruent conflation of “have a leg up” and “have the upper hand” (have an advantage over someone or something). This is another example of a body part mix up. A big thank you to Linda Bernstein for spotting this one!
It was a softball layup
Posted: November 6, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, idioms, malaphor, words Leave a commentThe contributor’s nephew, who loves just about all sports, uttered this one. It is a congruent conflation of “a softball” and “a layup”, both describing something easy (one is a question and the other a task). A softball layup must be super easy. A big thanks to Verbatim for hearing this one and sending it in.
Sometimes we clash heads
Posted: November 4, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: idioms, malaphors, pizza, wordplay, words Leave a commentThis was heard on the You Tube video, “Meet the Krispy Pizza Kings of New York”. Here is the link to the video:
This is a congruent conflation of “clash with (someone or something)” and “butt heads”, both meaning to disagree with someone. A huge shout out to Martin Pietrucha for hearing this one and sending it in!
Donald Trump is the white elephant in the room
Posted: November 1, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: humor, malaphors, mixed idioms, MSNBC, Trump Leave a commentWilliam Cohen, who served as both a Republican U.S. Representative as well as a U.S Senator and Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton, said this malaphor on the MSNBC show The Beat with Ari Melber on October 23, nine days ago. It is a mashup of “elephant in the room” (obvious truth that is either being ignored or going unaddressed) and “white elephant” (a burdensome possession whose costs outweigh its value). While I have posted this one before (September 6, 2012), it is too good to pass up.
“The elephant in the room” seems to be a common expression mix-up. For example, I have posted:
“It’s the 800 pound elephant in the room” https://malaphors.com/2015/03/30/its-the-800-pound-elephant-in-the-room/
“I think that’s the pink elephant in the room” https://malaphors.com/2013/08/07/i-think-thats-the-pink-elephant-in-the-room/
In fact, I have a separate section devoted to the “elephant malaphor” in my book, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205
A big thanks to Mike Kovacs for hearing this one and sending it in!
They are going to pay out the nose
Posted: October 28, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentThis one was spoken by Chris Hayes on his podcast “All In with Chris Hayes”. You can hear it at 42:24:
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-in-with-chris-hayes/id1314170606?i=1000674380669
Every schoolboy knows you “pay OUT the ass” and “pay THROUGH the nose”, both meaning to pay a ridiculous amount of money. This congruent conflation was brought to you by Frank King. Once again, thanks Frank!
Like pulling needles
Posted: October 25, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized 1 CommentThis one was found in the comments section of a Facebook post. The subject was cruises, and the commenter was lamenting that a person who was supposed to accompany her bailed, and that it was difficult finding anyone else to go on the cruise. Finding someone who is not terrified of sailing, flying, or germs is “like pulling needles”. This is a mashup of “like pulling teeth” (something very difficult or frustrating to do) and “finding a needle in a haystack” (something very difficult to find). Both idioms relate frustration or difficulty in doing something. Also, a needle does pull (as in thread). A big thanks to Alison Brookins who spotted this one!
Did you like this malaphor? Well, I have a deal for you. In honor of the political season (thank goodness it’s almost over!), the kindle version of my second malaphor book, “Things Are Not Rosy-Dory: Malaphors from Politicians and Pundits”, is going on sale today for .99! Sale ends Friday November 1. Makes a great stocking stuffer (well, not the kindle version, but you know what I mean).
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08C7GGMG5?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860
It all lines into place
Posted: October 21, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentSean Evans, host of the YouTube talk show Hot Ones, said this nice malaphor. It’s a congruent conflation of “it all falls into place” and “it all lines up”, both meaning things happen in a satisfactory way without problems. Kudos to Anthony Kovacs for hearing this subtle mashup and sending it in.
Authors Event in Pittsburgh!
Posted: October 19, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentI will be signing malaphor books today at beautiful Station No. 5 in tranquil Bradfordwoods, Pennsylvania. Top of the notch!
I would sooner walk alone than jump through eggshells with this madwoman
Posted: October 19, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentThis was a comment to a Carolyn Hax “Personal” column in the Washington Post. The column was about a boyfriend who was rebuked for acting as a confident to a married female friend. It is a mashup of “jumping through hoops” (completing a series of tasks to achieve something) and “walking on eggshells” (being very careful of saying or doing something because someone is easily offended). A big thanks to Yvonne Stam for spotting this one and sending it in!
I need to haul rubber
Posted: October 17, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentThe driver in a car was trying to pull out into a road with a lot of speeding traffic. He turned to his friend and said, “I need to haul rubber”. This is a congruent conflation of “haul ass” and “burn rubber”, both meaning to move fast. This one reminds me of the classic malaphor, “eat my rubber!”, spoken by Clark (Chevy Chase) in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. His son corrects him, pointing out that it is a mash up of “eat my dust” and “burn rubber”. I posted this one many years ago. https://malaphors.com/2012/12/22/eat-my-rubber/
A big thanks to John Kooser who heard this one and sent it in.
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