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If you hear or see a malaphor, please let me know by dropping a comment on the website. Please include who said it and/or where you heard/saw it.
Malaphors
Unintentional blended idioms and phrases – It's the cream of the cake!
The Malaphor King
"Don't rock the trough"
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Sanders, who famously called Denver “wide receiver heaven” when he arrived as part of Elway’s splashy free agency class last spring, said this was the kind of year he envisioned.
“These guys are just more experienced, these guys are quicker, so you’ve got to be able to play up to their level,” he said. “It’s not like in college, where you’re setting the level, it’s an easy job. Every day you’re going up against a guy who’s fighting for a paycheck just like you are.”
While some questioned whether Gore might be running out of steam, the Colts didn’t. Instead, after Gore initially agreed to sign with Philadelphia, Indy welcomed his change of mind.
Cornerback Alan Ball suffered a groin injury and missed the last two games, but veteran free agent acquisition Tracy Porter has stood out in his place after overcoming a preseason hamstring injury of his own.
“Thought we were ready to get over the hump, but we’re not quite there yet,” Tampa Bay coach Lovie Smith said, lamenting dropped passes, untimely penalties and other mistakes that undermined his team.
Over the hump seems like an acceptable idio. Is the malaphor here “setting the level” (setting the bar, to a new level)? Is that the mashup you were thinking of? Dave
Just come across your book/website. Book has similar title to mine, based on an actual individual who mangled the language on this side of the pond for many years. All profits from the book go to the Perth (Scotland) branch of Guide Dogs.
Look forward to reading yours
Rex Last
PS I can send you a PDF copy if you like – what address should I use for the email?
Rex Last
Rex,
Would love to get a copy of your book. My email is hatfield239@gmail.com. I have been collecting malaphors for years. My book focuses only on malaphors, and not other word errors (e.g., malaprops, spoonerisms). On this side of the pond, I too knew someone (a work colleague) who mangled the language and he was my inspiration for collecting malaphors. Look forward to hearing from you. Dave
Hi Dave. Just saw this on CNN. “You put your finger on the nail.” Christiane Amanpour, CNN
1-1-20
Happy New Year. I saw this one today: “throwing risk to the wind.” Here’s the whole sentence: “Actually, one of the dangers is that people could be throwing risk to the wind and this thing could be a runaway.” And here’s the source: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/man-who-called-dow-20000-says-one-of-the-biggest-stock-market-dangers-in-2020-is-people-could-be-throwing-risk-to-the-wind-2020-01-06. A mashup of “throwing caution to the wind” and take your pick of risk phrases; e.g., taking a risk.
I saw a good one in today’s Daily 202: “He’s tooting that horn all the way to the bank,” a mashup of “tooting his own horn” and “laughing [or crying] all the way to the bank.” Here’s the whole quote for context: “This is going to be Biden’s last stand because he thinks that black people are going to support him just because of Barack Obama,” said Connie Breeden, an attorney in Columbia who is African American. “He’s tooting that horn all the way to the bank. But people are savvier than that.” https://s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw/?e=YmVpZ2VuQHZlcml6b24ubmV0&s=5e555749fe1ff658cabcb3bc&linknum=4&linktot=85
I just heard a reporter (Helene Cooper?) on Meet the Press say, in speaking about Senator Biden, “All the stacks are in his favor.”.
I think it’s a mixing of “The odds are in his favor” And “The cards are stacked (for or against) him.”
My doctor has been sending daily emails with COVID-19 updates. Today’s contained the malaphor, “the chips are falling apart,” a mashup of “things are falling apart” and “let the chips fall where they may.” Here’s the whole paragraph: “It’s happening. Antivirals, old drugs, and new drugs, monoclonal antibodies, filters, passive use of recovered patient serum. When the chips are falling apart, that is when we find the strength to rebuild. That is who we are.” Interestingly (or not), in 2016 chip credit cards were falling apart. https://jennstrathman.com/chip-cards-already-falling-apart/.
Also “when the chips are down”.
To add to your “wrench” malaphor collection, from today’s Washington Post: “The covid-19 thing has really thrown a wrench in us sideways.” Several choices to my ear. “Throw a wrench (or monkey wrench)” in the works.” “Knocked us sideways.” Maybe “thrown us for a loop”? I’m sure you’ll figure it out. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/26/it-was-worst-week-economy-decades-pain-is-just-beginning/
I’m not positive, but pretty sure this is one. From today’s headlines: “Fauci warns states rushing to reopen: ‘You’re making a really significant risk.” A mashup of “making a mistake” and “taking a risk,” no? https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/01/fauci-open-states-coronavirus/
Heard two people talking about upcoming 2020 presidential debates between Trump and Joe Biden. One person said of Trump:
“Trump’s going to eat him apart….”
This is combination of “eat him alive” and “tear him apart”
Felipe Coronel, aka Immortal Technique, interviewed on Latino USA, when asked about COVID-19 he said it “threw a monkey in the wrench”.
https://www.latinousa.org/2019/01/11/immortaltechnique/
Hi Steve! This is a great mixup, but not sure it’s a malaphor but rather a mangling of the phrase, “throw a monkey wrench in the works”. Is there another idiom scrambled there I’m not seeing?
Dave
Saw this in the news today: “We’ll be walking a tightrope around coronavirus for some time.” A mashup of “walking a tightrope” (being extremely careful and precise) and probably “tiptoeing around” (avoiding confrontation). https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/05/11/well-be-walking-tightrope-around-coronavirus-for-some-time-investor.html Not especially funny, but a malaphor nonetheless, I think. I thought I might be able to find a picture of a circular tightrope to send you, but couldn’t find one.