I’m walking on ice with you
Posted: August 4, 2014 Filed under: eggs, FOOD | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, skating on thin ice, walking on eggshells, walking on thin ice, words 2 CommentsSounds like a song title, but it actually is a malaphor. The speaker meant to say eggshells instead of ice, and wound up mixing the phrases “walking on eggshells” (try very hard not to upset someone) and “walking (or skating) on thin ice”” (risky situation). The mix up is probably due to ice and eggshells both being easily breakable. Also, if you don’t walk on eggshells with a person who is upset you might be skating on thin ice! A big thank you to Paula Fow for sending this one in.
Might the roosters be guarding the henhouse?
Posted: August 2, 2014 Filed under: ANIMALS, chicken | Tags: chickens come home to roost, expressions, fox guarding the hen house, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentAh yes, the mixed up world we live in, particularly we baby boomers. This phrase was written in a letter to the editor of The Daily Progress, a Charlottesville Virginia newspaper (wahoo wah). The writer was discussing how a natural gas pipeline was going to go through her property and that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approves these 99% of the time. The malaphor is a mash up of “the fox guarding the henhouse” (a job assigned to a person who is exploiting it to his own ends) and “the chickens come home to roost” (facing the consequences of one’s own misdeeds). Thanks to Jack Knoll for sending this one in!
He caught me in the headlights
Posted: August 1, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: caught up in the moment, expressions, humor, language, like a deer in the headlights, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis is a mash up of “caught up in the moment” (doing something without realizing the consequences) and “a deer caught in the headlights” (so frightened you can’t move or think). A big thank you to Ben Geier for saying this one and passing it on.
Does he think I just fell from the turnip tree?
Posted: July 29, 2014 Filed under: turnip | Tags: expressions, fell off a turnip truck, fell off the wagon, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, the apple does not fall far from the tree, words Leave a commentThe turnip truck idiom seems to be a tough one to remember and say correctly, as it was the subject of another malaphor posted last December, “I wasn’t born off the turnip truck” (December 7, 2013). This new one appears to be a mash up of “fallen off the turnip truck” (someone unsophisticated or naiive) and “the apple does not fall far from the tree” (inherited personality traits). Perhaps “to fall off the wagon” (back to drinking after a period of abstinence) might be in the mix as well. A tip of the hat to John Costello who admits he blurted this one out.
These folks are trying to advance this niche of the pie
Posted: July 26, 2014 Filed under: FOOD, pie | Tags: a piece of the pie, blended idioms, carve out a niche, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 2 CommentsA subtle but proper malaphor, this is a mash up of “carve out a niche” (supplying a product for a particular segment of the market) and “a piece of the pie” (a share of something). The mind might be visualizing carving a pie and hence the mix up. Also both expressions concern a focus on a small part of a greater whole. I think the next time I order dessert I will ask for a niche of pie, and see what reaction I get. If the waiter quickly writes down the expression I will know the malaphor love is spreading. A big thanks to Martin Pietrucha for hearing this one and sharing it with malaphor central.
I need to knock it out of the box
Posted: July 21, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: baseball, blended idioms, expressions, humor, knock it out of the park, knocked him out of the box, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, think outside the box, words 2 Comments“Think outside the box” is one of the most overused idioms in recent years, and so I was happy to receive this great malaphor mixing up that trite phrase. This is a mash up of “think outside the box” (be creative) and “knock it out of the park” (did a great job). There is also a baseball expression, “knocked him out of the box”, describing a pitcher leaving the game as a result of heavy hitting. However, I don’t think that was in the mix given the context. The malaphor was spoken on the Travel Channel TV show ‘American Grilled’. One of the contestants, who needed to score big with the judges, said “I need to knock it out of the box”, indicating that he meant to say “knock it out of the park”. Score a home run for Michael Ameel, who sent this one in.
She raked his name over the coals
Posted: July 17, 2014 Filed under: coals | Tags: dragged his name through the mud, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, raked him over the coals, words Leave a commentMy wife interrupted one of my rants the other night to point out that I had uttered a malaphor. Of course I immediately stopped blabbering and wrote it down. This one is a bit subtle, combining “rake him over the coals” (to scold) and “drag his name through the mud” (disparage someone publicly). One positive about getting older is that it comes with more malaphors.
I wouldn’t nickel-pick over that
Posted: July 15, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, Marie Osmond, mixed idioms, nickel and dimed, nickel-pick, nit-pick, The Talk, words Leave a commentOh boy, this is a good one. Kudos again to Vicky Ameel-Kovacs for hearing this beauty on the tv show, “The Talk”. Marie Osmond uttered this mash up of “nit-pick” (overly concerned with inconsequential details) and “nickel and dimed” (to charge small amounts to someone – a form of monetary nit pick). Perhaps pickle was also on her brain and nickle rhymes with that, or that nit and nickle have similar sounds. The fact that Vicky is watching “The Talk” concerns me a little, but I wouldn’t nickel-pick over that.
It’s a two way blade
Posted: July 12, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blended idioms, cuts both ways, Diane Rehm, double edged sword, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, two way street, words Leave a commentThis one was heard on the NPR radio show, the Diane Rehm show, last week. The speaker intended to say “double-edged sword” based on the context. This is a mash up of “two way street” (reciprocal situation), “cuts both ways”, and “double edged sword”, both meaning advantages and disadvantages. Of course I am also reminded of those swiss army knives, with the various blades and devices all in one unit. Thanks to Vicky Ameel-Kovacs for hearing and sharing this one!
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