In the essence of time
Posted: September 17, 2013 Filed under: TIME | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, in the interest of time, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, time is of the essence, words 5 CommentsThis subtle malaphor is a mix of “in the interest of saving time” (in order to save time) and “time is of the essence” (meeting the deadlines is essential). Could have been spoken by a dyslexic lawyer. Thanks to Lin Sewell for sending this one in.
Put on another cup of coffee
Posted: September 15, 2013 Filed under: coffee | Tags: blended idioms, Coffee, cup of coffee, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, pot of coffee, words Leave a commentThis is a mash up of “put on a pot of coffee” and “get another cup of coffee”. I just heard this one on the CW UPMC nightly sports call with Bob Pompeani, and yes Bob uttered this one as he was telling listeners to kick back and watch the show. This is a Pittsburgh call in sports show that is very entertaining.
You sowed your own poison, man!
Posted: September 12, 2013 Filed under: poison, sow | Tags: as you sow so shall you reap, blended idioms, expressions, humor, James Franco, language, made you rown bed, malaphors, mixed idioms, pick your poison, Pineapple Express, Seth Rogen, words 2 Comments
Cover via Amazon
This mix up comes from the movie Pineapple Express, spoken by James Franco’s character, Saul. It is a mash up of several idioms, I think, including “you made your bed, now lie in it” (bad outcome is based on your actions), “pick your poison” (must choose between equally bad things), and “as you sow, so shall you reap” (outcomes are based on how you behave). A shout out to Basil D’Costa for sending this beauty in!
He’s the head kahuna
Posted: September 11, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Beach Blanket Bingo, big kahuna, BigKahuna, blended idioms, Cliff Robertson, expressions, head honcho, humor, language, malaphors, Martin Milner, mixed idioms, words 2 Comments
Sandra Dee as Gidget in the 1959 film, (VHS cover) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Elaine Hatfield said this to me in the car the other day. She immediately wrote it down so that we would remember it (sign of a good malaphor). This is a mash up of “big kahuna” and “head honcho”, both meaning the person in charge. The use of the term “big kahuna” in reference to surfing can be traced back to the 1959 film Gidget, in which “The Big Kahuna“, played by Cliff Robertson, (Martin Milner in the TV episode), was the leader of a group of surfers. The term then became commonplace in Beach Party films of the 1960s such as Beach Blanket Bingo, where the “Big Kahuna” was the best surfer on the beach
We’ll drop a line in the water and see what sticks
Posted: September 9, 2013 Filed under: ACTION, drop, FOOD, water | Tags: blended idioms, dip a toe in the water, expressions, humor, language, make it stick, malaphors, Mike Tomlin, mixed idioms, Pittsburgh Steelers, Running back, words Leave a comment
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin – September 16, 2007 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This jumble was apparently uttered by Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin a few weeks ago in response to the running backs situation. It is a mash up of “dip a toe in the water” (to test or try out something) and “make (something) stick” (to cause to be accepted). “Throw dirt enough and some will stick” might also be in the equation. Given the Steelers first performance, apparently the line was made of teflon. Thanks to Dan Geier for overhearing this one on the radio.
She stopped them cold in their tracks
Posted: September 7, 2013 Filed under: stop | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, stopped dead in his tracks, stopped him cold, words Leave a commentThis subtle congruent conflation is a mix of “stopped them dead in their tracks” and “stopped (someone) cold”, both meaning to stop someone or something immediately. Thanks to Jane Eyre (the real one, not the fictional one) for uttering this unintentional malaphor.
He had the nurses eating out of his fingertips
Posted: September 2, 2013 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS, eat, finger, hand | Tags: blended idioms, congruent conflations, eating out of my hand, expressions, humor, language, Little finger, malaphors, mixed idioms, twisted around the little finger, words 1 CommentI believe this is a congruent conflation of “eating out of his hand” and “twisted around his little finger“, both meaning to control or manipulate others. “At your fingertips” (within reach) might also be in the jumble. Regardless, this malaphor paints an unsanitary picture but one worthy of posting on Labor Day. Here’s to all the hardworking nurses out there! A shout out to Steve Grieme for sending this one in.
Please stop and smell the daisies
Posted: August 30, 2013 Filed under: daisies, roses, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, flowers, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, pushing up daisies, stop and smell the roses, words Leave a comment
Daisies (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I saw this malaphor in today’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and had to post it right away. It is a mash up of “stop and smell the roses” (pause and enjoy life) and “pushing up daisies” (dead). “Wake up and smell the coffee” may also be in the mix. Not sure if daisies really have any smell, but I don’t really want to push any of them up anytime soon.
There’s no use crying over fish in the sea
Posted: August 27, 2013 Filed under: ANIMALS, cry, fish, milk | Tags: blended idioms, Don Draper, don't cry over spilled milk, expressions, humor, language, Mad Men, malaphors, mixed idioms, plenty of fish in the sea, television, words Leave a comment
Don Draper of Mad Men works on Madison Avenue (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I have too many fires on the plate
Posted: August 26, 2013 Filed under: ball, fire, irons, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, humor, irons in the fire, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, plate is full, words Leave a commentThis is a mash up of “too many irons in the fire” (many things happening at once) and “my plate is full” (working at capacity on many things). It is similar to previous malaphors (“lot of irons in the pipeline” – 12/13/12 – “lot of balls in the fire” – 7/17/13), all referring to many things happening at the same time. Perhaps that is what the mind does with expressions: juggling a million in the brain and two similar ones spit out. A big thank you to David Spain for overhearing this one.
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