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.
They’re just a bunch of bean pushers
Posted: August 14, 2012 Filed under: FOOD, THINGS | Tags: bean counters, blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, pencil pushers, words Leave a commentI heard this one on an Allstate tv commercial about 20 years ago. A customer was referring to the insurance adjuster, saying, “They really are kind and considerate. They’re not just a bunch of bean pushers.” This is a blend of “bean counters” (persons just interested in the numbers of an issue) and “pencil pushers” ( persons just doing menial tasks).
That really burns my goat!
Posted: August 13, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, ANIMALS | Tags: blended idioms, burn, expressions, goat, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentIt appears this is a mash up of “gets my goat’ (annoys me) and “burns me up” (makes me mad). Both idioms have similar meanings and are both three sentences long. I can guarantee that no animals were hurt or killed in the course of using this malaphor.
Jump on the band rail
Posted: August 12, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, malaphors, mixed idioms, railroads, wagons, words Leave a comment“Jump on the bandwagon” (to voluntarily participate in something) is what the speaker meant to say, but apparently was derailed in his thinking and confused his train of thought. As “my ol pal” points out, years ago politicians (e.g Truman) used to have whistle-stop campaigns where the candidate would ride aboard a special train & make stops in various places so that the public could see them, hoping that the voters would “jump on their bandwagon.” So, perhpas the phrase “riding the rails” (hobos getting free rides on the trains) was probably the source of the confusion, with the speaker thinking about railroads instead of wagons, both forms of transportation. Finally, to “jump the rails” (train goes off the track) might be the missing idiom as it contains the word “jump” even though the thought is opposite to jump ON the bandwagon. The subconscious is indeed a mystery….
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