He caught me in the headlights
Posted: August 1, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: caught up in the moment, expressions, humor, language, like a deer in the headlights, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis is a mash up of “caught up in the moment” (doing something without realizing the consequences) and “a deer caught in the headlights” (so frightened you can’t move or think). A big thank you to Ben Geier for saying this one and passing it on.
I need to knock it out of the box
Posted: July 21, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: baseball, blended idioms, expressions, humor, knock it out of the park, knocked him out of the box, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, think outside the box, words 2 Comments“Think outside the box” is one of the most overused idioms in recent years, and so I was happy to receive this great malaphor mixing up that trite phrase. This is a mash up of “think outside the box” (be creative) and “knock it out of the park” (did a great job). There is also a baseball expression, “knocked him out of the box”, describing a pitcher leaving the game as a result of heavy hitting. However, I don’t think that was in the mix given the context. The malaphor was spoken on the Travel Channel TV show ‘American Grilled’. One of the contestants, who needed to score big with the judges, said “I need to knock it out of the box”, indicating that he meant to say “knock it out of the park”. Score a home run for Michael Ameel, who sent this one in.
I wouldn’t nickel-pick over that
Posted: July 15, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, Marie Osmond, mixed idioms, nickel and dimed, nickel-pick, nit-pick, The Talk, words Leave a commentOh boy, this is a good one. Kudos again to Vicky Ameel-Kovacs for hearing this beauty on the tv show, “The Talk”. Marie Osmond uttered this mash up of “nit-pick” (overly concerned with inconsequential details) and “nickel and dimed” (to charge small amounts to someone – a form of monetary nit pick). Perhaps pickle was also on her brain and nickle rhymes with that, or that nit and nickle have similar sounds. The fact that Vicky is watching “The Talk” concerns me a little, but I wouldn’t nickel-pick over that.
It’s a two way blade
Posted: July 12, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blended idioms, cuts both ways, Diane Rehm, double edged sword, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, two way street, words Leave a commentThis one was heard on the NPR radio show, the Diane Rehm show, last week. The speaker intended to say “double-edged sword” based on the context. This is a mash up of “two way street” (reciprocal situation), “cuts both ways”, and “double edged sword”, both meaning advantages and disadvantages. Of course I am also reminded of those swiss army knives, with the various blades and devices all in one unit. Thanks to Vicky Ameel-Kovacs for hearing and sharing this one!
He’s pooping on your parade
Posted: June 29, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blended idioms, congruent conflation, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, party pooper, raining on your parade, words Leave a commentThis alliterative congruent conflation is a mix of “party pooper” and “raining on your parade”, both meaning to spoil something. I suppose raining and pooping could also be part of the confusion, both being action verbs and, well, you know…. The mash up was spoken by that Mistress of Malaphors, Naomi David.
He was trying to woo her over
Posted: June 17, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, pull the wool over ones eyes, win her over, woo her, words 1 CommentThis is a mash up of “woo her” (to seek the affection of someone) and “win her over” (to succeed in making someone favorable to something). Perhaps “pull the wool over her eyes” (to deceive someone) is also in the muddled brain mix. This is one I uttered a couple of days ago that my wife caught. As with all good malaphors, they are quickly forgotten, so I wrote it down immediately.
The business side always throws you a loop
Posted: June 9, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Andre Miller, blended idioms, congruent conflation, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, throws you a curve, throws you for a loop, washington wizards, words Leave a commentSometimes it’s those nasty little prepositions that cause the mix up. In this case, backup point guard Andre Miller, talking about his desire to return to the Washington Wizards, said this nice congruent conflation. See http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2080250-andre-miller-38-says-he-has-a-lot-more-years-left-before-retiring-from-nba It is a mash up of “throws you for a loop” and “throws you a curve,” both meaning something unexpected that upsets or confuses someone. I also think the imagery of someone tossing a life preserver into the water is in play here. A big thanks to Mike Browning for spotting this subtle but excellent malaphor!
It’s not an air shut case
Posted: May 17, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: air-tight case, blended idioms, congruent conflations, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, open-and-shut case, words Leave a commentThis wonderful mix up was heard at a training seminar. The instructor was indicating that discrimination lawsuits are not always straightforward and then proceeded to combine “air-tight case” and “open-and-shut case”, both meaning straightforward situations without complications. The speaker may also have been thinking of air lock doors that seal out air completely, found in airplane exit doors. This is a great example of a congruent conflation, mixing two closely defined phrases. A big shout out to Bill Shaffer for sending this one in to Malaphor HQ!
We are going to keep this one in the back of our pocket
Posted: May 10, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: back of our mind, blended idioms, in my back pocket, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idiom, property brothers 6 CommentsThis was spoken by one of the Property Brothers (Drew Scott), referring to a house that was a “maybe”. I believe this is a mash up of “”in the back of my mind” and “put it in my back pocket”, both meaning to keep an idea to use later. This one is subtle but nevertheless a nice mixed idiom. Hats off to Yvonne Stam for hearing this one!
Take a left
Posted: April 19, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, spinning, take a break, words Leave a commentI heard this one in spinning class today. The instructor was telling the class to lighten up after a vigorous climb. It is a mash up of “take a break” (relax) and “turn to the left” (ease the tension of the bike). This nice malaphor combines the instructor’s two thoughts in one! Oh, and it was a great class.
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