First off the bat
Posted: July 30, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Chris Hayes, First off, MSNBC, right off the bat Leave a commentChris Hayes from MSNBC’s All In with Chris Hayes utters this one at the 1:40 mark:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-in-with-chris-hayes/id1314170606?i=1000530357511
This is a mashup of “first off” (first of all, before anything else) and “right off the bat” (immediately). “Right off the bat” seems to be an idiom that is mixed quite often. See, for example, https://malaphors.com/2013/05/23/right-from-the-bat/ and https://malaphors.com/2012/10/27/right-out-of-the-bat/. The mind is going batty with these malaphors. A big thanks to Frank King for hearing this one and sending it in!
He closes the page and it is done
Posted: July 29, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Caeleb Dressel, Megan Dressel, Olympics Leave a commentMeghan Dressel, wife of Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel, was talking about how her husband keeps a journal but discards it when the book is full. This is a nice congruent conflation of “turns the page” and ” closes the book”, both meaning to forget the past, make a transition and move on. Mike Kovacs get the gold for hearing this one and passing it on.
They need laser-sharp focus
Posted: July 26, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: field hockey Leave a commentA commentator uttered this one during the New Zealand/Argentina Womens’ Field Hockey Olympics game. This is a congruent conflation of “laser focus” and “razor-sharp”, both meaning to be particularly clear and focused. Laser and razor rhyme and both indicate cutting, probably contributing to the mashup. A big thanks Zoe Danger for hearing his one and sending it in.
Lemmings running to their own slaughter
Posted: July 22, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cnn, malaphorsh, You Tube Leave a commentOn CNN’s YouTube channel there’s a clip entitled ‘Ex-Fox Reporter Reveals Why Tucker Carlson Is Lying About Vaccines’. At the 1:50 mark guest Carl Cameron remarks, “This is literally the metaphor of the lemmings running to their own slaughter”. Here is the clip:
This is a great congruent conflation of “like lemmings to the sea/running off a cliff” and “‘like a lamb to the slaughter”’, both meaning people going innocently and helplessly, without realizing the danger. A tip of the hat to Torre Thompson for spotting this gem. As Torre says, “either way, you’re left with a bunch of dead lemmings.” ‘Nuff said.
It pushed him over the line
Posted: July 13, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Psycho Leave a commentThis line appears near the end of the movie, “Psycho”. The psychiatrist is describing Norman’s dminished mental state and when his mother had an affair “it pushed him over the line”. This is a mashup of “push (one) over the edge” (cause one to commit someone to doing something they had been considering for a long time) and “cross/over the line” (to cross some threshold into unacceptable behavior). Great catch from Vicki Kovacs.
I’m falling behind my eight-game, Part 2
Posted: July 5, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentI received a ton of responses to this one (well, three but that’s a “ton” in malaphor world), telling me I missed the most obvious conflation: “behind the eight ball” and “(not) on (one’s) A-game” (not performing at the highest level). Exactly! As Bruce Ryan pointed out, “eight” and “a” is a good example of a homophone (two words that sound alike but have different meanings). This clearly caused the malaphor here. A big thanks to Bruce, Yvonne Stam, and John Costello for pointing this out.
I’m falling behind my eight-game.
Posted: July 5, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized 4 CommentsAfter being sick, a son was telling his mom he had a lot of school work to make up, and that he was falling behind his eight-game. This is a rare trifecta malaphor, combining “falling behind” (not be as current with a task as one would want), “off (one’s) game” (unable to perform as well as usual) and “behind the eight ball” (in a challenging situation). The speaker was probably just wanting to say “falling behind” but the word “behind” may have prompted the “eight ball” idiom, in turn conjuring up the “game” of pool. Just a guess. A big thanks to Mary Marshall for hearing this one and passing it on!
My Interview with Kinfolk magazine
Posted: June 28, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentTop of the notch reading!
Mixed Metaphors
I need to step on my game
Posted: June 28, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentBelieve it or not, we have another malaphor from the tv show “7 Little Johnstons”. Daughter Emma is talking about rock climbing as a form of training to improve her performance as a cheerleader. This is a nice congruent conflation of “step up (one’s) game” (to improve in some way) and “on (one’s) game” (playing well). Game is the operative word here. A big thanks to Mike Kovacs for hearing this one and sending it in.
Airbrushed under the carpet
Posted: June 25, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentTwo women were talking about some controversy in pop culture and this was overheard. It’s a nice mashup of “airbrushed“ (to whitewash or obfuscate) and “brushed under the carpet” (to ignore or conceal something that is embarrassing or damaging to one’s reputation). Both phrases are similar in meaning, almost making a congruent conflation. A big thanks to Verbatim for hearing this one and sending it in.
Malaphors 
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