I’m still getting the ropes
Posted: June 3, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, getting the hang of it, humor, idioms, language, learning the ropes, malaphor, words Leave a commentA dentist said this one as he explained all the new things he has to do because of the virus. This is a congruent conflation of “I’m still getting the hang of it” and “I’m still learning the ropes”, both meaning to learn how to do a particular job or task. So, as we begin to reopen the country, make sure and get a few ropes. A big thanks to Barry Eigen for hearing this one and sending it in.
It serves the trick
Posted: June 1, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: does the trick, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, serves the purpose, words Leave a commentThe speaker was assessing the suitability of some household item for another purpose. This is a congruent conflation of “does the trick” and “serves the (a) purpose”, both meaning to achieve a desired result. Might also be a bridge game malaphor. A big thanks to Chief Malaphor Hunter Martin Pietrucha for hearing this one.
Breadearner
Posted: May 29, 2020 Filed under: WORD BLENDS | Tags: breadwinner, expressions, humor, idioms, language, malaphor, wage earner, words Leave a commentMy wife said this one when discussing a spouse who was earning most of the money in the household. It is a word blend malaphor of “breadwinner” (a person who earns money to support a family) and “wage earner” (a person who works for a salary). Check out my word blends I have posted over the years. Just type word blend in the Search feature on the website. Also, I have a chapter devoted to these special malaphors in my book, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon for cheap!
I got tired of the gyms getting thrown under the bridge
Posted: May 27, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, idioms, malaphor, throw someone under the bus, water under the bridge, words Leave a commentGym owner Monty Webb was frustrated by the lockdown and decided to open. He uttered this nice malaphor, a mashup of “throw (someone) under the bus” (to exploit someone’s trust for one’s own purpose) and “water under the bridge” (something happened in the past and it is not worth worrying about it now). Here is the quote in context:
Gym co-owner Monty Webb of Plum said he’s had enough.
He and his wife, Linda, own and operate Webb’s World of Fitness in Penn Hills.
And he’s open for business.
“I opened because it’s essential. Your heath is essential,” Webb said. “I got tired of the gyms getting thrown under the bridge. You’re thanking all these essential businesses and essential workers. I’ve been doing this for 32 years. It’s essential.”
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/penn-hills-gym-reopens-despite-gov-wolfs-orders/
A big thanks to Mike Ameel for spotting this one and sending it in.
Rolling with the flow
Posted: May 25, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Charlie Richow, expressions, go with the flow, humor, idioms, language, malaphor, rolling with the punches, words Leave a commentThe speaker was remarking that one of the strengths in her workplace was that her fellow workers are always rolling with the flow. This is a congruent conflation of “rolling with the punches” and “going with the flow”, both expressions meaning to be able to deal with a series of difficult situations. This malaphor is also the title of a nice Charlie Rich song, “Rollin’ with the Flow”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAQ96MAtGn8
A big thanks to Elly Pietrucha for sending this one in!
We’ll be walking a tightrope around coronavirus for some time
Posted: May 22, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: CNBC, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, Paul Jackson, tiptoeing around, walking a tightrope, words Leave a commentPaul Jackson, global head of asset allocation research at Invesco, was discussing investing amid the coronavirus crisis. “We’ll be walking a tightrope around coronavirus for some time.” This is a mashup of “walking a tightrope” (being extremely careful and precise) and “tiptoeing around” (avoiding confrontation). Here is the link: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/05/11/well-be-walking-tightrope-around-coronavirus-for-some-time-investor.html
A tip of the toque to Barry Eigen for spotting this one in the news wilds. And yes, Barry, I found a circular tightrope (sorta).
Calm your jets
Posted: May 20, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: calm down, calm your tits, cool your jets, expressions, humor, malaphor, words Leave a commentThis was uttered by a driver who was being tailgated. It is a congruent conflation of “calm down” and “cool your jets”, both meaning to tell someone to relax or be less intense. In researching this one, I found out that “calm your tits” is another expression meaning to relax or be less intense, so perhaps the speaker was thinking of this one as well. Anyone know if that is an American or British expression? A big thanks to Martin Pietrucha who said this one and realized he had malaphored.
You’re picking hairs
Posted: May 18, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, idioms, malaphor, nitpicking, splitting hairs, words Leave a commentA father and daughter got into an argument about their calico cat, and whether her markings were splotches or patches. The daughter said her Dad was being trivial, and then uttered this malaphor. It is a congruent conflation of “splitting hairs” and “nitpicking” or “picking (something) apart”, all meaning to make small or overfine distinctions. Hope no one has trichotillomania. A shout out to a familiar name on this website, John Kooser (aka “the Dad”) for sending this one in.
The chips are starting to crumble
Posted: May 15, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Eric Trump, expressions, Huffington Post, humor, language, let the chips fall as they may, malaphor, that's the way the cookie crumbles, words Leave a commentThis beauty was tweeted by Eric Trump a few days ago. Here is the link to the tweet and malaphor responses:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/eric-trump-confuses-cliches-reaction_n_5ebcf01dc5b628279b41e292
It is a mashup of “when the chips are down” (when a situation has become difficult) and “that’s the way the cookie crumbles” (accepting the way things happen even if it’s not what you wanted). “let the chips fall as they may” (let a situation unfloed without worrying about the consequences) is probably also in the mix. It’s possible Eric was staring at the end of a bag of potato chips when he tweeted this, where all that’s left is the crumbles. Of course the best method to dispose of them is to tilt the bag to your mouth as the picture suggests (tip of the day!). Either that or Eric’s digits must have been greasy when typing that tweet. A big thanks to Dave Wells and Lou Pugliese who sent this one it at the same time.
Getting right up my goat
Posted: May 13, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: be up (one's) ass, expressions, getting my goat, humor, malaphor, words Leave a commentMy recent post “Is Papi pulling your goat?” (https://malaphors.com/2020/04/27/is-papi-pulling-your-goat/) prompted malaphor follower Claire to write: “I always use the phrase ‘getting right up my goat’ which I think might be a malaphor.” Yes, Claire, this is a congruent conflation of “get (one’s) goat” and “be up (one’s) ass”, both meaning to irritate of annoy someone. This mixed idiom is an improvement over the other two, I think. Might also be a new yoga expression. A big thanks to Claire for sharing this one.
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