I’m going through the hoops
Posted: November 18, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentThe speaker was buying a new house, and someone asked how the process was going and this was his reply. It is a perfectly formed conflation of “jumping through hoops” (to face or complete many challenges that seem excessive or arbitrary) and “going through the motions” (to do the base functions of some activity without much thought or interest). Both phrases involve going through a series of activities, and both contain the word “through”, causing the mental hiccup. There is a legit phrase “going through hoops” but with the extra “the” I think this constitutes as a malaphor. A big thanks to high school friend Phil Chumley for unintentionally saying this one and recognizing that it was malaphor worthy!
That’s not what you call leading from the front foot
Posted: November 16, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: humor, idioms, language, words Leave a commentNikema Williams (D-GA) was talking on MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports about the current poor leadership. This is a mashup of “leading from the front” (to act or behave the way one advises or espouses) and “getting off on the right foot” (to have a positive or favorable start). I suppose that is better than leading from the back foot. Another big thanks to Frank King for hearing this one.
Let’s don’t kick this down the chain
Posted: November 13, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, idiom, language, words Leave a commentBill Weir on CNN said this while discussing the returns in Arizona. He was discussing the results in different counties and was attempting to say, “let’s don’t jump to any conclusions”. It is a conflation of “(move something) up the chain” (seek approval at the next level) and “kick the can down the road” (defer or postpone a definitive action). Given the context, “kick (something) around” (to discuss something) might be in play. “Up” often means “down” and vice versa in the Malaphor World. A tip of the toque to Steve Hubbard for hearing this one and sending it in.
She flipped her tune
Posted: November 12, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: changed her tune, flipped, humor, idioms, language, malaphors 2 CommentsThis is another from Naomi David. She was talking about someone changing her opinion. This is a congruent conflation of “change (one’s) tune” and “flipped”, both meaning to change or reverse course, or change sides in a controversy. “Flipped the script” (make a total reversal or radical change) might also have been on the speaker’s mind (a shout out to Verbatim for noting this). In this current political climate, she may have been thinking of states “flipping” from red to blue or vice versa. A big thanks to Naomi and to Katie Norwood for hearing this one and passing it on.
So they should have their eggs in a row — eggs in order.
Posted: November 10, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentChris Cuomo was talking with Chris Cilliza on CNN the night of the election. They were talking about states that should go for Biden and Cuomo blurted out this great malaphor. It is a nice conflation of “get your ducks in a row” (get well-organized) and “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” (don’t risk everything on one venture). Idioms containing the words eggs, ducks, or baskets seem to get commonly jumbled. “All your eggs lined up” comes to mind. https://malaphors.com/2012/07/25/all-your-eggs-lined-up/ Type any one of these words in the search and you will find many postings on the subjects.
A big thanks to Jane Di Paola for hearing this one and passing it on!
Throw the kitchen sink at the wall and see what sticks
Posted: November 9, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Ben Ginsburg Leave a commentBen Ginsburg, a Republican lawyer who spearheaded former George W. Bush’s election appeal, was on 60 minutes and was talking about Trump’s strategy in contesting this year’s election. This is a mashup of “everything but the kitchen sink” (nearly everything one could imagine) and “throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks” (if you make enough attempts or guesses, some of them will be correct or useful). Both idioms involve trying just about anything to achieve a result, so this could easily be called a congruent conflation. Perhaps the speaker was thinking about making spaghetti in his kitchen. Based on the clip below, I don’t think this was an intentional mashup. Another huge thank you to Frank King for hearing this one and sending it in.
We can’t give up our guard right now
Posted: November 6, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: give up the ghost, humor, idioms, language, lower your guard Leave a commentDr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA Commissioner, was interviewed on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” about the coronavirus, and how we are entering the hardest point in the pandemic. This is a conflation of “lower our guard” (to become less vigilant) and “give up” (to yield or relinquish something). “Give up the ghost” (to die) might also be in the mix, given the context. Kudos to Frank King for spotting this in a CNN tweet.
Sounds like you’re juggling a lot of hats
Posted: November 3, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, malaphors, words Leave a commentIf you follow this website, you will know the name of Naomi David, dubbed “The Queen of Malaphors”. Oops, she did it again and uttered this gem, which is a congruent conflation of “wearing many hats” and “juggling/keeping balls in the air”, both meaning to hold many responsibilities at the same time. Since she was talking to Katie Hatfield Norwood, “hats” might have been on her mind.
Did you know hat spinning is a thing? In the final years of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century, hat spinning was a fairly standard and common form of juggling. Today this art form is performed by perhaps as few as two or three jugglers in the entire world. For those who have never seen it, hat spinning can perhaps be best described as a cross between plate spinning and devil stick, with a flimsy, broad-brimmed hat being manipulated by one or two long sticks held in the juggler’s hands. https://www.juggle.org/hat-spinning-history-instruction-and-performers/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20best%20known,art%20form%20was%20Walter%20Bellonini.&text=Other%20early%20jugglers%20who%20performed,least%20as%20early%20as%201875.
A big thanks to Naomi David and Katie Norwood for this one.
That’s the name of the deal
Posted: November 2, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: here's the deal Leave a commentKarine Jean-Pierre. Chief of Staff for Kamala Harris, was talking about the importance of returning mail in ballots at drop boxes or in person at this late date and to avoid mailing them. This is a congruent conflation of “name of the game” and “here’s the deal”, both meaning the most important aspect of something. “Here’s the deal” is a frequent expression uttered by both Biden and Harris. A big thanks to Bruce Ryan for hearing this one and sending it in.
Every step of the turn
Posted: October 30, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentJosh Shapiro, Pennsylvania Attorney General, was talking on MSNBC’s Morning Joe and uttered this conflation. It is a mashup of “every step of the way” (throughout the entire process) and “at every turn” (at every opportunity). Maybe this is one Trump should use when touting that the pandemic is about to end. A big thanks to Frank King for hearing this one and sending it in.
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