Trump continues to play straight out of Putin’s pocket
Posted: July 25, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, Joe Scarborough, language, malaphor, Morning Joe, playbook, pocket, Trump, words Leave a commentThis terrific mashup was spoken by Joe Scarborough on his show, “Morning Joe”, on July 17, 2018. It is a conflation of “a page out of (someone’s) playbook” (to behave or act like someone else) and “in (someone’s) pocket” (under someone’s direct control or influence). This mix up has its own unique connotation: someone who is directed by someone else and is following that person’s command or orders. A big thanks to James Kozlowski for hearing this one and sending it in.
Everyone runs for the fences
Posted: July 22, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, Fox News, head for the hills, humor, language, malaphor, Martha MacCallum, swing for the fences, Trump, words Leave a commentMartha MacCallum on Fox News said this nicely formed malaphor. It is a mashup of “run (or head) for the hills” (depart quickly) and “swing for the fences” (to act or perform with maximum intensity). In baseball, you swing and then run, and that is possibly the mental image the speaker had when she uttered this one. Also, the word “for” is common in both phrases. A big thanks to Ralph Aikman for hearing this one and sending it in.
I’m trying to keep an open book
Posted: July 19, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: an open book, expressions, humor, keep an open mind, language, malaphor, words 1 CommentA physician asked someone about doing a fellowship. The response was this nice malaphor. It is a mashup of “keep an open mind” (to avoid making a judgment about something before considering it) and “I’m an open book” (a person’s life with no secrets). “Open” is the source of the mix up here. A big thanks to Jesse Garwood for sharing this one and admitting saying it!
He’s keeping it under his vest
Posted: July 13, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: close to the chest, Cohen, Emily Jane Fox, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, MSNBC, Rachel Maddow, Trump, under wraps, words 1 CommentThis was heard on the Rachel Maddow show. Vanity Fair reporter Emily Jane Fox was talking about Michael Cohen, and what he may have on Trump. She then uttered this beauty. It is a congruent conflation of “close to the chest” and “under wraps” (to keep one’s plans secret from others). The vest/chest rhyme and close/under words probably contributed to the mix up. A big thanks to “Eagle-Ear” Frank King for hearing yet another one on MSNBC, your malaphor channel.
He pulls those hat tricks out of the bag
Posted: July 10, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bag of tricks, Carson Wentz, expressions, hat trick, humor, Lane Johnson, language, malaphor, malaphors, Philadelphia Eagles, pull a rabbit out the hat, words 2 Comments
Parents should stick to their ground involving kids’ names
Posted: July 6, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, hold your ground, humor, idioms, language, malaphor, stick to your guns, words 2 CommentsI guess that means names like Sandy and Muddy? This was spotted on Quora, an internet platform to ask questions and get answers. It is a great congruent conflation of “stick to your guns” and “hold/stand your ground”, both meaning to refuse to yield or compromise. “Ground” and “guns” both start with a G and have a similar sound, hence the mental mix up. A big thanks to Margaret Grover who spotted this one and sent it in!
They are not putting all their marbles in one basket
Posted: July 3, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: espn, expressions, for all the marbles, humor, language, malaphors, Michael Wilbon, PTI, put all your eggs in one basket, words 3 CommentsThis one is from the ESPN show “Pardon the Interruption” (PTI). There was a discussion about the Lakers and LeBron James’ free agency. Michael Wilbon reported that Magic Johnson [the Lakers’ director of basketball operations] stated that they are not putting all their marbles in one basket. Even Tony Kornheiser then pointed out to Michael that it should have been eggs, not marbles. This is a nice conflation of “for all the marbles” (all the winnings, spoils, or rewards) and “put all your eggs in one basket” (to invest all of one’s energy in a single venture). Marbles resemble eggs and vice versa so this is probably the reason for the mix up. A big thanks to Gerry Abbott for hearing this one and sending it in.
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Tarred with the same feather
Posted: July 1, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: humor, language, malaphor, tarred and feathered, tarred with the same brush, wordplay, words Leave a commentThis is a super mashup of “tarred and feathered” (to excoriate or criticize someone in a humiliating and public manner) and “tarred (painted) with the same brush” (unfairly judge or categorize as being the same as someone, usually in a negative manner). Both idioms refer to a negative action against another. They also both have the word “tar” in them, which is probably the cause of the mental hiccup. Also, brushes can be composed of hairs, which may have led the mind back to the word “feather”. A big thanks to Michael Boyette for hearing this one and sending it to my Facebook page, Malaphors.
He was drunk out of his ass
Posted: June 28, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: drunk off his ass, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, out of his mind, words Leave a commentI love this one. This was overheard outside a bar. It is a mashup of “drunk off his ass” (very intoxicated) and “out of his mind” (crazy). Crazy drunk? Upside down? A big thanks to Anthony Kovacs for hearing this one and sending it in!
Lay down the gauntlet
Posted: June 11, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cnn, expressions, humor, language, lay down the law, Maggie Haberman, malaphor, throw down the gauntlet, words Leave a commentThis was spoken on June 6 by New York Times’ reporter Maggie Haberman, appearing on CNN’s Inside Politics. It is a subtle mashup of “throw down the gauntlet” (to issue a challenge) and “lay down the law” (to give a directive or order sternly). I suppose one could lay down the gauntlet but throwing it seems much more appropriate. This expression alludes to the medieval practice of a knight throwing down his gauntlet, or metal glove, as a challenge to combat. Its figurative use dates from the second half of the 1700s. A big thanks once again to Frank King for hearing this one and throwing it my way. @MaggieNYT
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