They really can hold their water
Posted: October 24, 2013 Filed under: FOOD, water | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, hold their own, hold water, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Waterboy, words 2 Comments
The Waterboy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We’re not talking camels here, but a sports description. The speaker has mixed “hold their own” (do as well as anyone else), the phrase the speaker meant to say, and “not hold water” (an argument or opinion that can be shown to be wrong). Perhaps the speaker was also thinking of those folks that literally hold water for athletes, such as The Waterboy? A big thanks to Justin Taylor, who certainly does not need to hold water for anyone, for sending this one in!
She’s going to kick some dust off the tires
Posted: October 22, 2013 Filed under: ACTION, brush, dirt, dust, kick | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, Hillary Clinton, humor, kick the tires, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 2 Comments
CNN studio (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Hillary Clinton that is. This malaphor was spoken by CNN political reporter Peter Hamby when discussing the Hillary campaign speech in the Virginia governor‘s race. It is a mash up of “kick the tires” (to test something) and I think “when the dust settles” (waiting for things to calm down), although “bite the dust” (to die) might be in the mix as well. Certainly tires cause lots of dust so hence the confusion. A big thanks to Steve Grieme for hearing this one and sending it in.
They have gone off the ranch
Posted: October 21, 2013 Filed under: ranch, reservation | Tags: bet the ranch, blended idioms, Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield, expressions, humor, Jeremy Scahill, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, off the reservation, Renée Montagne, words Leave a commentThis subtle mix up combines “off the reservation” (thinking differently than what the group believes is acceptable) and “bet the ranch” (risk everything because you are certain of its success). This was heard on NPR: Author of ‘Dirty Wars‘, Jeremy Scahill, speaking to Renee Montagne on NPR’s Morning Edition 10/16/13: “Also there have been incidents where U.S. forces are deployed as trainers and then have sort of gone off the ranch and done unilateral activities that have angered the host government.” Perhaps the speaker was thinking that the trainers were mavericks or cowboys, conjuring up ranches instead of reservations. Thanks to Sally Adler for sending this one in!
It’s working like a glove
Posted: October 15, 2013 Filed under: glove, works | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, fits like a glove, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words, works like a charm Leave a commentThis is a mix of the phrases “fits like a glove” (fits very well) and “works like a charm” (works just the way you intended). Both phrases indicate things that are exactly right, so hence the confusion. Also charm and glove are five letter words. A big shout out to Tim Kunzler who uttered this beauty, and Marsha Roberts for ratting him out! 🙂
The Japanese Power Glove with receivers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
He just wanted to cover his neck
Posted: October 8, 2013 Filed under: ass, BODY PARTS, butt, cover, neck | Tags: blended idioms, cover your ass, cover your butt, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, stick your neck out, words Leave a commentThis is a mash up of “cover his butt (ass)” (make excuses or otherwise take action to avoid being blamed) and “don’t stick your neck out” (avoid risk). This malaphor was said by a person describing his physician and the excessive treatment given. I think it also applies to Congress lately…. A tip of the hat to JoErin O’Leary for sending this one in!
He has stuck his feet in the sand
Posted: October 3, 2013 Filed under: BODY PARTS, foot, sand, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, bury your head in the sand, Capitol Hill, dig your heels in, draw a line in the sand, expressions, Harry Reid, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Republican Party United States, Senate Democrats, Steve Scalise, stick your head in the sand, words 2 Comments
Photo of Congressman Steve Scalise (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This timely malaphor is a mash up of several phrases, idioms, and ideas. Certainly “stick one’s head in the sand” (refuse to think about an unpleasant event) and “bury one’s head in the sand” (to ignore or hide from obvious signs of danger) is in the mix, along with “draw a line in the sand” (create an artificial boundary and imply that crossing it will cause trouble). In addition, “dig your heels in” (refuse to alter a course of action) is in play, considering context. Sticking your feet in cement also comes to mind. This mix-up was spoken by Steve Scalise (R-LA) at a press conference on Capitol Hill. Mr. Scalise was referring to Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats, indicating that they would not negotiate. You can find this beauty at about 1:30 in the video below:
WATCH: Hecklers rip into House Republicans during press conference addressing government shutdown
Thanks to Susan Kestner for sending this current and timely malaphor in!
He rubbed his face in the wound
Posted: October 1, 2013 Filed under: ACTION, rub, salt, wound | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, rub salt in the wound, rub your nose in it, words Leave a commentThis beauty is a mash up of “rubbed salt in the wound” (make someone feel worse about something) and “rubbed his nose in it” (remind someone of something one has done wrong). Perhaps the speaker was reminding someone of a mistake and bragging about it at the same time. Or maybe this is a new form of medical treatment? A big thank you to Ed Brady for hearing and sending this one in.
Hey, nobody’s human
Posted: September 25, 2013 Filed under: human | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, nobody's perfect, only human, words, zombies 3 CommentsThis is a congruent conflation of “nobody’s perfect” and “only human”. Could be the slogan for “The Walking Dead”?
We may turn a blind cheek to that.
Posted: September 21, 2013 Filed under: cheek, turn | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, turn a blind eye, turn the other cheek, words Leave a commentOkay, this one conjures up different images…. This is a mash up of two phrases that describe ignoring something or someone – “turn a blind eye” (to ignore something and pretend you did not see it) and “turn the other cheek” (to ignore abuse or an insult). Or maybe the speaker just wanted to ignore someone who was acting like a butt – who knows? Thanks to Yvonne Stam, a keen malaphor listener, for sending this one in.
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