I was left in the blue
Posted: December 26, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, left in the dark, malaphor, malaphors, out of the blue, words Leave a commentThis was uttered as some friends were planning what to do after finals. One had no idea of the plans. This is a nice mashup of “left in the dark” (to keep someone uninformed) and “out of the blue” (unexpectedly). A tip of the hat to david5cerda for hearing this one.
They swear like chimneys
Posted: December 20, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, smoke like a chimney, swear like a sailor, words Leave a commentThis terrific conflation was uttered by a college freshman relating to her parents about the language in her dorm. It is a mashup of “swear like a sailor” (to use profanities freely) and “smoke like a chimney” (smoke cigarettes excessively). Both involve doing something in excess which leads to the mix up, I think. Also “smoke” and “swear” are 5 letter words that start with s. A big thanks to John Kooser who heard this one and shared it!
So it only stands fair that he should be prosecuted for misconduct also
Posted: December 18, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, PBS Newshour, seems fair, stands to reason, Trump, words 2 CommentsThis one was heard on the PBS News hour by one of Trump’s accusers of sexual misconduct. It is a blend of “seems fair” and “stands to reason” (is obvious). A big thanks to Laszlo Veres for hearing this one.
Oh! So the horse is on the other foot now?
Posted: December 16, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: a horse of another color, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, putting the cart before the horse, the shoe is on the other foot, words 1 CommentThis confused phrase is a conflation of “the shoe is on the other foot” (roles have been reversed) and I think “horse of another color” (something completely different) only because of the words “another” and “other”. “Putting the cart before the horse” (reversing the order of things) might also be in the mix as both phrases refer to reversals. My guess is that the speaker was also thinking of a horseshoe when he/she blurted this out. A big thanks to Lua the Cat for sharing this one.
He just let the cat out of the box
Posted: December 13, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Bernie Sanders, expressions, humor, language, let the cat out of the bag, malaphor, malaphors, out of the box, Pat Toomey, words 5 CommentsThis is a great mashup uttered by Senator Bernie Sanders regarding a comment made by Senator Pat Toomey. The video is below, but in short, Sen. Sanders asked if Toomey would pledge not to cut Social Security and Medicare and Toomey responded, “I will not cut benefits on people who are on it right now”. Sanders responded that Toomey “Just let the cat out of the box”. It is a mix of “out of the box” (a product that can be used immediately) and “let the cat out of the bag” (to reveal a secret by accident). Of course a “cat box” may have been on Sanders’ mind as he was articulating his disdain for the proposed Republican tax bill. The malaphor appears about half way through the clip. A big thanks to Susan Ameel for hearing this one!
They are going to punt the ball down the road
Posted: December 12, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, kick the can down the road, malaphor, malaphors, MSNBC, punt, words Leave a commentThis is another great mashup from a political pundit, this time heard on MSNBC. It is a mix of “punt” (improvise or do something in a pinch) and “kick the can down the road” (to postpone or defer a definitive action). So maybe they improvise while they delay? A tip of the hat to Jim Kozlowski for hearing this one.
I was trying to buttercoat it
Posted: December 10, 2017 Filed under: WORD BLENDS | Tags: butter up, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, sugarcoat, WORD BLENDS, words Leave a commentFrom the submitter: “My coworker just said this when complimenting my singing. He used an expletive the first time, but when he repeated it, he used a euphemism in place of the expletive. When I said, “That’s not what you said before,” he said he was trying to buttercoat it, not realizing that he was mixing two expressions. When I told him that what he just said is a malaphor of butter up and sugarcoat, he said that it perfectly conveyed his sentiment.”
This is a great word blend of “sugarcoat” (palatable, or easy to take) and “butter up” (to be nice to someone by flattery or other means). I think this should be a new phrase in the lexicon, and the above situation is a great example. A big thanks to Diana for sharing this one!
I wouldn’t do that in a pink fit of Sundays
Posted: December 9, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Australian, Australian idioms, expressions, humor, in a pink fit, language, malaphor, malaphors, not in a month of Sundays, words 1 CommentThis was uttered by the submitter’s mum on many occasions. It is a mashup of “in a pink fit” (a tantrum or in anger) and “in a month of Sundays (under no circumstances). The mix up seems to be caused by that pesky preposition “in”.
I researched the phrase “in a pink fit” as I had never heard of it and it seems to be an Australian idiom. Any UK folks out there heard of it? A big thanks to Abigail for sending this one in.
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I was flying by the edge of my seat
Posted: December 7, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cooks vs. cons, flying by the seat of my pants, food network, humor, malaphor, malaphors, on the edge of my seat, television, words Leave a commentThis one was said on the Food Network show “Cooks vs. Cons” (season 2, episode 5). It is a nice mashup of “flying by the seat of my pants” (to rely on one’s instinct instead of following a set plan) and “on the edge of my seat” (very excited and giving your full attention to something). “Seat” is the common word here, and the source of the mixup. A big thanks to Hillary Harding for spotting this one!
Bills’ McDermott starting to look over his head
Posted: December 6, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Buffalo Bills, expressions, humor, language, looking over your shoulder, malaphor, malaphors, Olean Times Herald, over your head, words Leave a commentThis malaphor headline comes to us from the Olean Times Herald: http://www.oleantimesherald.com/sports/pollock-bills-mcdermott-starting-to-look-over-his-head/article_5bf52096-cfe4-11e7-9e3a-1b4137e0f0fe.html
If you clicked on the link, you will see that the author of the article inadvertently mentions the two sources: “in over your head” (too deeply involved in a difficult situation) and “looking over your shoulder” (insecure or anxious about a potential change). This is another classic “head/shoulders” mash up. I have posted numerous others. A shout out to John Costello for spotting this one.
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