He’s out to butter his own nest
Posted: November 27, 2012 Filed under: ANIMALS, bread, butter, FOOD, nest, PLACES, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, bread and butter, expressioins, feather, feather your own next, know which side your bread is buttered on, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 3 Comments
English: A pat of butter, served on a leaf, with a butter knife and bread (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This slippery malaphor is a mash up of “feather your own nest” (use power and prestige to one’s advantage selfishly) and perhaps “know which side your bread is buttered on” (to be loyal to the person who will benefit you the most). “Bread and butter” (someone’s livelihood or source of income) could also be a player here. There is also an Hungarian expression -több mindent jelenthet – roughly translated “butter one’s bread on both sides” and meaning leaving nothing for others to argue or complain. My ol’ pal indicates “buttering your own bread” (using power to gain income selfishly) may also be part of this mix up.
They threw a bullet in their foot
Posted: November 26, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS, bullet, foot, THINGS, throw | Tags: blended idioms, dodge a bullet, expressions, foot, malaphors, mixed idioms, shoot yourself in the foot, steelers football, steelers radio, tunch ilkin, words 2 CommentsThis tortured malaphor was spoken by Tunch Ilkin on Steelers radio yesterday during the Steelers/Browns football game. Tunch is a wonderful commentator and ex-Steeler, and is known for his colorful language describing Steelers games. This time he seemed to have several thoughts buzzing through his head, as he wanted to say, that the Steelers had “shot themselves in the foot” (do something that causes problems for yourself), given that a seventh turnover had just been committed. Perhaps the shooting idea conjured up bullets and the phrase “dodge a bullet” (evaded something) or “took a bullet” (sacrificed), both meaning the opposite of what he wanted to say. The “threw” part of the phrase was the errant pass by the quarterback, resulting in an interception.
Sports media is a treasure trove of malaphors, many of which have been repeated on this website. A big thank you to my wife for hearing this gem on her way home from Costco!
He kept pushing my strings
Posted: November 24, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, CLOTHING, pull, push, strings, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, pulling strings, pushing his buttons, words Leave a commentPush or pull? Buttons or strings? Oh, the mind twists and turns in mysterious ways, particularly as one grows older. I heard myself saying this one awhile back. This is a confused conflation of “pushing his buttons” (knowing ways to make a person angry) and “pulling strings” (“to use influence to get something done”). Of course, I am sure Pinocchio must have said this at some point to Geppetto.
Cover of Geppetto
When in Vegas…
Posted: November 23, 2012 Filed under: PLACES, Rome, Vegas | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, Rome, Vegas, what happens in Vegas, when in Rome, words Leave a comment
English: Vector image of the Las Vegas sign. Português: Imagems vectorial da placa de Las Vegas. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This is a subtle mash up of “when in Rome” (adapt yourself to the behavior of others or places around you) and “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” (details of a weekend spent away from home not revealed). Thanks to Anna Washabaugh for sending in this one.
the last straw in the coffin
Posted: November 22, 2012 Filed under: coffin, nail, PLACES, straw, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, conflation, expressions, last straw, malaphors, mixed idioms, nail in the coffin, words 3 CommentsThis is a mash up of “the last straw” and “another nail in the coffin” (both meaning the final problem that will lead to a collapse or end). I saw this one on yardflex.com, which is a website about Jamaican issues:
“All respect to Trinidad, but they own more of the country’s assets than we do, selling them Air Jamaica will now be the last straw in the coffin.”
http://www.yardflex.com/archives/005475.html
I AM the malaphor king, mon.
It’s a changing of the torch
Posted: November 21, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, guard, THINGS, torch | Tags: blended idioms, changing of the guard, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, passing the torch, torch, words Leave a commentWe’ll be here ’til the cows come to Capistrano
Posted: November 20, 2012 Filed under: ANIMALS, Capistrano, cow | Tags: Alabama, Birmingham, blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, San Juan Capistrano California, swallows return to Capistrano, till the cows come home, words Leave a commentThis beauty was uttered by Alabama State Representative John Rogers, in response to questions about his protests outside a hospital that is about to be closed. This is a mash up of “until the cows come home” (for a very long time) and the song “when the Swallows come back to Capistrano”. Warning: when you visit San Juan Capistrano, be sure and watch out for cow droppings from the sky….
http://blog.al.com/archiblog/2012/11/why_not_give_rep_john_rogers_w.html
Thanks to David S. for sending this one to me all the way from Birmingham.
English: Basilica San Juan Capistrano, California, United States. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
If you can’t cut the cheese, get out of the kitchen
Posted: November 19, 2012 Filed under: cheese, FOOD, kitchen, mustard | Tags: blended idioms, can't cut the mustard, cut the cheese, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a comment
cheeses (Photo credit: uberculture)
This malaphor combines several thoughts, resulting in a humorous saying. Certainly “can’t cut the mustard” (one who cannot meet the required standard) and ” if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen” (don’t persist in a task if it is too much for you) are involved, but what about “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”? Also let’s not forget “who cut the cheese”? (who farted?) Given these idioms and sayings, I think it is more appropriate to say, “if you cut the cheese, get out of the kitchen”.
She has a memory like a hawk
Posted: November 17, 2012 Filed under: ANIMALS, elephant, hawk | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, eyes like a hawk, hawk, malaphors, memory like an elephantp, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis is a conflation of the idioms “memory of an elephant” (excellent recall) and “eyes like a hawk” (very perceptive). The speaker has his animals and senses mixed up it seems. Or, perhaps hawks have excellent memories?
It’s not his cup of wax
Posted: November 16, 2012 Filed under: FOOD, tea, wax | Tags: ball of wax, blended idioms, cup of tea, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis malaphor was heard on the T-ball field from a parent whose son kept an eye on outfield ants and flowers rather than the ball. It is an amusing blend of “not my cup of tea” (do not like it very much) and “the whole ball of wax” (the entire thing or affair). A big thanks to Cam O. who heard this one and sent it to me.
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