JFK was a duck in a barrel
Posted: November 30, 2013 Filed under: ACTION, ANIMALS, duck, shoot | Tags: Assassination, Assassination of John F. Kennedy, blended idioms, humor, John F. Kennedy, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, shooting fish in a barrel, sitting duck, words 3 Comments
Picture of President Kennedy in the limousine in Dallas, Texas, on Main Street, minutes before the assassination. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This phrase mixes “sitting duck” (someone vulnerable to an attack) and “shooting fish in a barrel” (ridiculously easy). A big thanks to Michael Ameel for hearing this one on a radio program recently about the Kennedy assassination. An expert on the show indicated that JFK was an easy target, and blurted out this malaphor. It is similar to the 1/16/13 entry, “It’s like shooting ducks in a barrel”.
I’ve got nothing to hide but the truth
Posted: November 25, 2013 Filed under: hide, truth | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, freudian slip, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, nothing but the truth, nothing to hide, oath, truth, words Leave a commentPerhaps this malaphor should be categorized as a “freudian slip malaphor”, as it was uttered by a person under oath. It combines the phrase “I have nothing to hide” and the end of the witness oath in which one swears to tell the truth, the whole truth and “nothing but the truth.” It might also apply to politicians these days. Thanks to John Costello for sending this beauty in!
The company’s stock price is through the moon
Posted: November 23, 2013 Filed under: moon, PLACES, roof | Tags: blended idioms, cnn, Erin Burnett, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, over the moon, Tesla Motors, through the roof, words Leave a commentIn the conclusion to a report today regarding the Tesla Motor Car Corp. CNN news host Erin Burnett described the company’s stock price for the year as being “…through the moon…” This wonderful malaphor is a mash up of the phrases “through the roof” (prices very high) and “over the moon” (extremely pleased). Jackie Gleason’s famous line, “to the moon, Alice!” might also have been on Ms. Burnett’s mind. Many thanks to David Spain for sending this one in and attaching the video with concluding malaphor below:
I think it’s time he laid down the torch
Posted: November 17, 2013 Filed under: gauntlet, THINGS, torch | Tags: blended idioms, carry the torch, Dick LeBeau, expressions, humor, language, lay down the law, malaphors, mixed idioms, Pittsburgh Steelers, throw down the gauntlet, words 2 Comments
English: Dick Lebeau with Mr. and Mrs. John Mitchell (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This was uttered near the end of the first half of the Steelers/Lions game, and was directed at Dick LeBeau, the Steelers’ defensive coach. Considering the context (Steelers blowing a lead and the defense not playing well), I believe this is a mash up of “lay down the law” (to scold someone) and “carry the torch” (to lead or participate). “Throw down the gauntlet” (to challenge someone) might also be in the mix. Thanks to Kevin Hatfield for hearing this one and sending it in!
He dug himself into a corner
Posted: November 15, 2013 Filed under: dig, paint | Tags: blended idioms, congruent conflation, dig yourself a hole, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Paint, paint yourself in a corner, words Leave a commentThis congruent conflation mixes the phrases “paint oneself in a corner” and “dig yourself into a hole”, both meaning an action that puts a person in a difficult situation. Kudos to Eric Marsh for sending this one in. He could not recall where he heard this one, but it could be referring to either the Republicans strategy of shutting down the government or President Obama’s statement that people can keep their existing health care coverage. Take your pick.
He’s a wet fish
Posted: November 12, 2013 Filed under: ANIMALS, fish | Tags: blended idioms, cold fish, expressions, fish, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, wet blanket, words Leave a commentThis great malaphor is a blend of”wet blanket” and “cold fish”, both reflecting rather sour personalities, the former a depressing person who spoils others’ enjoyment, and the latter a person who does not seem very friendly and shows little emotion. Fish of course are always wet (unless grilled I suppose) which may have been in the speaker’s mind as well. For some reason a dead fish handshake also seems in play here. I personally am going to start using this expression as there are people out there who fit both categories. John Costello gets the kudos for this one, as he unintentionally uttered this malaphor when he was describing a person who is kind of a dour drip. I hope it wasn’t me!
He was able to pick himself up and scrape himself off
Posted: November 10, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blended idioms, dust yourself off, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, National Football League, pick yourself up, words Leave a commentAnother from the sports world. Molly Shafer heard this one on her local sports cast referring to a Buffalo Bills injury – “Could it be serious? It could be, but he was able to pick himself up and scrape himself off.” This is a nice blend of “pick yourself up” and “dust yourself off”, both meaning to prepare yourself to continue doing something that you unexpectedly stopped doing. “Scrape someone or something off the pavement” may also be in the mix. Thanks for sharing Molly!
Just a wild stab
Posted: November 7, 2013 Filed under: guess | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, take a stab at, wild guess, words 3 CommentsMalaphors appear everywhere, and this one appeared as a response to one of my malaphor postings. When I posted “I will not yield to a monkey court”, my good friend and avid malaphor follower Laszlo Veres responded, “was he talking to his fellow Dems? (just a wild stab… wait…wow, I just invented a malaphor!”). Wild stab is a mash up of “wild guess” and “take (or make) a stab”. The unintentional malaphor response to a malaphor makes this one a particular favorite of mine!
Count your losses
Posted: October 30, 2013 Filed under: blessings, count | Tags: blended idioms, count your blessings, cut your losses, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Tomato, words Leave a comment
fried green tomatoes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This beauty comes from Sarah Hodges: “My husband and I were discussing the coming frost and my still-green
tomatoes. He told me to “count my losses” and just pick them green.” This is a mash up of “cut your losses” (do something to stop further losses) and I believe “count your blessings” (grateful for any small benefit, particularly in a difficult situation). Hey, a green tomato is better than no tomato, right?
Elephant poaching is over the roof
Posted: October 29, 2013 Filed under: roof | Tags: Barbara Baker, blended idioms, elephant, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, over the top, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Poaching, through the roof, words Leave a comment
African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) in Pittsburgh Zoo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This malaphor combines two expressions concerning high numbers – “through the roof” (increasing very quickly) and “over the top”. Barbara Baker, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo, made this comment in reference to the increase in elephant poaching. Many thanks to Sam Edelmann who heard this on the radio last week.
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