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.”
I didn’t want to throw a wet towel on it
Posted: October 18, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, throw in the towel, wet blanket, words Leave a commentThis is a mash up of “I don’t want to be a wet blanket” (a downer or a party pooper) and “throw in the towel” (resign or give up). In context, the speaker wanted to stop the activity (walking) but didn’t want to ruin the fun for others so kept walking. The malaphor cleverly combines the two thoughts. (heard at the Australia Zoo – Beerwah, Queensland).
He wears it on his shoulder
Posted: October 17, 2012 Filed under: BODY PARTS, CLOTHING | Tags: blended idioms, chip on your shouder, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, wear it on your sleeve, words Leave a commentHeard near Brisbane, Australia. This is a blend of wearing it on your sleeve (showing your emotions) and chip on your shoulder (grudge shown openly). Malaphors are everywhere…
If you can’t beat ’em, lick ’em
Posted: October 11, 2012 Filed under: ACTION | Tags: beat, blended idioms, expressions, lick, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentHeard this one down under from my nephew, Erik. Not sure if it is an Aussie malaphor, but it shows malaphors are a world wide sensation.
Up a tree without a paddle
Posted: September 26, 2012 Filed under: THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, creek, difficult situation, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, paddle, tree, up a creek without a paddle, up a tree, words Leave a commentThis one is a mash up of “up a tree” and “up a creek without a paddle”, both meaning having difficulty or being in a difficult situation. The confusion is obvious: both idioms have similar meanings, both contain the word “up”, and there is assonance in the words “tree” and “creek”. I suppose in a flood you actually might be up a tree without a paddle!
that’s a hard row to climb
Posted: September 25, 2012 Filed under: ACTION | Tags: blended idoms, challenge, expressions, hard row to hoe, malaphors, mixed idioms, uphill climb, words Leave a commentI think this is a mash up of “hard row to hoe” and “it’s an uphill climb”, both meaning a difficult situation to deal with. The speaker may also have been thinking “road” instead of “row” and perhaps meant to say a “hard road ahead” or a “rocky road”, again meaning a challenging situation. Farmers sometimes do terrace farming on hill sides, so the speaker may have been thinking rows to hoe uphill. Who knows what lurks in the mind of the malaphor speaker?
You hit the nose on the head
Posted: September 23, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, correct, expressions, head, hit the nail on the head, malaphors, mixed idioms, nose, on the nose, words Leave a commentIf you type this malaphor on a google search, you get hundreds of responses, reflecting how often this malaphor is written/spoken. It is a blend of “hit it on the nose” and “hit the nail on the head”, both phrases meaning getting something exactly right. I suspect the confusion here is also prompted by two words that are both body parts and four letter words. It also could be from watching too many Three Stooges comedies.
Don’t air your dirty laundry in the closet
Posted: September 22, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, CLOTHING, PLACES, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, dirty laundry, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, out of the closet, skeletons in the closet, words 2 CommentsCertainly words of wisdom. This is a mash up of “don’t air your dirty laundry” (don’t reveal secrets publicly), “out of the closet” (a secret revealed to the public) and “skeletons in the closet” (deep secrets one does not want revealed), all referring to secrets. And of course dirty laundry often is collected in hampers in the closet so laundry and closet are word associations. On the other hand, maybe the speaker was being literal and recommending that dirty laundry in a closet will eventually make your closet smell….doubtful.
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