I just dozed out for a second
Posted: December 21, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: dozed off, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, words expressions, zoned out 1 CommentThe speaker was indicating she actually wasn’t asleep. This is a mash up of “dozed off” (fall into a light sleep) and “zoned out” (to lose concentration or become inattentive). The confusion seems to lie in the words off and out, and the letter z both in zone and doze. A big thanks to Becca Christine for saying this one and Kevin Hatfield for passing it on!
The RNC has to thread the line carefully when dealing with Trump
Posted: December 15, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Donald Trump, expressions, humor, Katy Tur, language, malaphor, malaphors, MSNBC, RNC, thread the needle, walk a fine line, words Leave a commentThis gem was overheard on MSNBC. Correspondent Katy Tur was commenting on the Republican National Committee (RNC) walking a tight rope with respect to Donald Trump, and ended by uttering this malaphor. It is a congruent conflation of “thread the needle” and “walk a fine line”, both meaning to strike a balance between conflicting or different forces. Perhaps she was thinking of threading a fishing line? A big thank you to Louis Mande for hearing this one and passing it along.
We are only seeing one side of this iceberg
Posted: December 13, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: dark side, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, tip of the iceberg, words Leave a commentMarykathryn has done it again. She was discussing a very contentious legal case with her husband. The more they dug the more they found out about their client. She finally turned to her husband and said, ” Honey, we are only seeing one side of this iceberg”. This is a mash up of “the tip of the iceberg” (a small part of something much larger) and I think “the dark side (of someone)” (the negative and hidden aspect of someone), given the context. This is the second malaphor referring to icebergs. See “we’ve barely scratched the tip of the iceberg” (9/19/13). https://malaphors.com/2013/01/19/we-barely-scratched-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/ A big thank you to Marykathryn Kopec who keeps giving me material!
You’re not the brightest toolbox in the shed
Posted: December 7, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, not the brightest, not the sharpest knife in the drawer, not the sharpest tool in the shed, words Leave a commentWhile talking to his cat (everyone does that, right?), malaphor follower Ian told him “You’re not the brightest toolbox in the shed.” As usual, I’m sure Ian’s cat looked at him like HE was the idiot. This is a triple congruent conflation of “not the sharpest tool in the shed”, “not the sharpest (or brightest) crayon in the box”, and “not the brightest bulb in the chandelier (or “not the brightest”), all meaning someone who is not very intelligent. Other similar idioms include “not the sharpest knife in the drawer”, “he’s one fry short of a Happy Meal”, “the elevator doesn’t go to the top floor”, and my personal favorite, “somewhere there’s a village missing its idiot”.
Finally, this malaphor is similar to my June 24, 2013 posting, “not the brightest tool in the shed”. https://malaphors.com/2013/06/24/not-the-brightest-tool-in-the-shed/ Thanks to Ian for sending this one in!
Malaphor of the Year (2015): I Have a Pulse to the Ground
Posted: December 5, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: malaphor Leave a commentAlthough there is still time left in 2015, I thought I would go ahead and choose this year’s best malaphor. It was a difficult decision, as the malaphor hunters bagged some beauties everywhere. Who can forget “cough it over!” (October), or “he pulled the wool out from under me” (March)? There were excellent ones as usual from the sports world, like “he has his act in order” (Mike Tirico – October)), and “I was slapped down with a little humble pie” (Rex Ryan – March). TV again was a goldmine for mental belches, such as “at the drop of a whim” (TMZ – July), and “his head between his tail” (Morning Joe – June).
But the winner comes from the political world, where those kids just keep saying the darnedest things. And it comes from the one and only Donald Trump. An article in the July 20, 2015 New York Times quotes The Donald:
“I have a pulse to the ground,” he added. “I think I know what’s wrong with the country, and I think I’ve been able to portray that in a way that people agree with.”
This is a conflation of “have my finger on the pulse” (to be familiar with the most recent developments) and “have my ear to the ground” (to watch and listen carefully to what is happening around you). Lots going on with this one. Fingers go into ears, etc.
May your malaphors be bright!
That train has sailed
Posted: November 13, 2015 Filed under: ACTION, sail, train, Uncategorized | Tags: Austin Powers, congruent conflation, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, that ship has sailed, that train has left the station, words 1 CommentThis is a congruent conflation of “that ship has sailed” and “that train has left the station”, both meaning the act has already been done. It was said by Austin Powers in the movie Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery, when he was speaking to a drunk Vanessa:
She was very groovy.
Your dad loved her very much.
If there was one other cat in this world that could have loved her and treated her as well as your dad then it was me.
But unfortunately for yours truly that train has sailed.
Vanessa?
Vanessa? Hello?
A big thanks to Sam Edelmann for hearing this one. Oh behave!
An omnichannel approach blurs the waters
Posted: November 9, 2015 Filed under: FOOD, Uncategorized, water | Tags: blur the distinction, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, muddy the waters, words 1 CommentHe has his act in order
Posted: October 30, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, get one's act together, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, put one's house in order, words Leave a commentI heard this one on this week’s Monday Night Football game, uttered by the play by play announcer, Mike Tirico. It is a mash up of “put one’s house in order” (put one’s personal or business affairs into good order) and “get one’s act together” (get organized or start to behave more appropriately). I almost missed it as it is subtle and sounds almost correct, both signs of a great malaphor.
Let’s get to the chase
Posted: October 28, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: congruent conflation, cut to the chase, expressions, get to the point, howard stern, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a comment
Well, at blanket face? He’s great.
Posted: October 15, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: at face value, blanket statement, face blanket, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, point blank, words expressions Leave a commentThis was uttered by the Queen of Malaphors, Naomi David. Her friend asked her what she thought of a guy she (her friend) was dating, and the Queen responded with this malaphor. Katie Hatfield says it is triple mash up and I agree: making a “blanket statement” (a phrase used to describe similarly situated things, usually resulting in diluting the specific meaning of individual terms), “at face value” (accepted from its outward appearance), and “point blank” (telling someone directly). Maybe Naomi was thinking of the Face Blanket, termed by the Huffington Post as “the stupidest product no one needs ever”. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/23/face-blanket_n_6737266.html Yes, that’s right, a blanket that goes over your face. So perhaps the boyfriend really looks better with a face blanket. Cheers!
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