He’s sharp as a whip
Posted: March 11, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, sharp as a tack, smart as a whip, words Leave a commentThis malaphor was heard on “Hardball” with Chris Matthews. Political pundit Charles Cook was describing former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards, now elderly, whom he saw recently. This is a congruent conflation of “smart as a whip” and “sharp as a tack”, both meaning to be very intelligent. Both idioms contain the same number of words, and “sharp” and “smart” have similar sounds. I can see where these metaphor can be easily mixed. A big shout out to “my ol’ pal” Beatrice Zablocki for hearing this one and passing it on!
He’s not the sharpest light bulb in the pack
Posted: March 4, 2016 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 1 CommentWhat’s with light bulbs and tools being confused? A familiar mash up, this time the congruent conflation is “not the sharpest tool in the shed” and “not the brightest light bulb in the pack”, both describing someone who is not very intelligent. The various sayings describing a dimwit are similar sounding and involve something in a unit or package that is unique, hence the confusion. I have posted other variations on this theme – see https://malaphors.com/2015/12/07/youre-not-the-brightest-toolbox-in-the-shed/ and https://malaphors.com/2013/06/24/not-the-brightest-tool-in-the-shed/.
I call the above “idiom overload” when there are just too many sayings swirling around in the head that have the same meaning. Another example of idiom overload is describing the obvious: “is the Pope Catholic?”. “Does a bear shit in the woods?” etc. These get mixed up regularly. A big thanks to Gary Kelly for hearing this one and passing it on!
We don’t want to get caught with our pants off
Posted: March 1, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: caught off guard, caught with our pants down, congruent conflation, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentMarykathryn strikes again! In preparing for a trial, she and her husband were discussing strategy and who was going to do what. She told him they had better really study the transcript from the Deposition and be prepared to catch the witness in any lies. He agreed. She then uttered, “Well after all, we do not want to get caught with our pants off.” This is a great congruent conflation of “caught off guard” and “caught with our pants down”, both meaning to be taken by surprise. This is an amusing mash up, for many reasons. First, it uses the word “off” in the wrong place. Adding to the confusion is the word “caught” found in both phrases. “Pants off” and “pants down” achieve the same purpose, so I can see why the speaker mixed up her idioms. Another shout out to Marykathryn Kopec for providing a great malaphor!
She’s got a new project on the fire
Posted: February 26, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, irons in the fire, language, malaphor, malaphors, on the back burner, on the front burner, words Leave a commentIt didn’t carry any water with the Judge
Posted: February 22, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Adam Sandler, Aquarius, carry someone's water, carry weight with, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words 3 CommentsThis was heard on NPR’s Morning Edition. The reporter was describing the argument on the motion to dismiss the criminal charges in Pennsylvania by Bill Cosby’s lawyers as follows: “it didn’t carry any water with the judge.” This is a mashup of “carry weight with” (be influential) and “carry (someone’s) water” (do someone’s bidding or to be subservient to someone). The word carry is used in the same phrases contributing to the mix up. Weight and water both begin with W and have similar sounds. Also, the visual of a water carrier (Aquarius or Adam Sandler?) might have “sprung” up in the speaker’s mind. A big thanks to multiple malaphor contributor Yvonne Stam for hearing this one! She has ears like a hawk.
You hit the nail on the coffin
Posted: February 17, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: another nail in the coffin, expressions, final nail in the coffin, hit the nail on the head, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words 2 CommentsThis jumble involves the word nail and perhaps vampires? It is a mash up of “hit the nail on the head” (to get exactly right) and “the final nail in the coffin” (an event that ultimately leads to the failure of a situation or event that has already begun to fail). Also in the mix is probably “another nail in the coffin” (something that will harm or destroy someone – e.g., cigarette). Certainly the common word “nail” is the culprit here, but also the phrases conjure up the image of hitting a nail on something. For me, the image of the wooden stake (nail?) being driven in the heart of a vampire might be adding to the mix-up. A big thank you to Lou Holtzman, who heard this from a co-worker and immediately send it to Malaphor Central. That was the right thing to do, Lou; otherwise you would have forgotten it, as the best malaphors are fleeting thoughts.
It could be the turning factor in the game
Posted: February 13, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: deciding factor, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, turning point, words Leave a commentAnother gem from the sports world. This one was heard on the local Root sports network in Pittsburgh. During a University of Pittsburgh basketball game, the play by play announcer uttered this malaphor. It is a mash up of “turning point” (a point at which a change of course is possible) and “deciding factor” (that which influences the decision). I like this mixed idiom as it describes the “something” that turns a game around, as opposed to the point in time. A shout out to Kathy Yeskey Vose for hearing this one and sending it in!
I always like to give people the shadow of the doubt
Posted: February 10, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: benefit of the doubt, beyond a shadow of a doubt, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentAlbie, a malaphor follower, overheard one of his friends in conversation talking about someone who they thought was lying to them. He said “Now, I always like to give people the shadow of the doubt, but…” This is a mash up of “benefit of the doubt” (a judgment in one’s favor when neither the evidence is for or against one) and “without (or beyond) a shadow of a doubt” (without the smallest of doubt). Certainly the word “doubt” used in each phrase and as a noun contributed to the mix up. For me, giving the shadow of the doubt conjures up the Reagan expression, “trust but verify”. A big thank you to Albie for sending this one in!
She hit the goldpot
Posted: February 8, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, hit the jackpot, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, pot of gold, strike gold, words 1 CommentThis was overheard in a conversation recently. It is a nice congruent conflation of “struck gold” and “hit the jackpot”, both meaning to become rich. Perhaps a little leprechaun and his pot o’ gold were in the speaker’s mind as well. A big thanks to Katie Hatfield for sharing this one.
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