tighten the gap
Posted: September 8, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Chris Hayes, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, narrow the gap, tighten the race, words Leave a comment
We’re really rounding the turn
Posted: September 7, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, rounding the corner, Trump, turning the corner, words 7 CommentsAnother trumpafor. Trump uttered this one at a recent news conference, discussing the coronavirus. Here is the text:
“We’re really rounding the turn. The vaccines are coming. The therapeutics have already come but they’re continuing to come,” Trump said of the coronavirus.
This is a congruent conflation of “rounding the corner”, “turning the corner”, and “rounding the bend”, all meaning to begin to find success after a troubling period. A big thanks to Fred Martin and Sam Edelmann for both hearing this one.
Trump has his fingers in all those pots
Posted: September 4, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: chicken in every pot, expressions, finger in every pie, humor, language, malaphor, words Leave a commentThis one was uttered by Joy Reid on her MSNBC show. It is a conflation of “finger in every pie” (involvement in several different activities) and “chicken in every pot” ( a symbol of wealth and prosperity). The latter phrase came from a newspaper advertisement by the Republican National Committee during Herbert Hoover’s 1928 presidential campaign. The ad pointed out that the preceding administrations of presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge had “put the proverbial ‘chicken in every pot.’ And a car in every backyard, to boot.” Although credited with the statement, Hoover never promised “a chicken in every pot.” In a similar vein, King Henry IV of France vowed on his coronation in 1589 that “if God grants me the usual length of life, I hope to make France so prosperous that every peasant will have a chicken in his pot on Sunday.” His assassination in 1610 at age fifty-seven stymied such a plan.
A big thanks to Frank King for hearing this one and sending it in!
Put a little elbow sweat into it
Posted: September 2, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: break a sweat, elbow grease, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, words Leave a commentThe speaker’s daughter was brushing the cat very lightly. Wanting to get more fur off since the cat was shedding, the speaker uttered this nice malaphor. It is a congruent conflation of “elbow grease” and “break a sweat”, both meaning to put forth a large effort or amount of energy to complete a task. “Work up a sweat” might also be in the mix as it also means to exert a lot of energy to complete a task. This one reminds me of one of my favorites: “Let’s roll up our elbows and get to work”. https://malaphors.com/2012/07/30/lets-roll-up-our-elbows-and-get-to-work/
A tip of the hat to John Kooser who realized he had uttered the malaphor, and then promptly sent it in.
That hits home like a ton of bricks
Posted: August 28, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, hits home, humor, language, like a ton of bricksro, malaphors, Michael Steele, MSNBC, words Leave a commentMichael Steele, former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland and political pundit, said this one on Nicole Wallace’s show, Deadline: White House. Mr. Steele was talking about the Jason Blake shooting and his experience as a father talking to his sons about what to do if stopped by police. This is a congruent conflation of “hits home” and “hit (one) like a ton of bricks”, both expressions meaning to receive information that has a sudden or signifcant impact on one. A big thank you to Mike Kovacs for hearing this subtle and neatly formed malaphor and sending it in.
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The little voice on my shoulder
Posted: August 22, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: angel on my shoulder, humor, language, malaphor, paranormal emergency, voices in my head Leave a commentThis one was spoken on the show Paranormal Emergency (Season 1, Episode 9). Here is the clip:
This is a congruent conflation of “little voice in my head” and “angel on my shoulder”, both describing one’s conscience. A shout out to Mike Kovacs who heard this one and shared it.
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.
Broaden the tent
Posted: August 18, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: broaden the base, humor, language, make a bigger tent, malaphor, Scaramucci, words Leave a commentThis subtle mixup was uttered on Steve Hilton’s show on Fox by The Mooch, Anthony Scaramucci, when discussing the current demographic base of the Republican Party. https://www.foxnews.com/us/hilton-scaramucci-clash-over-presidential-politics-best-candidate
It is a congruent conflation of “broaden the base” and “make a bigger tent”, both meaning a group or movement that encompasses the broadest and most diverse members possible. A big thanks to Frank King who sent this one in.
I know where the skeletons are buried
Posted: August 14, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Disloyal, expressions, humor, know where all the bodies are buried, language, malaphor, malaphors, Michael Cohen, skeletons in the closet, Trump, words Leave a commentThis perfectly formed malaphor is found in the foreward to Michael Cohen’s soon to be released tell all book, “Disloyal”. Here is the context:
“Trump has no true friends. He has lived his entire life avoiding and evading taking responsibility for his actions. He crushed or cheated all who stood in his way, but I know where the skeletons are buried because I was the one who buried them.” https://www.foxnews.com/politics/michael-cohen-trump-disloyal-skeletons
This is a conflation of “know where (all) the bodies are buried” (to know secret or scandalous information about a person or group) and “have skeletons in (one’s) the closet” (to have damaging or incriminating secrets from one’s past). Both idioms involve secrets and damaging information, and both involve dead bodies, hence the mixup. This mashup is actually brilliant in that it incorporates damaging information and where to get the damaging information all in one terrific malaphor.
A big thanks to Mike Kovacs, Chief Malaphor Hunter, for spotting this one in plain sight. Bravo.
The disciples fell on their feet
Posted: August 13, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, fell on our knees, humor, language, malapor, swept off our feet, words Leave a commentA pastor was teaching on Psalm 76, noting that when Jesus was transfigured the disciples fell on their feet. This is a conflation of “fall on (one’s) knees” (to kneel down as a show of respect) and “be swept off (one’s) feet” (to become very enamored with someone). Both expressions involve admiration or awe of another. Also the body parts “knees” and “feet” seem to be the source of the confusion here. Of course, “fall on (one’s) feet” is an expression indicating one who is lucky or successful, and I suppose that is true in the disciples’ case. However, I believe it is a malaphor given the context. A big thanks to Steve Grieme who heard this one and passed it on!
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