Tears were rolling down my eyes
Posted: July 26, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, eyes filled with tears, malaphor, malaphors, tears were rolling down my cheeks, words Leave a commentThis mix up is a combo of “tears were rolling down my cheeks” (excessive laughter) and “my eyes were filled with tears” (very sad). This is yet another body part mashup, a very common theme in malaphors. The mind is visualizing the face, and reaches for the wrong body part. A big thanks to Martin Pietrucha for blurting this one and sending it in!
It’s as easy as cake
Posted: July 24, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: a piece of cake, cakewalk, congruent conflation, easy as pie, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentThis is a perfect congruent conflation of “easy as pie” and “it’s a piece of cake”, both meaning a very easy task or accomplishment. Cakes and pies seem to be easily muddled in one’s mind, as can be seen in earlier posts containing pies and cakes (see, e.g, https://malaphors.com/2013/01/01/its-as-easy-as-falling-off-a-piece-of-cake/ and https://malaphors.com/2016/08/10/the-man-is-a-nut-cake/). “It’s a cakewalk” might also be in the mix, again meaning something easy. A tip of the hat to John Kooser for uttering this one and immediately sending it in! (malaphor rule #1 is write it down immediately after hearing or saying the malaphor as you will quickly forget it).
They waited until the eleventh minute
Posted: July 23, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: at the eleventh hour, at the last minute, congruent conflation, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentI promise you I don’t make these up. This was uttered in an administrative law judge hearing by the judge, exasperated by counsel’s not submitting evidence until the day of the hearing. It is a nice congruent conflation of “at the eleventh hour” and “at the last minute”, both meaning doing something at the last possible moment or opportunity. Confusing hours and minutes can be common when you are dealing with cases all day, and a massive docket. Or perhaps the judge is just a little particular. A shout out to Sam Edelmann who heard this one and passed it on!
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He pulled some strings out of his hat
Posted: July 22, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, pulled a rabbit out of his hat, pulled some strings, words Leave a commentA co-worker blurted this one. It’s a nice mash up of “pulled some strings” (to use influence from someone to get something done) and “pulled a rabbit out of a hat” (to do something surprising). “Pull” is the operative word here. Also, perhaps the speaker was thinking of magicians with invisible strings for their tricks? A big thanks to Taylor Rose George for hearing this one and passing it on!
The hair was standing on our backs
Posted: July 21, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 99 percent invisible, expressions, getting your back up, hair standing on end, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, NPR, words Leave a comment
His back is on the ropes
Posted: July 19, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: back against the wall, Brian Johnson, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, on the ropes, San Francisco Giants, words Leave a comment
All hands off
Posted: July 18, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: all bets are off, expressions, hands down, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentThis is a nice mixture of “all bets are off” (referring to an agreement that is no longer valid) and “hands down” (easily or unquestionably). A big thanks to Aryelle Young for unintentionally blurting this one out!
I may be speaking out of tongue, but….
Posted: July 5, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, speak with forked tongue, speaking in tongues, speaking out of turn, words Leave a commentThe submitter’s co-worker uttered this beauty. It is a mashup of “speaking out of turn” (to say something unwise or imprudent, or saying something at the wrong time), and “speaking with a forked tongue” (telling lies or to try to deceive someone). “Speaking in tongues” (a person is speaking in a language unknown to him) might also be in play here, but I do not know the speaker’s religious background. The speaker might have been thinking about sticking out his/her tongues as well. In any event, kudos to Phillip who heard this one and sent it in!
They’re walking on pins and needles
Posted: July 3, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, Jared Kushner, language, malaphor, malaphors, on pins and needles, Robert Costa, Trump, walking on eggshells, words Leave a commentThis nice malaphor was uttered by Robert Costa, national political reporter for the Washington Post and host of PBS’ “Washington Week in Review”. He made this comment when describing White House staffers’ relationships with Jared Kushner. It is a mash up of “walking on eggshells” (to be very diplomatic and inoffensive) and “on pins and needles” (to be anxious or in suspense). This mixed idiom reminds me of those folks walking on nails or hot coals. Perhaps that’s the feeling if you work at the White House. It also reminds me of one of “The Master”s best efforts, describing a group of anxious federal employees: “they’re sitting on their hands and needles”. https://malaphors.com/2012/08/27/sitting-on-their-hands-and-needles/ A big thanks to Mike Kovacs, the “24/7 malaphor hunter”.
You let the horse out of the cart
Posted: July 1, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, let the cat out of the bag, malaphor, malaphors, mashup, put the cart before the horse, words 1 CommentThis is a nice mashup of “put the cart before the horse” (have things in the wrong order or mixed up) and “let the cat out of the bag” (to reveal a secret or a surprise by accident). Lots going on in this one. “Cat” and “cart” are similar looking and sounding so they are definitely culprits in this mental mixup. Prepositions are often the cause of malaphors, and in this one, “out” and “before” seem to be in play. The speaker might have conjured up a feed bag for horses when he was thinking bag. Both phrases involve order, whether putting things in or putting them before something else. Yes, this is a classic malaphor, perfectly structured and multi-layered. A bravo to Bob Edwards for burping this one up and Susan Edwards for quickly writing it down and sending it in!
Did you like this one? Want to see more? Check out my book “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors” available on Amazon. You’ll want to read it from front to cover.
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