He had his head between his legs
Posted: November 5, 2012 Filed under: BODY PARTS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, heads or tails, malaphors, mixed idioms, tail between his legs, words 4 CommentsWhen I heard this one, naturally I did a double take. The speaker meant to say “tail between his legs” (embarrassed from a loss) but apparently got the wrong part of the anatomy. He may have been thinking “heads or tails” or perhaps “head over heels” (excited), but my guess is that he was thinking “head up his ass” (conceited) considering who he was referring to. Nuff said.
Cut to the crux
Posted: November 4, 2012 Filed under: ACTION | Tags: blended idioms, crux of the matter, cut to the chase, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 2 CommentsThis classic from the “Master” mixes “cut to the chase” (get to the point) and “crux of the matter” (important point), creating perhaps a better expression as it describes going directly to the important point of a story/problem/issue. The “Master” was indeed ahead of his time, coining this beauty in 1981. Interestingly, a google search of this phrase produced over 5,000 results, making it a commonly used malaphor.
I hit him right between the nose
Posted: November 3, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, on the nose, right between the eyes, words Leave a commentWonderful mash-up of “right between the eyes” and “on the nose”, both referring to exactitude. Facial features seem to be popular in malaphors….also expressions using animals.
It was nip and go
Posted: November 2, 2012 Filed under: ACTION | Tags: blended idioms, express plastic surgery, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, nip and tuck, touch and go, words Leave a commentThis is a wonderful blend of “nip and tuck” (close race) and “touch and go” (dangerous or uncertain). It evokes a race that is close and the outcome uncertain, perhaps like the current presidential race. Then again, it could be describing an express plastic surgery center. I can see it now: “Excess body fat removed in 5 minutes!! Visit your neighborhood Nip and Go Center TODAY!”
Do the science
Posted: November 1, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, do the math, expressions, howard stern, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentMalaphor follower Mike K. heard this one on the Howard Stern show a few days ago. A 9/11 conspiracist, taking about the unlikelihood of the “third tower” collapsing at 5pm on 9/11, said “Do the science…” This is probably a mix up of “do the math” (figure it out) and “down to a science” (exactly), but then the caller might be just mixing up his school courses.
Right out of the bat
Posted: October 27, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: baseball, blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, off the bat, out of the box, words 2 CommentsThis is a mixture of “right out of the box” and “right off the bat”, both baseball metaphors and both meaning “first thing.” Thanks to John C. for passing this one along!
They blew it out of the park
Posted: October 27, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, hit one out of the park, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 2 CommentsHeard on HGTV’s Kitchen Cousins by faithful follower Yvonne: “they blew it out of the park” for an excellent new kitchen. This is a mash up of “hit it out of the park” and “blew it out of the water” (both meaning outstanding achievement). Wow, what a kitchen!
Rome wasn’t burned in a day
Posted: October 25, 2012 Filed under: PLACES, TIME | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, Rome, Rome wasn't built in a day, words 1 CommentA terrific mash-up of “Rome wasn’t built in a day” (involved projects take time) and “Nero fiddled while Rome burned”. The book, “Is Paris Burning?” also could have been on the speaker’s mind, as well as “don’t burn your bridges”.
This is a delicate balance that Facebook has to juggle
Posted: October 23, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, delicate balance, expressions, facebook, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis was heard on Good Morning America last week. Not sure this is a true malaphor as it seems to be combining two complete idioms but not mixing them, but it was too good to pass up. Thanks to Barry for sending this one to me.
Take the reins by the ears
Posted: October 18, 2012 Filed under: ANIMALS, BODY PARTS, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, bull by the horns, expressions, mixed idioms, reindeer, take the reins, words Leave a commentA fellow blogger, TerriblyWrite, and follower of this site sent this gem to me. She said her daughter’s boss uttered it, and when explained that it was a malaphor mix of “take the reins” and “take the bull by the horns”, he responded, “Oh, I thought it had something to do with reindeer.”
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