Quid pro quo is one of these things to muddy the works

Posted: November 11, 2019 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This gem was uttered by Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT) yesterday on Meet the Press, talking about the Trump impeachment inquiry.  It is a mashup of “muddy the waters” (to make a situation less clear) and “gum up the works” (to interfere with the proper functioning of something).   Both expressions refer to degrading something, and “works” and “waters” might have been jumbled by the phrase “water works”?   A big shout out to Bruce Ryan who heard this one and passed it on.  @jahimes @MeetThePress

You can hear this malaphor just about at the beginning of the video:

 

 

The top kahuna, Donald Trump

Posted: November 7, 2019 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment
Former Watergate prosecutor Nick Akerman on MSNBC (Ari Melber’s show) uttered this gem, talking about Rudy Giuliani and the Ukrainians working for Trump.  It’s a mashup of “big kahuna” and “top dog”, both referring to a person in charge.  You can hear this one about 3 minutes into the video.  Link is:
https://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari/watch/-a-major-conspiracy-indicted-giuliani-aides-could-sing-to-feds-71931973526
This mixed idiom is similar to a similar malaphor posted a few years ago –  “head kahuna”, mixing once again “big kahuna” and this time “head honcho.  https://malaphors.com/2013/09/11/hes-the-head-kahuna/
A big thank you to Frank King for hearing this one and passing it on.  He’s the top kahuna of malaphors! @nickakerman

You dance with the devil you came with

Posted: November 4, 2019 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
Ike Reese (former football player for the Philadelphia Eagles) on the Marks and Reese sports talk radio show (WIP, 94.1), was discussing QB Carson Wentz’s risky play of diving and sliding to make a first down.  This is a nice mashup of “dance with the devil (or death)” (do something dangerous, risky or on the wild side) and “dance with the one that brung ya” (be loyal or attentive to the one who has been supportive).  So perhaps Ike was saying, “stick to the risky behavior that has made you successful”?  Maybe this can be a follow-up song for Shania Twain as well?  A big thank you to Linda Bernstein who heard this one and passed it on!

The book is running away from the charts

Posted: November 2, 2019 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A TV host was interviewing an author, and commenting on the author’s successful book (on the NY Times bestseller list).  This seems to be a mashup of “run away with” (win handily) and “off the charts” (spectacular).  Both phrases refer to something or someone having success, hence the mixup in context.  A big thanks to Verbatim for hearing this one and sending it in.

Speaking of books running away from the charts, check out my malaphor book, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon.  They’re selling like butter!  https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205

Don’t beat a horse while it’s down

Posted: October 31, 2019 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , | 2 Comments

In the seemingly never ending mashups of idioms involving the word “horse”, I give you this latest one, uttered by my grandnephew Nathan Hatfield.   His Dad was asking him about a project he was working on.  It is a mashup of “Kick (one) when (one) is down” (to criticize someone wh has already suffered a setback) and “beat a dead horse” (to continue to focus or talk about something).  Idioms that include the word “horse” are for some reason continually mixed up.  See my website and type in “horse”.  You will be amazed.  A big thanks to John Hatfield III for hearing this one and passing it on!

beating a dead horse

Why climate change deniers are running out of rope

Posted: October 21, 2019 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This is actually the title of an article in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/17/climate-science-deniers-environment-warning

It is a mashup of “running out of time” (to no longer have any time left to finish an activity) and, based on the context,  I believe “on the ropes” (close to defeat).  “At the end of (one’s) rope” (completely worn out) might also be in the mix as both idioms refer to the end of an activity.  A big thanks to John Kooser who spotted this one in plain sight.

They’ll be coming with guns out

Posted: October 19, 2019 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The speaker (contributor’s mom) was referring to Republicans when she heard that an impeachment inquiry on Trump was starting.  This is a mashup of “with all guns blazing” (forcefully and with a strong sense of purpose)  and “knives out” (people eager to criticize another).  Perhaps in this era “guns out” is more appropriate than knives.  A big thanks to Sandor Kovacs who heard this one and passed it on.

He would do fine if he keeps his eyes on the wheel

Posted: October 18, 2019 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This one was uttered by a witness in a trial.  It is a conflation of “keep your eyes on the ball” (stay focused) and I think “put your shoulder to the wheel” (work hard, put an effort into something).  Certainly one has to keep their eyes open when driving, but don’t stare at the wheel or you will be in big trouble.  Perhaps the speaker was thinking “eyes on the prize”, and the big Wheel of Fortune bubbled up in his brain.  Not sure.  A big thanks to Tom Justice who heard this one and passed it on.

You know how to beat a dead horse in the mouth

Posted: October 15, 2019 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Another horse malaphor.  This one is a mashup of “beat a dead horse” (to continue to focus or talk about something) and I think “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” (if you receive a gift, accept it graciously).  “Horse” is the common denominator here.  “Shoot off (one’s) mouth” or “diarrhea of the mouth” could also be in the mix, both meaing to be an excessive talker.  That fits with “beat a dead horse”.

By the way, idioms that include the word “horse” are for some reason continually mixed up.  See my website and type in “horse”.  You will be amazed.  A big thanks to Thomas Smith for sending this one in.

They will kick the can down the bucket

Posted: October 12, 2019 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The speaker was talking about whether the EU would give England another extension on Brexit, and that more than likely an extension would be approved.  This is a mashup of “kick the can down the road” (to postpone or defer a definitive action) and “kick the bucket” (to die).  “Kick” is the common word here, and “cans” and “buckets” are similar objects which probably led to the mixup.   I can’t help think that also the “ck” sound might have muddied the mental waters.  A big thanks to Nate Shand for uttering this one and then allowing me to share it with the malaphor world.

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