We’re firing on all wheels now!
Posted: May 26, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, firing on all cylinders, humor, malaphors, put the wheels in motion, words Leave a commentThis was uttered by a server at a restaurant after everyone ordered their food. It is a mashup of “firing on all cylinders” (to operate at the greatest possible speed or efficiency”) and I think “put the wheels in motion” (get something started) given the context. Wheels and cylinders are parts of a car, and probably that contributed to the mental mixup. A big thanks to Steve Grieme who heard this one and sent it in.
They aren’t clicking on all cylinders
Posted: May 1, 2013 Filed under: clicking, cylinders | Tags: blended idioms, click, cylinders, firing on all cylinders, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Pittsburgh Pirates, words 1 Comment
English: Pittsburgh Pirates cap insignia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
An announcer from the Pittsburgh Pirates pre-game show last night (4/30/13) said that while the
Pirates are doing well, “they aren’t clicking on all cylinders yet”. This is a mash-up of “firing (or hitting) on all cylinders” (working at full strength) and “clicking with (someone)” (understood by someone suddenly). A malaphor salute to Mitchell Hoyson for sending this one in!
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