I’m at the end of the straw
Posted: April 12, 2013 Filed under: rope, straw | Tags: blended idioms, end of my rope, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, rope, straw, the last straw, words Leave a commentThis beauty is a combo of “at the end of my rope” and “the last straw”, both meaning to be at the end of one’s endurance. Straws and ropes are similar in shape and even texture, adding to the mental confusion. A tip of the toque to Paula Fow for sending this congruent conflation to me.
It was a hands down case
Posted: April 8, 2013 Filed under: BODY PARTS, hand | Tags: blended idioms, congruent conflation, expressions, hands down, humor, language, malaphors, slam dunk, words Leave a commentThis is a congruent conflation of “hands down” and “slam dunk”, the first an adverb and the second a noun, both meaning easily. The context reveals the reader meant to say slam dunk, as he was referring to an arbitration case with a former employer that he expected to win. A big thank you to Mike Kovacs who heard this one on NPR’s This American Life last week.
I don’t know it off the top of my hand
Posted: April 2, 2013 Filed under: hand, head | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, hand, head, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, off the top of my head, offhand, words 1 CommentThis is a mash up of “off the top of my head” and “offhand”, both meaning to say something without preparation. Hand and head both look and sound similar, and are both body parts, all adding to the confusion. I have heard this one many times in conversation and in meetings.
He’s a one act pony
Posted: March 30, 2013 Filed under: pony | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, one act play, one trick pony, pony, trick, words 1 CommentOkay, so is it fair to post your spouse’s malaphors? My wife said this one last night, referring to a college basketball player. This is a mash up of “one trick pony” and I think “one act play“. Pony and play are four letter words beginning with P and ending with y, which is part of the confusion. Ponies are certainly playful as well.
You’re just rubbing sand in it
Posted: March 27, 2013 Filed under: rub, salt, sand | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, rub salt in the wound, salt, sand, Today, Willie Geist, words Leave a commentI heard this one by Willie Geist on the Today show. He meant to say “you’re just rubbing salt in the wound” as he was explaining that the person’s actions were making the situation worse. As for the other expression, not sure but certainly sand is abrasive and can hurt if in a wound. It also conjures up in my mind the guy kicking sand in the other’s face, aggravating the situation.
That was the only flaw in the ointment
Posted: March 26, 2013 Filed under: fly, ointment | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, flaw, fly, fly in the ointment, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis is a mash up of “fly in the ointment” and “flaw in the logic”, both referring to a drawback. Confusion may also be caused by the similar sounding words “fly” and “flaw”. Thanks to Barry Eigen for passing this gem along!
They played out of their heads
Posted: March 23, 2013 Filed under: head, mind | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, Florida Gulf coast University, head, humor, language, malaphors, mind, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentAnother malaphor from the sports world. A tv sports commentator uttered this one when describing an underdog basketball team. This is a mash up of “out of their minds” and “over their heads”, both describing a team that played beyond expectations. NCAA cinderella team perhaps?
Athletics logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
He’s an easy-go-lucky fellow
Posted: March 22, 2013 Filed under: WORD BLENDS | Tags: blended idioms, easy-going, expressions, happy-go-lucky, humor, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis is a single word blend of “easy-going” and “happy-go-lucky”, both generally meaning the same thing.
It’s a thorn in the foot
Posted: March 21, 2013 Filed under: BODY PARTS, foot, thorn | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, fables, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, thorn, thorn in the side, words Leave a commentThis was uttered at a presentation where the speaker was describing a problem. It is a mash up of “thorn in the side” and possibly “shoot yourself in the foot”, but probably the speaker was thinking of the Aesop fable where the lion has a thorn in his paw. Or, as “my ol’ pal” notes, we sometimes get slivers in our feet when walking barefoot. Thanks to Cecily for sending this one to me!
Malaphors 
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