Quid pro quo is one of these things to muddy the works
Posted: November 11, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, gum up the works, humor, Jim Himes, language, malaphor, malaphors, Meet the Press, muddy the waters, Trump, words Leave a commentThis gem was uttered by Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT) yesterday on Meet the Press, talking about the Trump impeachment inquiry. It is a mashup of “muddy the waters” (to make a situation less clear) and “gum up the works” (to interfere with the proper functioning of something). Both expressions refer to degrading something, and “works” and “waters” might have been jumbled by the phrase “water works”? A big shout out to Bruce Ryan who heard this one and passed it on. @jahimes @MeetThePress
You can hear this malaphor just about at the beginning of the video:
The top kahuna, Donald Trump
Posted: November 7, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: big kahuna, humor, language, malaphor, Nick Akerman, top dog, Trump 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
The book is running away from the charts
Posted: November 2, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, off the charts, ran away with, words Leave a commentA TV host was interviewing an author, and commenting on the author’s successful book (on the NY Times bestseller list). This seems to be a mashup of “run away with” (win handily) and “off the charts” (spectacular). Both phrases refer to something or someone having success, hence the mixup in context. A big thanks to Verbatim for hearing this one and sending it in.
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Why climate change deniers are running out of rope
Posted: October 21, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: at the end of one's rope, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, on the ropes, running out of time, words Leave a commentThis is actually the title of an article in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/17/climate-science-deniers-environment-warning
It is a mashup of “running out of time” (to no longer have any time left to finish an activity) and, based on the context, I believe “on the ropes” (close to defeat). “At the end of (one’s) rope” (completely worn out) might also be in the mix as both idioms refer to the end of an activity. A big thanks to John Kooser who spotted this one in plain sight.
They’ll be coming with guns out
Posted: October 19, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: all guns blazing, expressions, humor, knives out, language, malaphor, words Leave a commentThe speaker (contributor’s mom) was referring to Republicans when she heard that an impeachment inquiry on Trump was starting. This is a mashup of “with all guns blazing” (forcefully and with a strong sense of purpose) and “knives out” (people eager to criticize another). Perhaps in this era “guns out” is more appropriate than knives. A big thanks to Sandor Kovacs who heard this one and passed it on.
They will kick the can down the bucket
Posted: October 12, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, kick the bucket, kick the can down the road, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentThe speaker was talking about whether the EU would give England another extension on Brexit, and that more than likely an extension would be approved. This is a mashup of “kick the can down the road” (to postpone or defer a definitive action) and “kick the bucket” (to die). “Kick” is the common word here, and “cans” and “buckets” are similar objects which probably led to the mixup. I can’t help think that also the “ck” sound might have muddied the mental waters. A big thanks to Nate Shand for uttering this one and then allowing me to share it with the malaphor world.
They have their backs up against the corner
Posted: September 27, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: back against the wall, back up, backed into a corner, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, Trumpnro, words, Yamiche Alcindor Leave a commentMSNBC commentator Yamiche Alcindor uttered this one when talking about the White House after Pelosi’s impeachment announcement. This is a near perfect congruent conflation of “backed into a corner” and “back to the wall”, both meaning to be in a high-pressure situation with no escape. “Back up” (to obstruct) might also be in the mix, given the recent news. A big thanks to David Stephens for hearing this one and passing it on!
Let’s put this horse to bed
Posted: September 4, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: horse, humor, language, malaphors, put a horse out to pasture, put it to bed, words Leave a commentThe speaker and his co-worker were talking about a situation that they didn’t need to talk about anymore. In order to signal it was time to wrap things up the speaker said “Let’s put this horse to bed.” This is a nice congruent conflation of “put (something) to bed” and “put a horse out to pasture”, meaning to finish or retire something. Perhaps the speaker dredged up in his mind the Godfather scene with the horse head in bed. That certainly finalized things. A big thanks to Joel for actually unintentionally uttering this one and sending it in.
I’m going to hang low at home today
Posted: August 26, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, feeling low, hang out, humor, language, lay low, malaphors, words Leave a commentThe speaker was not feeling well and uttered this nice mixup. It is a conflation of “hang out” (to engage in some some frivolous time wasting) and “lay low” (to be hidden or inconspicuous). “Feeling low” (feeling ill or sad) is probably also in the mix, considering the context. A big thanks to David Barnes for hearing this one and passing it on.
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