We’re starting from scratch one
Posted: August 12, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: back to square one, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, spreading activation, starting from scratch, words Leave a commentThis was uttered while making a second attempt at lugging a couch down a set of stairs. It’s a congruent conflation of “back to square one” and “starting from scratch” both meaning a starting place or at the beginning. These phrases seem to be a continual source of confusion. For example, I’ve posted “back to square zero” https://malaphors.com/2017/03/24/were-back-to-square-zero/ and “starting from ground one” https://malaphors.com/2012/11/07/starting-from-ground-one/. Both confuse the many phrases that describe a new beginning or starting over. While a square is certainly not a zero, the mind might be mixing them. One and zero are both numbers, and scratch and square are both similar in sound. A tip of the hat to John Kooser for muttering this one and passing it on!
It fell through the loops
Posted: August 10, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, fell through the cracks, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, threw him for a loop, words 3 CommentsThis was uttered at a meeting. It is a mash up of “fell through the cracks” (to be not noticed or dealt with) and “throw somebody for a loop” (to upset someone unexpectedly). The reason I think the latter is involved is the speaker might have thought “threw” when he uttered the homonym “through”, thus completing the phrase with “loops” instead of “cracks”. The mind does play tricks like that sometimes. However, an even better mix was suggested by Robyn Bottoni – “loophole”. This actually makes more sense as loophole and falling through the cracks have similar meanings, hence a congruent conflation. I would be interested in others’ thoughts on the mix up. A big thanks to Elaine Hatfield for hearing this one!
You can catch more flies with honey than a stick
Posted: August 9, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: carrot and stick, catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentThese are certainly words to live by, I guess. This is a mash up of “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar” (it is easier to get what you want by flattery or being polite than by being demanding) and I think “carrot and stick (approach)” (rewards and punishments that influence someone’s behavior). The carrots and honey both represent something that is pleasing or rewarding to them, hence the confusion. Also, not sure many people know or say “with vinegar” in the proverb “catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”, so the stick was the substitute in this case. A big thanks to Joseph Newcomer for hearing this one and sending it in.
McCain beats to his own drum
Posted: August 7, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, he is his own man, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, marches to the beat of his own drum, MSNBC, Robert Traynham, words 2 Comments
He’s open game
Posted: August 5, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 93.7 the Fan, expressions, fair game, humor, Josh Miller, language, malaphor, malaphors, open season, words Leave a commentThis perfectly formed malaphor was uttered by Josh Miller on the radio show The Fan on 93.7 in Pittsburgh (Miller was a former punter for the Pittsburgh Steelers and is now a sports commentator). Miller was discussing the crazy antics of a fan at a baseball game and the nasty comments directed at him. “Open game” is a mashup of “open season” (a period of time when everyone is criticizing someone or something) and “fair game” (something or someone who is considered permissible to attack). The speaker may have had deer season on his mind, thinking of open season on game? A big shout out to John Kooser who heard this one and sent it in!
It’s all water in the bucket
Posted: August 3, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: drop in the bucket, expressions, humor, malaphor, malaphors, water under the bridge, words Leave a commentThis was heard at a meeting. When the speaker was asked what he meant by that phrase, he said it was similar to the idea conveyed by the phrase “Every penny adds up””. However, it appears to be a malaphor, mixing “water under the bridge” (a prior issue that is now resolved) and “It’s a drop in the bucket” (a very small or unimportant amount). A tip of the hat to Raffi Tashjian for hearing this one and sending it in.
Not the sharpest bulb in the shed
Posted: August 3, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, not the brightest light bulb in the pack, not the sharpest tool in the shed, words 4 CommentsIn our continuing series of confused phrases describing not so intelligent people, Darleen DiGirolamo brings us this one from the website Lucid Nation. It’s a mash up of “not the sharpest tool in the shed” and “not the brightest bulb in the pack (or chandelier)”, both describing a slow-witted or dull person. There are lots of descriptions of slow-witted folk, and so they are bound to get mixed up in true malaphor fashion. Here are a few examples previously posted on this site:
“He wasn’t the brightest bulb in the basket”
“He’s not the sharpest light bulb in the pack”
You’re not the brightest toolbox in the shed”
“not the brightest tool in the shed”
A big thanks to Darleen DiGirolamo for spotting this one! @lucidnation
That’s the icing on the iceberg
Posted: August 1, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, icing on the cake, language, malaphor, malaphors, tip of the iceberg, words Leave a commentFlipping through the AM stations, Paul Kaufman heard this gem. It is a nice mashup of “tip of the iceberg” (small portion of something much larger and complex that cannot yet be seen or understood) and “icing on the cake” (an extra enhancement). In this age of a heating planet, we could stand to have some more icing on our icebergs. Thanks to Paul Kaufman for hearing this one and sharing it!
I don’t want to go over the things Bob touched about
Posted: July 31, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, malaphor, malaphors, talked about, touched on, words Leave a commentA speaker at a meeting blurted out this one. It is a nice mix of “touched on” and “talked about”. Those pesky prepositions confuse us, don’t they? A tip of the toque to the Professor of Malaphors, Martin Pietrucha for hearing this one and sending it in.
He’s a square shooter
Posted: July 28, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, fair and square, humor, John McCain, language, malaphor, malaphors, straight shooter, words Leave a commentThis was uttered by Mark Shields on the NPR News Hour, referring to John McCain. It is a congruent conflation of “straight shooter” and “fair and square”, describing a person who plays by the rules and is honest and trustworthy. Interestingly, a “square john” is someone who obeys the rules – http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/square+john
Here’s to John McCain, a true American hero and certainly square shooter.
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