Those are bitter grapes to swallow
Posted: March 19, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: a bitter pill to swallow, humor, idioms, malaphor, malaphors, sour grapes, words Leave a commentMartin Pietrucha, loyal malaphor follower, unintentionally uttered this one the other night while talking with his kids. It is a mashup of “sour grapes” (someone is angry or bitter because he has not gotten something that he wants) and “a bitter pill to swallow” (an unwanted situation that someone is forced to accept). “Sour” and “bitter” seem to be the culprits here, both are two of the five basic tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami). Also one swallows grapes as well as pills. A big thanks to Martin for sending this one in.
How many cracks at the apple is this guy going to get?
Posted: February 3, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cracks at the bat, expressions, humor, idioms, malaphor, malaphors, second bite at the apple, words Leave a commentThis one was overheard in a conversation between a lawyer and the judge in a court proceeding. This is a nice congruent conflation of “a second bite of the apple” and “cracks at the bat”, both meaning additional opportunities. “Take a crack at (something)” (an attempt) is probably also in the mix. Perhaps the speaker was thinking of William Tell or maybe a pinata party. Kudos to Matin Pietrucha who heard this one and sent it in.
A lot of Senators have reserved their fire
Posted: January 4, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, hold your fire, humor, idioms, Jonathan Alleno, malaphor, reserve judgment, words Leave a comment
I was elected to “Clean the Swamp”
Posted: December 15, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: clean house, drain the swamp, expressions, humor, idioms, malaphor, malaphors, Trump, words Leave a commentThis was uttered by President Trump in a December 5, 2019 tweet. Here it is:
..trial in the Senate, and so that our Country can get back to business. We will have Schiff, the Bidens, Pelosi and many more testify, and will reveal, for the first time, how corrupt our system really is. I was elected to “Clean the Swamp,” and that’s what I am doing!
Trump’s mantra has always been “drain the swamp”, so I believe this is a malaphor, conflating “drain the swamp” with “clean house”, both meaning to wipe out corruption or inefficiency. A big thanks to Sandor Kovacs for spotting this one and sending it in.
He’s on a thin leash
Posted: December 11, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: humor, idioms, malaphor, on a tight leash, on thin ice Leave a commentThis beauty was uttered by someone who was asked if he thought the Cowboys’ football coach, Jason Garrett, would be fired soon. It is a mashup of “on thin ice” (close to being in trouble) and “on a tight leash” (strict control over someone). The words “thin” and “tight” are close in sound and meaning. A big thanks to John Kooser who heard this one and passed it on!
The doors are closing in
Posted: November 16, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: doors are closing, Gregory Meeks, humor, idioms, language, malaphors, The Last Word, Trump, walls are closing in Leave a comment
You dance with the devil you came with
Posted: November 4, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: dance with death, dance with the devil, dance with the one who brought you, humor, idioms, Ike Reese, language, malaphor, Shania Twain, WIP Leave a comment
You know how to beat a dead horse in the mouth
Posted: October 15, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: beat a dead horse, don't look a gift horse in the mouth, expressions, humor, idioms, malaphor, words Leave a commentAnother horse malaphor. This one is a mashup of “beat a dead horse” (to continue to focus or talk about something) and I think “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” (if you receive a gift, accept it graciously). “Horse” is the common denominator here. “Shoot off (one’s) mouth” or “diarrhea of the mouth” could also be in the mix, both meaing to be an excessive talker. That fits with “beat a dead horse”.
By the way, idioms that include the word “horse” are for some reason continually mixed up. See my website and type in “horse”. You will be amazed. A big thanks to Thomas Smith for sending this one in.
bottom of the pack
Posted: August 3, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: back of the pack, bottom of the barrel, expressions, humor, idioms, Joy Reid, language, malaphor, words 1 CommentJoy Reid on MSNBC was discussing the Democratic debate and the attacks from those candidates with the least to lose, referring to them as “those polling at the bottom of the pack”. This is a mashup of “back of the pack” (last ones) and “bottom of the barrel” (least desirable). I suppose this malaphor fits if you are referring to playing cards, or when you have been binge swiping on Tinder and have run out of people – see Urban Dictionary https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bottom%20of%20the%20pack
A shout out to Frank King, a malaphor spotting regular. Good ear, Frank!
It’s slow sledding
Posted: July 19, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressiions, humor, idioms, malaphor, slow going, tough sledding slow going, words Leave a commentThe speaker was discussing a contract that was particularly difficult to draft. It is a nice mashup of “rough (or tough) sledding” (difficult or turbulent period of time or undertaking) and “slow going” (a state of slow or arduous process). Both idioms refer to a difficult process that is slow, tedious, and difficult. The speaker also might have been thinking “snow sledding”, given the unusually hot temperatures right now. A big thanks to Donna Doblick who confessed that she was indeed the speaker and for sharing this one. It happens to us all, Donna.
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