Trump held Michael Cohen at arm’s distance
Posted: July 23, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: at arm's length, congruent conflation, expressions, humor, keep at a distance, malaphor, malaphors, Michael Cohen, MSNBC, Stephanie Rhule, Trump, words Leave a commentThis ditty was uttered on July 20 by Stephanie Ruhle on MSNBC’s “Velshi and Ruhle”. It is a nice congruent conflation of “at arm’s length” and “keep at a distance”, both meaning to keep someone from becoming too close. Perhaps a “distance” is farther than an “arm”? I imagine that fits in this context. A big thanks to Frank King, the Mental Health Comedian, for hearing this one and sending it in.
Everyone runs for the fences
Posted: July 22, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, Fox News, head for the hills, humor, language, malaphor, Martha MacCallum, swing for the fences, Trump, words Leave a commentMartha MacCallum on Fox News said this nicely formed malaphor. It is a mashup of “run (or head) for the hills” (depart quickly) and “swing for the fences” (to act or perform with maximum intensity). In baseball, you swing and then run, and that is possibly the mental image the speaker had when she uttered this one. Also, the word “for” is common in both phrases. A big thanks to Ralph Aikman for hearing this one and sending it in.
They really had to think on their toes
Posted: July 21, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: be on your toes, expressions, humor, malaphor, malaphors, think on your feet, words 4 CommentsThis malaphor comes courtesy of a local Birmingham Alabama news story about firemen rescuing people caught in a flash flood. A fireman said: “ The firefighters really had to think on their toes due to the changing conditions. “ This is an excellent example of a congruent conflation, mixing “think on (one’s) feet” and “be on your toes”, both meaning to be alert and react quickly. Obviously the mix here is “toes” and “feet”. A big thanks to David Stephens who was on his toes for this one.
He’s turning over a new lease on life
Posted: July 20, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: a new lease on life, expressions, humor, idioms, malaphor, malaphors, turning over a new leaf, words Leave a commentThis perfectly formed malaphor is a mashup of “turning over a new leaf” (to change one’s behavior, usually in a positive way) and “a new lease on life” (a new chance for happiness, usually after a hardship). “New” is common to both idioms, and the words “lease” and “leaf” are similar sounding. Both I think contributed to the mental mix up. A big thanks to Martin Pietrucha for sharing this one with the malaphor world.
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I’m trying to keep an open book
Posted: July 19, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: an open book, expressions, humor, keep an open mind, language, malaphor, words 1 CommentA physician asked someone about doing a fellowship. The response was this nice malaphor. It is a mashup of “keep an open mind” (to avoid making a judgment about something before considering it) and “I’m an open book” (a person’s life with no secrets). “Open” is the source of the mix up here. A big thanks to Jesse Garwood for sharing this one and admitting saying it!
He cleared muster
Posted: July 17, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Chris Matthews, cleared for approval, congruent conflation, expressions, humor, malaphor, MSNBC, pass muster, Rachel Maddow, Trump, words Leave a comment“The Master” strikes again. Chris Matthews uttered this beauty on the Rachel Maddow show on July 9, 2018, referring to Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. It is a congruent conflation of “passed muster” and “cleared for approval”, both meaning to be accepted as adequate. Pass/clear is the mixup here. Anyone who visits this site regularly knows Mr. Matthews is a malaphor goldmine. A big thanks to “Eagle-Ear” Frank King, the Mental Health Comedian, for hearing this one and sending it in.
He’s keeping it under his vest
Posted: July 13, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: close to the chest, Cohen, Emily Jane Fox, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, MSNBC, Rachel Maddow, Trump, under wraps, words 1 CommentThis was heard on the Rachel Maddow show. Vanity Fair reporter Emily Jane Fox was talking about Michael Cohen, and what he may have on Trump. She then uttered this beauty. It is a congruent conflation of “close to the chest” and “under wraps” (to keep one’s plans secret from others). The vest/chest rhyme and close/under words probably contributed to the mix up. A big thanks to “Eagle-Ear” Frank King for hearing yet another one on MSNBC, your malaphor channel.
He pulls those hat tricks out of the bag
Posted: July 10, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bag of tricks, Carson Wentz, expressions, hat trick, humor, Lane Johnson, language, malaphor, malaphors, Philadelphia Eagles, pull a rabbit out the hat, words 2 CommentsParents should stick to their ground involving kids’ names
Posted: July 6, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, hold your ground, humor, idioms, language, malaphor, stick to your guns, words 2 CommentsI guess that means names like Sandy and Muddy? This was spotted on Quora, an internet platform to ask questions and get answers. It is a great congruent conflation of “stick to your guns” and “hold/stand your ground”, both meaning to refuse to yield or compromise. “Ground” and “guns” both start with a G and have a similar sound, hence the mental mix up. A big thanks to Margaret Grover who spotted this one and sent it in!
Civility is disappearing before our hands
Posted: July 5, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Chris Jansing, disappear before our eyes, expressions, humor, malaphor, MSNBC, slipping through our fingers, Trump, words 1 CommentThis was heard on MSNBC, Jansing and Co. show. There was a discussion on civility in America and this malaphor was uttered. It is a mashup of “disappear before out eyes” (suddenly no longer visible) and I think “out of (someone’s) hands” (no longer in someone’s control). “Slip through (someone’s) fingers” might be in play, as it also refers to something missed or escaped. Fingers and hands are close in proximity. A big thanks to “Eagle-eared” Frank King!






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