It caught my mind
Posted: February 1, 2013 Filed under: BODY PARTS, mind | Tags: blended idioms, caught my eye, expressions, eye, humor, language, malaphors, mind, mixed idioms, wordplay, words Leave a commentI heard this one from Senator Jon Tester of Montana on the Bill Maher show this week. It is a mash up of “caught my eye” and I think “bring to mind”, both meaning to cause one to think of someone or something. The words mind and eye sound similar and are both located in the head, perhaps adding to the conflation. I like this one as it is subtle and still descriptive of the thought.
Not a dry tear in the room
Posted: December 7, 2012 Filed under: BODY PARTS, eye, tears | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, eye, malaphors, mixed idioms, not a dry eye, tear, words Leave a commentThis mixes “not a dry eye” (everyone crying from something emotional) and possibly “not shed a tear”(not showing emotion even though something is sad). “Move to tears” and “end in tears” also could be in play here. Of course, the speaker is thinking crying so naturally the word “tears” wells up in his mind. A big thank you to Vic for sharing this. It was spoken by a friend that was in charge of the sound board during the 60th birthday celebration of his pastor’s wife.
Turn a deaf eye
Posted: September 20, 2012 Filed under: BODY PARTS | Tags: blended idioms, blind, deaf, eye, fall on deaf ears, malaphors, mixed idioms, turn a blind eye Leave a commentThis amusing malaphor is a mash up of “turn a blind eye” (ignoring something) and “fall on deaf ears” (information ignored by the person it was intended for). Both idioms involve the act of intentionally ignoring important information, perhaps making the blended idiom more emphatic although patently absurd. Both idioms are also four words, and both contain senses and body parts, which could also have contributed to the confused outcome.
Malaphors 
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