I’m not going out of my day to pull stuff up for you guys
Posted: November 24, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis one was seen on X, formerly known as Twitter. It’s a congruent conflation of “not going out of my way” and “not taking time out of my day”, both meaning to not make a special effort to do something. A big thank you to Kris for spotting this subtle one and sending it in.
People are having trouble keeping their nose above water
Posted: November 21, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Abby Phillip, cnn, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Scott Jennings, Trump, words Leave a commentThis was heard on CNN’s Saturday Morning Table for Five with Abby Phillip. Scott Jennings was defending Trump as usual but also acknowledging high prices, and how people are having a hard time making ends meet. He then made the above statement. This is a mashup of “keeping (one’s) head above water” (able to just manage, usually referring to finances) and I think “keeping (one’s) nose clean” (stay out of trouble). The word “trouble” probably caused the mental hiccup, with Jennings reaching for “nose” instead of “head”. He may also have been visualizing a dog swimming with the nose extended out of the water. A big thanks to Kathy Meinhardt for hearing this one and sending it in!
Turned back the fountain of time
Posted: November 14, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, hockey, humor, illegal curve, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis malaphor was uttered by Drew Mindell of the Illegal Curve Hockey Show at 29:25 of https://www.youtube.com/live/J_4e-wKHKWc?si=SxMlLjTYBThPGEW6&t=1764
It is a congruent conflation of “fountain of youth” and “turn back the hands of time/clock”, both meaning to restore one’s youth. A big thanks to Will for spotting this one and sending it in.
Healthy as a whistle
Posted: November 10, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, whistle, words 2 CommentsThis one was overheard at a dentist’s office. It is a mashup of “clean as a whistle (completely, entirely, or very neat) and “healthy as a horse” (someone in excellent physical shape and very strong/energetic). This one is another in “whistle” malaphors. What is it with mixing idioms with the word “whistle”? Other posts include “sharp as a whistle”, “security is tight as a whistle”, and “all those hoops and whistles”. https://malaphors.com/2025/02/05/sharp-as-a-whistle/ https://malaphors.com/2022/03/14/security-is-tight-as-a-whistle/ https://malaphors.com/2023/05/01/i-have-to-jump-through-all-those-bells-and-whistles/
Kudos to Lou Pugliese for hearing this one and sending it in.
He will win on his Dad’s coat strings!
Posted: November 5, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Corey O'Connor, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Pittsburgh, words Leave a commentThis one was a Facebook post. The poster was responding to Corey O’Connor’s bid for mayor of Pittsburgh. He is the son of former mayor Bob O’Connor. This is a blend of “on the coattails of (someone)” (benefiting from someone else’s success as a means to achieve one’s own success) and “play/tug on (one’s) heartstrings” (elicit strong feelings of sympathy or fondness). The poster may have been not only thinking of the mayor connection but also of Bob’s untimely death because of cancer cutting short his term in office as mayor. A big thanks to Dan Simon for spotting this one in the Facebook comments wild (by the way, Corey did win!).
Consumers tighten their wallets
Posted: November 1, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, Fox News, humor, Kayleigh McEnany, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentFox News anchor Kayleigh McEnany was discussing rising grocery prices, and noted that budget meal Hamburger Helper was making a comeback. She said, “one tried and true brand is making a big comeback as consumers tighten their wallets – Hamburger Helper.” This is an incongruent conflation (mix of two idioms with opposite meanings) of “tighten (one’s) belt” (live more frugally) and “lighten (one’s) wallet” (spend money, usually more than expected). The similarly sounding words “lighten” and “tighten” may have played a role in the mix up. Here’s the quote:
A big thank you to Frank King for spotting this one and sending it in!
They don’t know their grain of salt
Posted: October 27, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 1 CommentThere was a discussion on Reddit about the hiring process of a research data specialist job and an exam to weed out those that don’t qualify. One reddit commenter posted: “It could also just be a test to weed out anyone who doesn’t know their grain of salt.” This is a triple mashup of “know their stuff” (have knowledge of a subject),” “worth their salt” (competent at the profession specified),” and “take it with a grain of salt” (be skeptical). A big thanks to Gabriel for spotting this one and sending it in!
The Steelers have too many players that are over their hill
Posted: October 24, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 93.7 the Fan, Andrew Fillipponi, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentAndrew Fillipponi on Pittsburgh sports talk radio 93.7 The Fan was talking about the Steelers defense and said there are too many players that are “over their hill”. This is a congruent conflation of “over the hill” and “past their prime”, both meaning to be too old. A shout out to John Kooser for hearing this subtle malaphor and sending it in.
The sports world is such a treasure trove of malaphors, that I have devoted my next malaphor book to them entitled “Backseat Quarterback”. It will be published soon so get ready to buy that perfect stocking stuffer!
Rome wasn’t built overnight
Posted: October 20, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis was spoken by a Walgreens pharmacy clerk after she was informed the doctor’s office had authorized the refill. It was the third time in a week that this was attempted to be straightened out, and after saying “something’s gotta give” and she uttered the aforesaid. This is a mashup of “Rome wasn’t built in a day” (significant accomplishments take time and effort) and “it didn’t happen overnight” (develop slowly over time with hard work). A big thanks to Tom Justice for hearing this one and sending it in.
Something they can dive their teeth into
Posted: October 4, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphors, Matt Donnelly, mixed idioms, Penn's Sunday School, words Leave a commentMagician, Comic, and Podcast host Matt Donnelly (Penn’s Sunday School) said this one on a recent episode when he was encouraging a guest to give more details on a story that he was telling. This is a congruent conflation of “dive in” and “sink (one’s) teeth into”, both meaning to undertake an endeavor energetically. A big shout out goes to Frozen Cusser for hearing this one and sending it in.
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