You’re too smart for your own britches
Posted: August 30, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, too big for your britches, too smart for your own good, words 2 CommentsThis wonderful congruent conflation is a mash up of “you’re too smart for your own good” and “too big for your britches”, both describing a haughty person. This is a fairly common malaphor, evidenced by the amount of internet hits using this phrase. Contributing to the confusion is the use of the word “too”. Thanks to Sheva Gunnery for hearing this subtle mix up and passing it on!
Why don’t we call and chew his brain?
Posted: August 26, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: chew the fat, expressions, humor, Justin Verlander, language, malaphor, malaphors, Matt harvey, mixed idioms, pick his brain, The Walking Dead, words, zombies Leave a commentNo, this is not a line from The Walking Dead (although maybe it is…). It is a nicely formed malaphor, shared by that malaphor hunter, John Costello. John was speaking to his wife about calling a handyman and this was her response. It is a mash up of “chew the fat” (to chat) and ” pick his brain” (talking with someone to get information about something). I particularly like this one as it conjures up an image that was not intended. This malaphor was also spoken by the pitcher Matt Harvey last year:
Harvey said he did not get a chance to chat with Justin Verlander when the ace made the visit to Port St. Lucie. But Terry Collins , who is close with Tigers manager Jim Leyland, indicated he’d like to make a conversation happen.
“Hopefully I’ll chew his brain a little bit down the road,” Harvey said. “I just sat back and watched.”
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/61768/harvey-studied-verlander-before-facing-fish
They made this up out of whole air
Posted: August 25, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blended idioms, dateline id, expressions, hot air, humor, into thin air, language, make something out of whole cloth, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 2 CommentsThis is a mash up of “make something out of whole cloth” (fabricate a lie) and “into thin air” (vanish without a trace). Thin and whole both describe size, which might contribute to the crossed wires. “Hot air” (not sincere with no practical results) might also be in the mix, as the speaker of this malaphor was a lawyer. Specifically, it was heard on “Dateline ID” with Lester Holt. A a defense attorney criticized the prosecution’s description of the accused as a Jekyll-Hyde personality, and then uttered this malaphor. A big thanks to my “ol’ pal”, Beatrice Zablocki for sending this one in.
You’ve been a busy camper
Posted: August 19, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: busy as a beaver, expressions, happy camper, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words 2 CommentsThis was seen on a Facebook post. It’s a nice mash up of “busy as a beaver” (very busy) and “happy camper” (happy person). The words beaver and camper have the same number of letters and similar sounds that probably added to the confusion. Of course, maybe the person really meant to describe a very busy happy person! Thanks to Vicki Ameel-Kovacs for sending this one in.
You have a long road to climb
Posted: August 16, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: a mountain to climb, expressions, humor, language, long road, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, tough row to hoe, words Leave a commentThis mixed idiom is similar to “long road to hoe”, posted April 25, 2013. The phrases in this malaphor include “long road”, “tough row to hoe”, and “a mountain to climb”, all meaning tough or difficult situations. John Costello heard this on the HBO series True Detective, episode 5. Marty is trying to get back with Maggie. Maggie says “you have a long road to climb.” Of course, if you lived in or visited Pittsburgh or San Francisco, you might hear this one used literally. Thanks to John Costello for this one.
This team never put their head between their knees
Posted: August 13, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, hang your head, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, tail between your legs, words Leave a commentThis phrase stands on its own, describing what one might do if one feels faint, but in context, it is a nice malaphor. The speaker is Tom Seaver, discussing the 69 Mets team and how they came back from adversity and never quit. Pretty sure he was mixing “not putting your tail between your legs” and “not hanging your head”, both expressions meaning not feeling ashamed or embarrassed. “keep your head up” (feeling calm in the face of adversity) also seems in play here. Thanks to Steve Hubbard who heard this on the MLB Network regarding Cinderella teams.
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!
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