This plant is dry as a rock
Posted: March 23, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: dry as a bone, expressions, hard as a rock, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentThis was said by a friend about a houseplant. It is a nice mashup of “hard as a rock” (very hard) and “dry as a bone” (very dry). Bones and rocks are both dry and hard, and are both one syllable words, hence the metaphor mixup. A big thanks to frequent malaphor contributor Yvonne Stam for hearing this one and sending it in!
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t flog dead horses
Posted: March 22, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, flog a dead horse, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, words Leave a commentThis was overheard in a check-out line conversation, and is a great piece of “advice”. It is a nice mashup of “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones” (you should not criticize other people who have the same faults as you have) and “flog (or beat) a dead horse” (to insist on talking about something that no one is interested in). It’s a classic malaphor, incorporating two idioms to make a strange statement. Horses and houses seem to be the culprit here. A big thanks to Jeremy of Smoke-Eaters Studio for hearing this one and sending it in!
That’s right up my cup of tea
Posted: March 20, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, not my cup of tea, right up my alley, words Leave a commentNot sure of the context on this one, but it it was uttered unintentionally, making it a nice malaphor. It is a mix of “not (one’s) cup of tea” (not something one prefers or enjoys) and “right up (one’s) alley” (ideally suited to one’s interests or abilities). The confusion I think is caused by two idioms that concern someone’s interests or preference. A big thanks to Joe Dolan for sending this one in!
The floor to ceiling windows really knock you off your socks
Posted: March 19, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, HGTV, humor, Island Life, knock you off your feet, knock your socks off, knockout, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentThis gem was heard on HGTV’s Island Life (Hilton Head episode). It is a congruent conflation of “knock (someone’s) socks off” (bedazzle or amaze someone) and “knock (someone) off their feet”, both meaning to amaze, bedazzle, or blow someone away. Certainly the confusion was caused by feet and socks, and the common denominators “off” and “knock”. A “knock out” also comes to mind, again referring to impressing someone. Kudos to Robyn Bottoni for hearing this one and sending it in!
My book on malaphors, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other malaphors”, will also knock you off your socks….with laughter! Get it now on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205!
My dog is healthy as a clam
Posted: March 18, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, happy as a clam, healthy as a horse, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentIn describing his pet’s lifestyle, the speaker accidentally said that his dog was healthy as a clam. This is a nice mashup of “healthy as a horse” (very healthy) and “happy as a clam” (very happy). The words healthy and happy are similar in sound and shape, contributing to the mental mix up. Happy clams seem to be on people’s malaphor minds, as a prior one posted illustrates – “happy as a clam in clover”. https://malaphors.com/2014/08/15/im-as-happy-as-a-clam-in-clover/. A big thanks to Johann Chancey for saying this one and sending it in!
That’s a tough crowd to follow
Posted: March 16, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: clichesgonewild, expressions, follow the crowd, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, tough act to follow, words 1 CommentThis is a mashup of “a tough act to follow” (a difficult performance or presentation after a successful one by someone else) and “follow the crowd” (do what everyone else is doing). The word “follow” seems to be the culprit in this mix up as it appears in both idioms. As John Polk, the submitter said, “crowds are easy to follow, until they turn into a mob.” Truer words were never spoken. A big thanks to “Cliches Gone Wild” John Polk for sending this one in! His logo for his twitter account @clichesgonewild appears below.
They’re right on my coattails
Posted: March 15, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Centre Daily Times Press, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, Penn State hockey, riding on his coattails, right on my tail, words Leave a commentThis is a nice, subtle malaphor. It was spoken by Penn State hockey player David Goodwin. “The thing is, with records like that, yeah I might catch him, but guys like Andrew Sturtz (39 goals) and (Chase) Berger and Denis (Smirnov), they’re right on my coat tails.” http://ireader.olivesoftware.com/Olive/iReader/CentreDailyTimesPress/SharedArticle.ashx?document=CDTM%5C2017%5C03%5C07&article=Ar00901
This is a mix of “right on my tail” (following someone closely) and “riding (on) the coattails of (someone)” (to benefit from someone else’s success). The causes for the confusion? Right and ride sound similar, and both expressions have the word “tail”. A hat tip to Martin Pietrucha for seeing this one and sending it in!
I’m doing this on a whim and a prayer
Posted: March 14, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, on a whim, on a wing and a prayer, onawhimandaprayer.com, words Leave a commentA person posted that she was quitting her job somewhat impulsively. She doesn’t have a new job lined up, so it’s a little bit scary. She wrote, “I’m doing this on a whim and a prayer.” This is a nice mashup of “on a whim” (sudden, impulsive urge) and “on a wing and a prayer” (hoping you will succeed even though you have not prepared for it). The mix up undoubtedly was caused by the words “on a” that are in both idioms. The expressions combined describe what the speaker was trying to convey – an impulsive move with a hope that it works out well. A big thanks to Monica Bafetti for spotting this one and Sally Adler for sending it here! As Sally points out, this malaphor is really more meaningful than the original in this age. And check out the blog onawhimandaprayer.com about two Irishmen who logged in 35,000 kilometers on motorbikes to raise money for Make-A-Wish!
We should be at the top of the pack
Posted: March 13, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cnn, Donald Trump, expressions, humor, language, leader of the pack, malaphor, malaphors, top of the heap, words Leave a commenthttp://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205
Just out of kicks….
Posted: March 12, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, just for kick, Kix, language, malaphor, malaphors, out of curiosity, words Leave a commentThis one was actually unintentionally uttered by Chief Malaphor Hunter Mike Kovacs, and heard and submitted by his son Anthony. It is a subtle mashup of “just out of curiosity” (asking an off topic question wanting to know the answer) and “just for kicks” (for the fun or thrill of it). on the other hand, maybe Mike was actually saying he was out of the breakfast cereal Kix, or his music supply of Kix, the 80s rock band? A big thanks to Anthony Kovacs for hearing this one and sending it in.
Malaphors 
Recent Comments