I have no horse in this fight

Posted: March 4, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This is a perfectly formed malaphor, combining similar meaning and sounding expressions.  It was said in a meeting when asked to resolve a disagreement.  It is a congruent conflation of “no horse in this race” and “no dog in this fight”, both meaning to not have an investment in the outcome of something.  “No dog in this hunt” is another similar expression.   Horses and dogs can get confusing, particularly when they are fighting.  Speaking of horses, they are often the subject of malaphors.  Why?  Horses are used in many idioms, it seems.  The Idiom Dictionary (part of the Free Dictionary) lists over 150 of them.  If you type in “horse” on this website, you will find at least 10 malaphors involving horses, including such beauties (black?) as “I’m cursing like a race horse”, “Now that’s a horse of a different story”, “You can’t beat that with a dead horse”, and “Hold your horses on”.  There must be a lot of naysayers out there.   A big thanks to John Polk for hearing this one and passing it on!  Check out John’s great Twitter feed- @Clichesgonewild.

Want to see more horse (and elephant) malaphors?  Check  out my book “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors” available on Amazon for a mere 6.99!!

Keep your fingers wet

Posted: March 3, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Husband and wife are discussing plans after she retires.  He says that since she knows a lot of people she should keep her fingers wet.  This is a nice mash up of “get (one’s) feet wet” (start a new activity or job) and “have a finger in the pie” (to be involved in something).  “Finger on the pulse” (continuing to monitor something) may also be in the mix, as the discussion concerned continuing to stay in touch.  I think “pie” is probably the one, though, as putting fingers in a pie does make them wet.  A big thanks to Barbara Artuso for hearing this one and passing it on!

I’m getting a little punch-happy

Posted: March 2, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: WORD BLENDS | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This one was said at the end of a long day of meetings.  It’s a nice word blend congruent conflation of “punch-drunk” and “slap-happy”, both meaning to be dazed or giddy.  I really like this one, as it also can describe being drunk, as in drinking too much punch at a party.  Certainly a few artillery punches will make one very happy…. for awhile.   A shout out to Nate Shand for hearing this one and passing it on!

It’s for all the bananas

Posted: March 1, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This was spoken by my sister-in-law recently.  It is a nice mash up of “for all the marbles” (all the winnings or rewards) and “go bananas” (to go mildly crazy).  My guess is that she was also thinking of “lost (one’s) marbles”, also meaning to go crazy.  So the thought process went something like this, perhaps:  marbles → crazy → bananas.   Then again, a “top banana” is also the winner so maybe that was in the mix as well?  Whatever the deconstruction, it is an excellent malaphor and hats off to Mercy Mamalis for uttering it!

banana

This wait is mind-racking

Posted: February 25, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: WORD BLENDS | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

This nice word blend malaphor was heard on the t.v. show Hell’s Kitchen.  Chef Ramsey was about to make his decision on the winner. As suspense was building, one of the contestants said “This wait is mind racking”.  This is a mash up of “mind-blowing” (overwhelming or astounding) and “nerve-racking” (very distressing or exhausting).  My guess is that the speaker was also thinking of “racking my brain” (to try very hard to think of something), something few do today thanks to Google.   Kudos to John and Heather Hatfield for hearing this one and sending it into Malaphor Central!

Want to read something that will rack your mind?  Check out my book “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon for a cheap 6.99!

gordon-ramsay

Republicans are on the horns of a bull in a china shop

Posted: February 24, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This malaphor was written by Michael Gerson in a Washington Post column.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-best-fortnight-in-a-decade-for-conservatives-uh-oh/2017/02/06/93e2f1aa-ec9a-11e6-9973-c5efb7ccfb0d_story.html?utm_term=.fe5334ede362

It is a nice mash up of “on the horns of a dilemma” (unable to decide between two things because either could bring bad results) and “bull in a china shop” (clumsily destructive).  Mr. Gerson was discussing how Republicans are in a difficult situation, where if they criticize Trump, they could receive massive retaliation.  While malaphors are usually unintentional slip ups, this one clearly was not.  A big thanks to Sam Edelmann for seeing this one and passing it on!

michael-gerson

I like to put another feather in our bag of tricks

Posted: February 23, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This little ditty was heard on the Discovery Channel’s “Fire in the Hole”, episode entitled “Pressure Cooker”.  It was spoken by Matt Barnett, CEO of Texplo Explosives.  This is a mash up of “feather in our cap”  (achievement) and “pull out of my bag of tricks” (one’s stock of resources and stratagems).  Perhaps the speaker was thinking of those doves flying out of a magician’s hat and feathers flying?  A big thanks to Alan Richardson who heard and submitted this one.

fire-in-the-hole

It was mind shattering

Posted: February 3, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: WORD BLENDS | Tags: , , , , , , | 2 Comments

This word blend malaphor was heard on the Mark Madden sports show when he was interviewing NBC hockey analyst Pierre McGuire. The night before, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins had an incredible goal against the Dallas Stars where he tried to bank a shot off their goalie, got the rebound from the back side of the goalie in mid-air and scored a goal. Pierre said Sid’s play was “mind shattering.”  This is a word blend of “mind blowing” and “earth shattering”, both meaning shock or surprise.  This one is said often, based on Google hits, and perhaps has crept into the English lexicon, but I still believe it is a malaphor.  It certainly is better than “earth blowing”.  Kudos to Michael Ameel for hearing this one and passing it on!

I was painted into a wall

Posted: February 2, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This is a nice congruent conflation of “painted into a corner” and “back against the wall”, both describing being in a hard-pressed situation.  A wall mural painting might also have crept into the recesses of the speaker’s mind.  Who knows? Many thanks to Elly Pietrucha who mistakenly uttered this one and passed it on!

That was your hip reaction

Posted: January 30, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An employee recalled a decision his employer had made and uttered this nice mash up of “shooting from the hip” (to react quickly without thinking of the consequences) and “gut reaction” (a reaction to a situation based on feelings rather than a logical analysis). Both phrases involve an instinctual reaction rather than a carefully thought out one.  Also gut and hip are three letter words, and are anatomical words as well, perhaps adding to the confusion.  Then again, maybe the employer is just a real “hip” guy and reacts in an informed or in the know way?  Thanks to Steve Grieme, Super Malaphor Hunter, for hearing this one and sharing it!

If you had a hip reaction to this post, you might want to read the book on malaphors, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon.  http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205  It’s a real page burner!

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