They really had to think on their toes
Posted: July 21, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: be on your toes, expressions, humor, malaphor, malaphors, think on your feet, words 4 CommentsThis malaphor comes courtesy of a local Birmingham Alabama news story about firemen rescuing people caught in a flash flood. A fireman said: “ The firefighters really had to think on their toes due to the changing conditions. “ This is an excellent example of a congruent conflation, mixing “think on (one’s) feet” and “be on your toes”, both meaning to be alert and react quickly. Obviously the mix here is “toes” and “feet”. A big thanks to David Stephens who was on his toes for this one.
He’s turning over a new lease on life
Posted: July 20, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: a new lease on life, expressions, humor, idioms, malaphor, malaphors, turning over a new leaf, words Leave a commentThis perfectly formed malaphor is a mashup of “turning over a new leaf” (to change one’s behavior, usually in a positive way) and “a new lease on life” (a new chance for happiness, usually after a hardship). “New” is common to both idioms, and the words “lease” and “leaf” are similar sounding. Both I think contributed to the mental mix up. A big thanks to Martin Pietrucha for sharing this one with the malaphor world.
If you liked this malaphor you’ll love my book on the subject, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon for a cheap $6.99. A must for every bathroom library.
I’m trying to keep an open book
Posted: July 19, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: an open book, expressions, humor, keep an open mind, language, malaphor, words 1 CommentA physician asked someone about doing a fellowship. The response was this nice malaphor. It is a mashup of “keep an open mind” (to avoid making a judgment about something before considering it) and “I’m an open book” (a person’s life with no secrets). “Open” is the source of the mix up here. A big thanks to Jesse Garwood for sharing this one and admitting saying it!
He cleared muster
Posted: July 17, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Chris Matthews, cleared for approval, congruent conflation, expressions, humor, malaphor, MSNBC, pass muster, Rachel Maddow, Trump, words Leave a comment“The Master” strikes again. Chris Matthews uttered this beauty on the Rachel Maddow show on July 9, 2018, referring to Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. It is a congruent conflation of “passed muster” and “cleared for approval”, both meaning to be accepted as adequate. Pass/clear is the mixup here. Anyone who visits this site regularly knows Mr. Matthews is a malaphor goldmine. A big thanks to “Eagle-Ear” Frank King, the Mental Health Comedian, for hearing this one and sending it in.
We really kicked their clocks
Posted: July 16, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cleaned their clocks, congruent conflation, kicked their butts, malaphor, words Leave a commentA few guys were reminiscing about their days as soccer coaches, and one reflected on how good his team was, uttering this nice malaphor. It is a congruent conflation of “kicked their butts” and “cleaned their clocks”, both meaning to win easily. The words “kick” and “clock” have full consonance, and so the speaker might have grabbed both in the idiom soup we call English. A big thanks to John Kooser for sending this one in, and admitting that he said it.
He’s keeping it under his vest
Posted: July 13, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: close to the chest, Cohen, Emily Jane Fox, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, MSNBC, Rachel Maddow, Trump, under wraps, words 1 CommentThis was heard on the Rachel Maddow show. Vanity Fair reporter Emily Jane Fox was talking about Michael Cohen, and what he may have on Trump. She then uttered this beauty. It is a congruent conflation of “close to the chest” and “under wraps” (to keep one’s plans secret from others). The vest/chest rhyme and close/under words probably contributed to the mix up. A big thanks to “Eagle-Ear” Frank King for hearing yet another one on MSNBC, your malaphor channel.
He passed every hurdle to receive asylum
Posted: July 11, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Chris Hayes, clear every hurdle, expressions, malaphor, MSNBC, pass every test, words Leave a commentThis was heard on the MSNBC Chris Hayes show. It is a nice congruent conflation of “cleared every hurdle” and “passed every test”. A big thanks to “Eagle-Ear” Frank King for hearing this one. He also mentioned that you don’t get credit for passing a hurdle, or for clearing a test. Word.
He pulls those hat tricks out of the bag
Posted: July 10, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bag of tricks, Carson Wentz, expressions, hat trick, humor, Lane Johnson, language, malaphor, malaphors, Philadelphia Eagles, pull a rabbit out the hat, words 2 CommentsParents should stick to their ground involving kids’ names
Posted: July 6, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, hold your ground, humor, idioms, language, malaphor, stick to your guns, words 2 CommentsI guess that means names like Sandy and Muddy? This was spotted on Quora, an internet platform to ask questions and get answers. It is a great congruent conflation of “stick to your guns” and “hold/stand your ground”, both meaning to refuse to yield or compromise. “Ground” and “guns” both start with a G and have a similar sound, hence the mental mix up. A big thanks to Margaret Grover who spotted this one and sent it in!
Civility is disappearing before our hands
Posted: July 5, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Chris Jansing, disappear before our eyes, expressions, humor, malaphor, MSNBC, slipping through our fingers, Trump, words 1 CommentThis was heard on MSNBC, Jansing and Co. show. There was a discussion on civility in America and this malaphor was uttered. It is a mashup of “disappear before out eyes” (suddenly no longer visible) and I think “out of (someone’s) hands” (no longer in someone’s control). “Slip through (someone’s) fingers” might be in play, as it also refers to something missed or escaped. Fingers and hands are close in proximity. A big thanks to “Eagle-eared” Frank King!






Recent Comments