This news hits me in the old jugular
Posted: December 16, 2013 Filed under: gut, jugular | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, go for the jugular, hit me in the gut, humor, language, malaphors, Mike Shanahan, mixed idioms, Robert Griffin III, Terry Shea, Washington Redskins, words Leave a comment
Redskins primary logo 1972-1981, 1983-present (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Robert Griffin III’s quarterback guru, Terry Shea, was stunned to hear Griffin had been benched in favor of backup Kirk Cousins
and rendered inactive for the rest of the season. “This news hits me right in the old jugular.” This is a mash up of “hit me in the gut” (surprising news) and “go for the jugular” (strike quickly and immediately). I think perhaps the speaker was also thinking of “the old one-two” (two quick punches) as I cant think of anything else where “old” would sneak in there. Thoughts anyone? Thanks to John Costello for sending this one in. You can read the malaphor in its entire context below:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/usatoday/article/3988865
Ingrown players
Posted: December 9, 2013 Filed under: house, WORD BLENDS | Tags: blended idioms, congruent conflation, expressions, home-grown, humor, in-grown, in-house, Ingrown hair, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentIf you have been following this blog and my website – http://www.malaphors.com – you know that the sports world is a gold mine for malaphors. This beauty was heard on a local sports radio talk show (Pittsburgh). A guy was talking about the Pirates and criticized the organization for focusing exclusively on “ingrown players” rather than seeking free agents. This is a congruent conflation of “home-grown” and “in-house”, both meaning something local or conducted within the organization. Just wondering, but was Tom Herr, the second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, an in-grown ballplayer? A big thanks to Justin Taylor for hearing this one and passing it along!
This hotel needs a faceover
Posted: December 6, 2013 Filed under: WORD BLENDS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, facelift, humor, language, makeover, malaphors, mixed idioms, WORD BLENDS, words 2 CommentsOkay, I admit saying this one. While visiting Miami on business this week, I remarked to a colleague that the hotel I was staying in was very nice but was showing its age, and then blurted the above. I silently screamed Malaphor! and immediately wrote it down. As you know, the best malaphors are quickly forgotten because of their subtlety. Faceover is a one word blend of “facelift” and “makeover”, both indicating improved cosmetic changes. I actually like the word faceover as it is a good description of any rehab project. I would encourage everyone to start using it. Now if the subject matter was a hockey arena, it might be a triple blend with faceoff in the mix….
It will help you get your toe in the door
Posted: December 2, 2013 Filed under: BODY PARTS, door, foot, toes | Tags: blended idioms, dip your toe in the water, expressions, foot, get your foot in the door, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, toe, words Leave a commentThis mix-up was heard last week on the Today Show. A person was giving advice on how women can network to get back into a career after being out of work for a long time. She gave an example of web ideas and then uttered this great malaphor. It is a mash up of “get your foot in the door” (start at a low level in an organization in order to get a better job in that organization) and “dip your toe in the water” (start carefully or test things first). So perhaps a toe in the door is almost getting the job. I note that Australians say “get a leg in the door” instead of “foot in the door”, indicating that they are expecting a little higher level entry position? Certainly their minimum wage indicates so (Australia 15.96/hr vs. US 7.25/hr). Thanks to Ron Marks for sending this one in!
JFK was a duck in a barrel
Posted: November 30, 2013 Filed under: ACTION, ANIMALS, duck, shoot | Tags: Assassination, Assassination of John F. Kennedy, blended idioms, humor, John F. Kennedy, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, shooting fish in a barrel, sitting duck, words 3 Comments
Picture of President Kennedy in the limousine in Dallas, Texas, on Main Street, minutes before the assassination. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This phrase mixes “sitting duck” (someone vulnerable to an attack) and “shooting fish in a barrel” (ridiculously easy). A big thanks to Michael Ameel for hearing this one on a radio program recently about the Kennedy assassination. An expert on the show indicated that JFK was an easy target, and blurted out this malaphor. It is similar to the 1/16/13 entry, “It’s like shooting ducks in a barrel”.
I’ve got nothing to hide but the truth
Posted: November 25, 2013 Filed under: hide, truth | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, freudian slip, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, nothing but the truth, nothing to hide, oath, truth, words Leave a commentPerhaps this malaphor should be categorized as a “freudian slip malaphor”, as it was uttered by a person under oath. It combines the phrase “I have nothing to hide” and the end of the witness oath in which one swears to tell the truth, the whole truth and “nothing but the truth.” It might also apply to politicians these days. Thanks to John Costello for sending this beauty in!
The company’s stock price is through the moon
Posted: November 23, 2013 Filed under: moon, PLACES, roof | Tags: blended idioms, cnn, Erin Burnett, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, over the moon, Tesla Motors, through the roof, words Leave a commentIn the conclusion to a report today regarding the Tesla Motor Car Corp. CNN news host Erin Burnett described the company’s stock price for the year as being “…through the moon…” This wonderful malaphor is a mash up of the phrases “through the roof” (prices very high) and “over the moon” (extremely pleased). Jackie Gleason’s famous line, “to the moon, Alice!” might also have been on Ms. Burnett’s mind. Many thanks to David Spain for sending this one in and attaching the video with concluding malaphor below:
I think it’s time he laid down the torch
Posted: November 17, 2013 Filed under: gauntlet, THINGS, torch | Tags: blended idioms, carry the torch, Dick LeBeau, expressions, humor, language, lay down the law, malaphors, mixed idioms, Pittsburgh Steelers, throw down the gauntlet, words 2 Comments
English: Dick Lebeau with Mr. and Mrs. John Mitchell (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This was uttered near the end of the first half of the Steelers/Lions game, and was directed at Dick LeBeau, the Steelers’ defensive coach. Considering the context (Steelers blowing a lead and the defense not playing well), I believe this is a mash up of “lay down the law” (to scold someone) and “carry the torch” (to lead or participate). “Throw down the gauntlet” (to challenge someone) might also be in the mix. Thanks to Kevin Hatfield for hearing this one and sending it in!
He dug himself into a corner
Posted: November 15, 2013 Filed under: dig, paint | Tags: blended idioms, congruent conflation, dig yourself a hole, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Paint, paint yourself in a corner, words Leave a commentThis congruent conflation mixes the phrases “paint oneself in a corner” and “dig yourself into a hole”, both meaning an action that puts a person in a difficult situation. Kudos to Eric Marsh for sending this one in. He could not recall where he heard this one, but it could be referring to either the Republicans strategy of shutting down the government or President Obama’s statement that people can keep their existing health care coverage. Take your pick.
He’s a wet fish
Posted: November 12, 2013 Filed under: ANIMALS, fish | Tags: blended idioms, cold fish, expressions, fish, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, wet blanket, words Leave a commentThis great malaphor is a blend of”wet blanket” and “cold fish”, both reflecting rather sour personalities, the former a depressing person who spoils others’ enjoyment, and the latter a person who does not seem very friendly and shows little emotion. Fish of course are always wet (unless grilled I suppose) which may have been in the speaker’s mind as well. For some reason a dead fish handshake also seems in play here. I personally am going to start using this expression as there are people out there who fit both categories. John Costello gets the kudos for this one, as he unintentionally uttered this malaphor when he was describing a person who is kind of a dour drip. I hope it wasn’t me!
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