Pushing all the cards in the table

There was a text exchange about Kamala Harris being nominated as the Democratic candidate for President after Biden decided not to run. A Republican in the conversation said the Democrats were “pushing all the cards in the table”. This is a mashup of “put all (one’s) cards on the table” (to reveal everything) and “pushing the chips all in” (betting all your chips on a poker hand). Both essentially mean going all out for something, whether it is information or a bet. Kudos to Bruce Ryan for spotting this one and sending it in.

Razor tight

Buck Sexton was talking about the tight poll numbers for the upcoming U.S. Presidential election on his show, Clay and Buck. He referred to the race as “razor tight”. This is a congruent conflation of “tight race” and “razor-thin margin”, both describing very close situations. “Airtight” (no noticable flaw or weakness) might also be in the mix, adding to the “narrow” context. A big thanks to Verbatim for hearing this one and sending it in!

Skirt it under the rug

A Kamala Harris supporter was discussing how Harris is actually tough on border control:

Clark Willits — a supporter from California who drove nine hours to attend the event and then waited outside in the heat for five hours to get inside — dismissed the attacks from the right on Harris’s immigration record.

“I think she can’t skirt it under the rug, so to speak, but I don’t think she has much to worry about when it comes to immigration,” he said. “I believe in her, and I know that she will pass immigration reform, because she takes those matters very seriously as a multiracial individual herself.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/08/10/harris-walz-border-immigration-trump/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzIzMjYyNDAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzI0NjQ0Nzk5LCJpYXQiOjE3MjMyNjI0MDAsImp0aSI6ImNjMzJhMjZjLTQ4YjItNGU2Ni1hM2JiLTUwZTM2NDU5ZTE5NiIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy8yMDI0LzA4LzEwL2hhcnJpcy13YWx6LWJvcmRlci1pbW1pZ3JhdGlvbi10cnVtcC8ifQ.FRYQNHGuNNda2PgiLMHAlZE4KTUCJeTm6EVb94R70Ek

This is a congruent conflation of “skirt around (someone or something)” and “sweep (something) under the rug”, both meaning to avoid or evade something. Shout out to John Costello and Tom Justice for both spotting this one in the Washington Post and sending it in! Good eyes!

This will be cakework

A friend was at a bachelor party and somebody had hired an adult entertainer. Based on the friendly, non-threatening audience, the friend said that “this will be cakework” for the entertainer. This is a mashup of “a cakewalk” (something that is easy or effortless) and “like clockwork” (something that is regular or happens without delays). Both expressions describe something without problems or hindrances. A big thanks to Adam Jacob for hearing this one from another friend who was present at the party and sending it in!

The shoe has flipped completely upside down

On CNN Wednesday morning (7/24/24), John Berman was interviewing Howard Dean about campaign strategy. Dean mentioned how Trump is now the old guy and “the shoe has flipped completely upside down.” This is a congruent conflation of “the shoe is on the other foot,” and “the script has been flipped”, both referring to circumstances that have been reversed. “Turn (something) upside down” also describes a reversal so may be in the mix as well. Triple congruent conflation? Well done, Howard. Props to Ron MacDonald for spotting this one and sending it in!

He’s out of the times

There was a conversation about a person who was not up on the latest. This is a congruent conflation of “out of touch” and “behind the times”, both referring to someone not aware of or using the latest ideas or techniques. “Out of time” (having no more time to do something) might also have been in the speaker’s mind. Props to Doree Simon for hearing this one and Kevin Hatfield for uttering this nice mashup.

I don’t envy your shoes

This was heard in a conversation and uttered by someone from Guatemala. While there may be a translation issue here, it is nevertheless a nice mashup of “envy someone for someone or something” (regard one with jealousy for something one has) and “in someone else’s shoes” (to experience something from someone else’s point of view). But then again, maybe he just didn’t like the person’s shoes. A big thanks to Buzz McClain for hearing this one and sending it in!

People who don’t have a horse in the ring

Piers Morgan was interviewing Jay Leno, and they were discussing the January 6 insurrection. Morgan mentioned that “people who don’t have a horse in the ring” and look objectively at a candidate refusing to concede would generally react negatively to that candidate. Here is the interview (malaphor at 10:40):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lkoBcVLUw8

This is a mashup of “don’t have a horse in this race” (no vested interest in the outcome) and “throw your hat in the ring” (enter a contest or take on a challenge). The speaker may have been thinking of horses racing around a ring track. A big thanks to Skip Kennedy for hearing this one and sending it in!

We’re not going to kick our feet off the pedal

Scott Pressler, an American conservative activist working for the Trump campaign, was interviewed by talk radio host Dan Bongino. Pressler was talking about working very hard to help register voters, when he uttered this malaphor. It’s a congruent conflation of “kick back” and “take (one’s) foot off the pedal”, both meaning to relax and slow down. A big thank you to Verbatim for spotting yet another malaphor and sending it in!

Top Malaphor Contributors

This website could not function without the numerous Malaphor contibutions I receive on a regular basis from all over the world. Therefore, it was long overdue that I gave a shout out to the top contributors. I have posted hundreds, and perhaps over a thousand malaphors since July 2012, when the website started. Here then (drum roll) is the list of the top 25 contributors and the number of malaphors published by each as of July 11, 2024:

1. Frank King 133
2. Mike Kovacs 130
3. Barry Eigen 56
4. John Kooser 53
5. Martin Pietrucha 48
6. Sam Edelmann 47
7. Yvonne Stam 34
8. John Costello 33
9. Steve Grieme 32
10. Bruce Ryan 30
11. Verbatim 29
12. Beatrice Zablocki 22
13. Jim Kozlowski 21
14. Lou Pugliese 18
15. Tom Justice 17
16. Ron MacDonald 16
17. David Barnes 14
18. Mike Ameel 13
19. Katie Norwood (tie) 13
20. Anthony Kovacs (tie) 13
21. Kevin Hatfield 12
22. Dan Geier 11
23. David Stephens (tie) 11
24. Jack Chandler 10
25. Marcia Johnston(tie) 10
26. Linda Bernstein 9

Frank and Mike are in a class by themselves. Many thanks to everyone who not only send in potential malaphors but also are loyal followers of the website. You are the top of the notch!