We’re seeing them close the wagons
Posted: September 20, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: circle the wagons, closing ranks, espn, expressions, humor, malaphor, malaphors, Michele Steele, NPR Weekend Edition, words Leave a commentThis one was spoken by ESPN’s Michele Steele on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday. She was discussing the horse racing drug scandal involving the Kentucky Derby winner, Justify. Here’s the transcript: https://www.npr.org/2019/09/14/760780871/saturday-sports-horse-racing-antonio-brown.
This is a nice congruent conflation of “closing ranks” and “circling the wagons”, both meaning to become defensive. A big thanks to Martin Pietrucha for hearing this one and striking malaphor gold! @ESPNMichele
The Democrat Party is literally groveling at the mouth
Posted: September 18, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Daily Caller, expressions, foaming at the mouth, groveling in, humor, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentThis one comes from the Daily Caller. It is a mashup of “foaming at the mouth” (extremely angry) and “groveling in (something)” (to interact with someone in an overtly agreeable manner). So did the writer mean that the Party was angry or overtly agreeable? My guess it was the former. As an aside, this is also another example of using the word “literally” incorrectly. If it’s literal, then it happens. A big thanks to Ralph Aikman for spotting this one.
They are not out of the clear
Posted: September 16, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cnn, Dorian, expressions, humor, in the clear, James Joseph, malaphor, malaphors, out of danger, out of the woods, words Leave a commentJames Joseph, senior FEMA administrator, on CNN, told people in Florida not to ignore warnings and think themselves safe from the effects of the oncoming hurricane Dorian. It’s a congruent conflation of “out of the woods” and “in the clear”, both meaning to be free of danger. Perhaps the speaker was thinking of a clearing in the woods. “Out of danger”, also meaning to be free of danger, might also be in the mix. A big thanks to “my ol’ pal” Beatrice Zablocki for hearing this one.
I’m biting at the dust
Posted: September 9, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bite the dust, biting my nails, champing at the bit, expressions, humor, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentThe speaker was nervously anticipating something. This is a three-fer mashup I think. “Champing at the bit” and “biting my nails” both meaning to anxiously await something, are clearly in the mix, and also “bites the dust” (to die) is in there. Perhaps the anticipation was so exciting that she thought she was going to die? In any event, a big thanks to Katie Mroczek for uttering this one and sending it on, with the help of Anthony Kovacs.
Some people live a long time even though they smoke like a haystack
Posted: August 31, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, malaphor, needle in a haystack, smokes like a chimney, words Leave a commentThis one was uttered by Joe Starkey, a local sports radio commentator. It is a mashup of “smokes like a chimney” (smokes continually) and “needle in a haystack” (something that is very difficult to locate). My guess is that the speaker was thinking of “smokestack” and “haystack” bubbled to the surface. Also, haystacks give off a lot of smoke when burned. This one reminds me of the title of my malaphor book, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon for a mere $7.99! A big thanks to John Kooser for hearing this one.
The President is having to deal with a den of vipers
Posted: August 28, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: den of iniquity, den of thieves, expressions, humor, malaphor, malaphors, nest of vipers, walking into the lions' den, words Leave a commentThis one was uttered by an evangelical Trump supporter. It is a congruent conflation of “a nest of vipers” and “a den of thieves”, both meaning a group of individuals suspected of underhanded dealings. “Den of iniquity” (a lot of immoral things happen there) might be in the mix, but I doubt it. “Waliking into the lions’ den” (place yourself in a dangerous situation) certainly is in play given the context and its Biblical roots. Here is the article where the malaphor is found: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/08/14/evangelicals-view-trump-their-protector-will-they-stand-by-him/?wpisrc=nl_rainbow&wpmm=1
A big thanks to Barry Eigen for spotting this one!
It’s not number one on the burner
Posted: August 21, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, malaphor, malaphors, not number one on the list, not on the front burner, Trump, words Leave a commentThe Malaphorer in Chief, Donald Trump, uttered this beauty when he was discussing his idea to purchase Greenland. “It’s not number one on the burner, I can tell you that.” This is a congruent conflation of “not number one on the list” and “not on the front burner”, both meaning not a high priority. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/kudlow-says-white-house-is-looking-at-trying-to-buy-greenland/2019/08/18/ab367b6c-c1bb-11e9-b5e4-54aa56d5b7ce_story.html.
This one was heard by several loyal malaphor followers, including Barry Eigen, Donna Calvert, and Frank King. This Trump malaphor is not the first. Check my book out, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors” (available on Amazon) for more mashups from him. There are also many more on this blog. Search “Trump”.
He flows with the wind
Posted: August 16, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blows with the wind, expressions, goes with the flow, malaphor, Max Rose, Trump, words Leave a commentThis was uttered by Congressman Max Rose (D-NY) on MSNBC’s Morning Joe show. Rose was talking about efforts to pass gun legislation and he said, referring to Trump, “this President, I believe, has no inner core beliefs. He flows with the wind.” This is a congruent conflation of “goes with the flow” and “blows with the wind”, both meaning to act according to prevailing circumstances rather than a consistent plan. “Blow” rhymes with “flow” which could have contributed to the mashup. A shout out to Mike Kovacs for hearing this one and sending it in. Picture suggested by Mike!
He’s walking on thin water
Posted: August 14, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: deep water, expressions, humor, malaphor, malaphors, walk on water, walking on thin ice, words 1 CommentThe speaker was talking about someone who needed to be careful. This is a mashup of “walking on thin ice” (to proceed with caution or great care) and I think “in deep water” (an overwheming situation) because of the context. However, “walk on water” (do something extraordinary or impossible) certainly should not be ruled out, as it is scrambled in the malaphor. A shout out to David Stephens who heard this one. David said that he recently slipped on a wet floor and broke his toe so this malaphor really resonated with him.
Did you like this malaphor? Catch ’em all in my book, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon for a cheap 7.99 It’s a perfect addition to your bathroom library.
bottom of the pack
Posted: August 3, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: back of the pack, bottom of the barrel, expressions, humor, idioms, Joy Reid, language, malaphor, words 1 CommentJoy Reid on MSNBC was discussing the Democratic debate and the attacks from those candidates with the least to lose, referring to them as “those polling at the bottom of the pack”. This is a mashup of “back of the pack” (last ones) and “bottom of the barrel” (least desirable). I suppose this malaphor fits if you are referring to playing cards, or when you have been binge swiping on Tinder and have run out of people – see Urban Dictionary https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bottom%20of%20the%20pack
A shout out to Frank King, a malaphor spotting regular. Good ear, Frank!
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