Cream of the cake
Posted: August 24, 2012 Filed under: FOOD | Tags: blended idioms, cake, cream, expressions, icing, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis mash-up involves the phrase “icing on the cake” (something extra on a successful endeavor) and “cream of the crop” (finest or best). The speaker not only thought his object was great but somehow a cut above the best? Since that describes this website, I have included it in the tagline. 🙂
Throw it out of the woodwork
Posted: August 23, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, PLACES, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, crawl, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, woodwork, words Leave a commentI had to enlist my “ol’ pal” to sort this one out. She states that “crawled out of the woodwork” means something hidden came to light unexpectedly (like a cockroach or anything/anyone unwelcome). “Thrown out for discussion” represents ideas that have to be considered by the group before a decision can be reached. “Throw it out of the woodwork” seems to indicate forcing something hidden into the light of day, something that must be revealed. I think she has hit the nail on the jackpot with this one.
Put my neck out on a limb
Posted: August 22, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, limb, malaphors, mixed idioms, neck, words 2 CommentsThis one is pretty straightforward and pretty common – a mash up of “stuck my neck out” and “go out on a limb”. Both idioms have the same meaning (put yourself in potentially a disadvantageous position to support someone or something) and are about the same length. Confusion thus reigns.
He has a punch like a mule
Posted: August 21, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, ANIMALS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, kick, malaphors, mixed idioms, mule, punch, words Leave a commentThe speaker meant to say “kick like a mule” (kick very hard) so we know this is one phrase in the mash-up, but what was she thinking when she said “punch”? “Punched out” comes to mind, but also “punch like a girl” (soft hitting) also could have been in the subconscious, particularly since the words “girl” and “mule” are both four letters long and end with the L sound. All I know is when I heard it something just didn’t sound right, a true endorsement for a good malaphor.
I have it on the tip of my hand
Posted: August 20, 2012 Filed under: BODY PARTS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, finger, hand, malaphors, mixed idioms, tip of my tongue, words Leave a commentThis is another classic uttered by “the master”. I remember he was trying to say “on the tip of my tongue” (a word or phrase that can’t be remembered) just out of reach) but what is the mix-up? At first I thought it was “at my fingertips” (within reach) but my “ol pal” reminded me that the phrase “tip my hand” (revealed something that was hidden, such as in a card game) was probably the culprit and I agree. The speaker perhaps was thinking tongue or finger but his unconscious grabbed the wrong body part, as we have seen in prior malaphors.
We need to broaden the umbrella
Posted: August 19, 2012 Filed under: THINGS | Tags: big tent, blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, umbrella, words Leave a commentHeard on a conference call last year, initially this mix-up seems to blend “broaden our base” with “under the umbrella”. “Broaden one’s base” often means looking elsewhere (for an answer, for more sales contacts, for new ideas, etc.) while “Under the umbrella” often means getting everyone together on something (a plan, an idea, a path` to take, etc.). The two thoughts are almost contradictory – one goes outside while the other gathers everyone together to agree on something or do something. However, ultimately I think the speaker was thinking “big tent” (embracing people with different values or visions) and that since both an umbrella and a tent covers things (e.g., rain), the malaphor was uttered.
You wash my back; I’ll wash yours.
Posted: August 17, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS | Tags: back, blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, scratch, wash, words Leave a commentThis is again a mash up of “one hand washing the other” and “you scratch my back; I’ll scratch yours” (see yesterday’s malaphor post). These two malaphors were both spoken by “the Master”, so why would he mix them both in different ways? My guess is that he may have been thinking in this one of “watching your back” (looking out for another) since “watch” and “wash” are similar sounding words (“the master” did tend to slur words, especially after a long lunch). Again, it is difficult to step into such a complex mind so I can only speculate.
One hand scratching the other
Posted: August 16, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS | Tags: blended idioms, congruent conflation, expressions, hand, malaphors, mixed idioms, scratch, wash, words Leave a commentThis is a mix up of two similar meaning idioms – “one hand washing the other” and ” you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” (reciprocal help). These malaphors that mix idioms having the same or similar meaning are also called congruent conflations.
It was like a ton of bricks was lifted from my shoulders
Posted: August 15, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, bricks, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, shoulders, weight, words Leave a commentThis mash up involves the idioms “hit like a ton of bricks” (surprise or shock) and “weight was lifted from my shoulders” (relieved of a responsibility), both referring to weight, but one indicates weight off and the other on. The speaker appears to be thinking the word “weight” but somehow “ton of bricks” replaces that thought and the malaphor is born.
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