We can’t give up our guard right now
Posted: November 6, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: give up the ghost, humor, idioms, language, lower your guard Leave a commentDr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA Commissioner, was interviewed on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” about the coronavirus, and how we are entering the hardest point in the pandemic. This is a conflation of “lower our guard” (to become less vigilant) and “give up” (to yield or relinquish something). “Give up the ghost” (to die) might also be in the mix, given the context. Kudos to Frank King for spotting this in a CNN tweet.
She shouldn’t sleep where she eats
Posted: October 28, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: don't shit where you eat, expressions, humor, idioms, malaphors, sleep around, words Leave a commentThere was a conversation about a person who got intimate with someone related to her boss. This is a nice conflation of “sleep around” (to engage in sex with many different partners) and “don’t shit where you eat” (do not engage in troublesome or dubious behavior at home or at work). A big thanks to Doree Simon for spotting this one and sending it in!
Fun fact: Eating while asleep is a disorder. It’s called sleep-related eating disorder (SRED) and is a type of parasomnia (sleep disorder) characterized by abnormal eating patterns during the night. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12123-sleep-related-eating-disorders#:~:text=People%20with%20sleep%2Drelated%20eating,the%20night%20with%20full%20awareness.
Bleeding the cow
Posted: September 28, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bleeding it dry, expressions, humor, idioms, malaphor, milking it dry, milking the cow, words Leave a commentThis rare comment was noticed in an online comment. The commenter was talking about Attorney General Barr’s undermining the confidence in voting by mail, and the desperation of Trump and his minions to stay in power so that they can benefit financially. This is a congruent conflation of “milking the cow” and “bleeding/milking (something) dry”, both meaning to take as much of something from someone or something as possible. “Cash cow” (an investment that generates a lot of income) may also be in the mix, considering the context. A big thanks to Ron MacDonald for spotting this one.
We pulled out all the strings
Posted: August 20, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Cedric the Entertainer, humor, idioms, Kristen Chenoweth, language, malaphors, pull the strings, pulled out all the stops, The Greatest #AtHome Videos, words Leave a commentThis was heard on the CBS tv show “The Greatest #AtHome Videos”. Cedric the Entertainer teamed with Kristen Chenoweth to surprise a group of young performers. One of the performers uttered this nice malaphor. You can hear it here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=785249305547779
It is a mashup of “pull out all the stops” (to do someting with maximum effort or ability) and “pull the strings” (to be in control of events or some other people’s actions). “Pulled on our heart strings” might also be in the mix. “Pull” is the common denominator here, and “strings” and “stops” are also similar sounding words, adding to the confusion. A big thanks to Lou Pugliese who heard this one and passed it on.
There is a silver lining at the end of the tunnel
Posted: June 24, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: every cloud has a silver lining, expressions, humor, idioms, language, light at the end of the tunnel, malaphor, words 1 CommentAt first blush, this looked more like a mixed metaphor than a malaphor, but on close inspection it is indeed a mashup of two idioms. This one comes from the local news in Baltimore: a Baltimore City official was giving an update on trash/garbage pickup problems, and trashmen were off work as a result of the coronavirus. Here is the quote:
“This last week has been extremely difficult for everyone involved, but there is a silver lining at the end of that tunnel,” Chalmers said. “The Eastern District will be back up and running tomorrow. If you can’t hear the sigh of relief in my voice, I’m glad that they’re coming back.”
It is a mix of “every cloud has a silver lining” (every bad situation holds the possibility of something good) and “light at the end of the tunnel” (a period of hardship is nearing its end). Both expressions involve a bad situation turning better, so this malaphor perhaps means a doubly bad situation made doubly better? Or maybe the official was thinking of silver linings for the trashcans. A big thanks to Fred Martin for hearing this one and sending it in!
I’m still getting the ropes
Posted: June 3, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, getting the hang of it, humor, idioms, language, learning the ropes, malaphor, words Leave a commentA dentist said this one as he explained all the new things he has to do because of the virus. This is a congruent conflation of “I’m still getting the hang of it” and “I’m still learning the ropes”, both meaning to learn how to do a particular job or task. So, as we begin to reopen the country, make sure and get a few ropes. A big thanks to Barry Eigen for hearing this one and sending it in.
Breadearner
Posted: May 29, 2020 Filed under: WORD BLENDS | Tags: breadwinner, expressions, humor, idioms, language, malaphor, wage earner, words Leave a commentMy wife said this one when discussing a spouse who was earning most of the money in the household. It is a word blend malaphor of “breadwinner” (a person who earns money to support a family) and “wage earner” (a person who works for a salary). Check out my word blends I have posted over the years. Just type word blend in the Search feature on the website. Also, I have a chapter devoted to these special malaphors in my book, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon for cheap!
I got tired of the gyms getting thrown under the bridge
Posted: May 27, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, idioms, malaphor, throw someone under the bus, water under the bridge, words Leave a commentGym owner Monty Webb was frustrated by the lockdown and decided to open. He uttered this nice malaphor, a mashup of “throw (someone) under the bus” (to exploit someone’s trust for one’s own purpose) and “water under the bridge” (something happened in the past and it is not worth worrying about it now). Here is the quote in context:
Gym co-owner Monty Webb of Plum said he’s had enough.
He and his wife, Linda, own and operate Webb’s World of Fitness in Penn Hills.
And he’s open for business.
“I opened because it’s essential. Your heath is essential,” Webb said. “I got tired of the gyms getting thrown under the bridge. You’re thanking all these essential businesses and essential workers. I’ve been doing this for 32 years. It’s essential.”
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/penn-hills-gym-reopens-despite-gov-wolfs-orders/
A big thanks to Mike Ameel for spotting this one and sending it in.
Rolling with the flow
Posted: May 25, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Charlie Richow, expressions, go with the flow, humor, idioms, language, malaphor, rolling with the punches, words Leave a commentThe speaker was remarking that one of the strengths in her workplace was that her fellow workers are always rolling with the flow. This is a congruent conflation of “rolling with the punches” and “going with the flow”, both expressions meaning to be able to deal with a series of difficult situations. This malaphor is also the title of a nice Charlie Rich song, “Rollin’ with the Flow”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAQ96MAtGn8
A big thanks to Elly Pietrucha for sending this one in!
You’re picking hairs
Posted: May 18, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, idioms, malaphor, nitpicking, splitting hairs, words Leave a commentA father and daughter got into an argument about their calico cat, and whether her markings were splotches or patches. The daughter said her Dad was being trivial, and then uttered this malaphor. It is a congruent conflation of “splitting hairs” and “nitpicking” or “picking (something) apart”, all meaning to make small or overfine distinctions. Hope no one has trichotillomania. A shout out to a familiar name on this website, John Kooser (aka “the Dad”) for sending this one in.
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