They are kicking the can down the table
Posted: January 22, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Chuck Schumer, cnn, come to the table, expressions, humor, kick the can down the road, language, malaphor, malaphors, Trump, words Leave a commentSimilar to the last post, this is another “kick the can down the road” malaphor. Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader, said this one on CNN. He was explaining why he did not want to pass a CR. This is a mashup of “kick the can down the road” (to postpone or defer an action) and I think “come to the table”(to meet to negotiate a particular issue or situation). My guess is that Schumer combined these two thoughts as he is currently negotiating a deal to stop the government shutdown. New Yorkers talk faster than their thoughts. A big thanks to Beatrice Zablocki for hearing this one.
It popped eyebrows
Posted: June 1, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Chris Cuomo, cnn, expressions, eye-popping, Grouch Marx, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, raised eyebrows, Trump, words 1 CommentChris Cuomo on CNN made this comment regarding a controversial statement. It is a nice mash up of “raised eyebrows” (something causing concern or surprise) and “eye-popping” (something astonishing). Perhaps Groucho Marx was on the speaker’s mind at the time. A tip of the hat to Ron MacDonald for hearing this one and sending it along.
Trump is not going to throw Paul Ryan over the bus
Posted: April 5, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cnn, Donald Trump, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, over a cliff, overboard, Paul Ryan, throw him under the bus, words 3 CommentsOver/under is the culprit here. This was heard by a Republican pundit speaking on CNN. It is a nice mashup of “go over the cliff” (taking a drastic step) and “throw (someone) under the bus” (exploit someone’s trust for one’s own gain or purpose). “Throw (someone) overboard” (get rid of excess baggage) might also be in the mix, as well as “over the edge” (excessive or out of control). Given the statures of the persons named, it might be possible. A big thanks to Ron McDonald for hearing this one and sending it in!
Reading between the tea leaves
Posted: March 27, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cnn, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, Manu Raju, reading between the lines, reading the tea leaves, words 1 CommentThis one is straight out of the mouth of senior congressional correspondent Manu Raju on CNN’s Inside Politics, discussing who knew what about connections between Russia and the Trump campaign:
And then I asked Schiff the same question. He said he’s not willing to go there. So the question is perhaps is there any intelligence in that regard that they’re not sharing with the committee. With that — we don’t know that yet but reading between the tea leaves that suggests that. The question is the independent prosecutor, that’s something that Schiff called for yesterday. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1703/03/ip.02.html
This is a nice subtle mashup of “reading the tea leaves” (predicting on little bits of information) and “reading between the lines” ((perceiving an obscure or unexpressed meaning). Both idioms pertain to perceiving or predicting, and both contain the word “reading”. “Lines” and “leaves” are also similar sounding words. A shout out to Barbara Artuso for hearing this one and sending it in!
We should be at the top of the pack
Posted: March 13, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cnn, Donald Trump, expressions, humor, language, leader of the pack, malaphor, malaphors, top of the heap, words Leave a commenthttp://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205
That’s the crème de le résistance
Posted: May 27, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Anderson Cooper, cnn, creme de la creme, expressions, Hillary Clinton, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, piece de resistance, words Leave a commentAt CNN’s Democrat Town Hall last February, Anderson Cooper asked Hillary Clinton about her relationship with her grandchild, and she replied with this wonderful malaphor. This is a congruent conflation of “crème de la crème” and “pièce de rèsistance”, both meaning the very best or most important. This mash up was retweeted a lot, and some of the more clever ones were:
“Creme de resistance” is halfway between a latte macchiato and a flat white – Jon Lovett
The Creme de Resistance was DeGaulle’s favorite baked good – Ronald Seyb
I think we just found Hillary’s @benandjerrys flavor: “Creme de Resistance” – Caroline Haubold
For more on this, you can check this link: http://twitchy.com/brettt-3136/2016/02/03/hillary-clintons-grandchild-is-the-creme-de-le-resistance/
A big merci to Steve Grieme for hearing this one and passing it on.
You had to figure out what you were going to do on a dime’s notice
Posted: May 20, 2014 Filed under: dime | Tags: blended idioms, cnn, congruent conflations, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, on a moment's notice, prepared to turn on a dime, words 7 CommentsSteve Grieme, one of the best malaphor spotters around, heard a beauty on CNN last week. A guy was videotaping some of the raging wildfires in Southern California. In response to a reporter’s question about people fleeing from their homes, he said, “Fight of flight. You had to figure out what you were going to do on a dimes notice”. This is a congruent conflation of “moment’s notice” and “be prepared to turn on a dime”, both meaning to act quickly. Thanks Steve!
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1405/17/cnr.03.html
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:
The kids don’t have to be rocket surgeons
Posted: February 2, 2013 Filed under: PEOPLE, rockets, surgeons, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, brain surgeon, cnn, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, martin bashir, mixed idioms, rocket scientist, stacey campfield, wordplay, words 5 CommentsThis beauty was said by Tennessee State Senator Stacey Campfield on CNN last week. In response to Martin Bashir‘s question of why tying welfare benefits to children’s grades wouldn’t hurt the family overall, Sen. Campfield said, “the kids don’t have to be rocket surgeons.” This is a nice mash up of “brain surgeon” and “rocket scientist”. Thanks to Sam for finding this one replayed on the Jay Leno show! The exchange is in the link below:
Malaphors 
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