I don’t know it off the top of my hand
Posted: April 2, 2013 Filed under: hand, head | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, hand, head, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, off the top of my head, offhand, words 1 CommentThis is a mash up of “off the top of my head” and “offhand”, both meaning to say something without preparation. Hand and head both look and sound similar, and are both body parts, all adding to the confusion. I have heard this one many times in conversation and in meetings.
He’s a one act pony
Posted: March 30, 2013 Filed under: pony | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, one act play, one trick pony, pony, trick, words 1 CommentOkay, so is it fair to post your spouse’s malaphors? My wife said this one last night, referring to a college basketball player. This is a mash up of “one trick pony” and I think “one act play“. Pony and play are four letter words beginning with P and ending with y, which is part of the confusion. Ponies are certainly playful as well.
You’re just rubbing sand in it
Posted: March 27, 2013 Filed under: rub, salt, sand | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, rub salt in the wound, salt, sand, Today, Willie Geist, words Leave a commentI heard this one by Willie Geist on the Today show. He meant to say “you’re just rubbing salt in the wound” as he was explaining that the person’s actions were making the situation worse. As for the other expression, not sure but certainly sand is abrasive and can hurt if in a wound. It also conjures up in my mind the guy kicking sand in the other’s face, aggravating the situation.
That was the only flaw in the ointment
Posted: March 26, 2013 Filed under: fly, ointment | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, flaw, fly, fly in the ointment, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis is a mash up of “fly in the ointment” and “flaw in the logic”, both referring to a drawback. Confusion may also be caused by the similar sounding words “fly” and “flaw”. Thanks to Barry Eigen for passing this gem along!
They played out of their heads
Posted: March 23, 2013 Filed under: head, mind | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, Florida Gulf coast University, head, humor, language, malaphors, mind, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentAnother malaphor from the sports world. A tv sports commentator uttered this one when describing an underdog basketball team. This is a mash up of “out of their minds” and “over their heads”, both describing a team that played beyond expectations. NCAA cinderella team perhaps?
Athletics logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
It’s a thorn in the foot
Posted: March 21, 2013 Filed under: BODY PARTS, foot, thorn | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, fables, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, thorn, thorn in the side, words Leave a commentThis was uttered at a presentation where the speaker was describing a problem. It is a mash up of “thorn in the side” and possibly “shoot yourself in the foot”, but probably the speaker was thinking of the Aesop fable where the lion has a thorn in his paw. Or, as “my ol’ pal” notes, we sometimes get slivers in our feet when walking barefoot. Thanks to Cecily for sending this one to me!
He’s really having his day in the shade
Posted: March 16, 2013 Filed under: shade, sun | Tags: blended idioms, day in the sun, expressions, humor, language, made in the shade, malaphors, mixed idioms, shade, sun, words 3 Comments
Hold your jets!
Posted: March 15, 2013 Filed under: ANIMALS, horse, jets | Tags: blended idioms, cool your jets, expressions, hold your horses, horses, humor, jets, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis malaphor was spoken by a dad who was telling his son to stop messing with the car radio. After blurting it out he immediately knew to contact the Malaphor King. This is a mash up of “hold your horses” and “cool your jets”, both meaning to slow down or control one’s excitement.
That’s hogcock
Posted: March 13, 2013 Filed under: WORD BLENDS | Tags: 30 Rock, Alec Baldwin, blended idioms, expressions, hogwash, humor, Jack Donaghy, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, poppycock, television, words 2 Comments
Jack Donaghy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This word blend malaphor was uttered on the t.v. show 30 Rock by Alec Baldwin’s character, Jack Donaghy. In fact, it was the title (Hogcock!) of the first part of the one hour series finale. It is a blend of “hogwash” and “poppycock”, as the character says.
Don’t let the bean out of the bag
Posted: March 12, 2013 Filed under: ANIMALS, bean, cat, FOOD | Tags: beans, blended idioms, cat, cat out of the bag, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, spill the beans, words Leave a commentThis strange expression is a mash up of “cat out of the bag” and “spill the beans”, both meaning to give away a secret or surprise. The speaker may also have been thinking of bean bags. Who didn’t have a bean bag chair adorning their living room in the 70s and 80s? Mine was a beautiful pukish brown with a corduroy cover – stylish. Thanks to Cathy Miller for this one!
Bean Bag Chair (Photo credit: Clover_1)
Malaphors 
Recent Comments