Don’t wake up a sleeping dog
Posted: May 29, 2014 Filed under: ACTION, ANIMALS, dog, sleep | Tags: blended idioms, don't wake a sleeping giant, expressions, humor, language, let sleeping dogs lie, malaphor, malaphors, miami heat, mixed idioms, sun-sentinel, words 11 CommentsIt’s cold as hell outside
Posted: May 24, 2014 Filed under: hell | Tags: blended idioms, cold as shit, expressions, hot as hell, humor, it will be a cold day in hell, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, oxymorons, phrases, words Leave a commentThis is a jumble of several phrases, including “hot as hell”, “cold as shit”, and “it will be a cold day in hell when…” (unlikely event). This oxymoron malaphor is fairly common, considering the above expressions and the mixing of temperatures in the brain. Thanks to Sid Sher for sending this in and admitting he said it!
You had to figure out what you were going to do on a dime’s notice
Posted: May 20, 2014 Filed under: dime | Tags: blended idioms, cnn, congruent conflations, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, on a moment's notice, prepared to turn on a dime, words 7 CommentsSteve Grieme, one of the best malaphor spotters around, heard a beauty on CNN last week. A guy was videotaping some of the raging wildfires in Southern California. In response to a reporter’s question about people fleeing from their homes, he said, “Fight of flight. You had to figure out what you were going to do on a dimes notice”. This is a congruent conflation of “moment’s notice” and “be prepared to turn on a dime”, both meaning to act quickly. Thanks Steve!
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1405/17/cnr.03.html
I’m cursing like a race horse
Posted: May 17, 2014 Filed under: ANIMALS, horse, sailor | Tags: curse like a sailor, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idiom, piss like a race horse, words Leave a commentThis is a mash up of “cursing like a sailor” (swearing a lot) and “pissing like a race horse” (no definition required). Not sure how the speaker could confuse cursing and pissing, although cursing does sound like coursing. Of course, many of us have cursed AT race horses before, so that could be part of the mix-up. Many thanks to Lisa O’Donnell, who heard this gem from a neighbor’s lips.
It’s not an air shut case
Posted: May 17, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: air-tight case, blended idioms, congruent conflations, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, open-and-shut case, words Leave a commentThis wonderful mix up was heard at a training seminar. The instructor was indicating that discrimination lawsuits are not always straightforward and then proceeded to combine “air-tight case” and “open-and-shut case”, both meaning straightforward situations without complications. The speaker may also have been thinking of air lock doors that seal out air completely, found in airplane exit doors. This is a great example of a congruent conflation, mixing two closely defined phrases. A big shout out to Bill Shaffer for sending this one in to Malaphor HQ!
We need to get our ducks together
Posted: May 16, 2014 Filed under: ANIMALS, duck | Tags: congruent conflation, ducks in a row, expressions, get your shit together, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentThis nice congruent conflation is a mash up of “get our ducks in a row” and “get our shit together”, both meaning to get organized. This beauty was uttered by the Mistress of Malaphors, Naomi David. Thanks again Naomi!
We are going to keep this one in the back of our pocket
Posted: May 10, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: back of our mind, blended idioms, in my back pocket, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idiom, property brothers 6 CommentsThis was spoken by one of the Property Brothers (Drew Scott), referring to a house that was a “maybe”. I believe this is a mash up of “”in the back of my mind” and “put it in my back pocket”, both meaning to keep an idea to use later. This one is subtle but nevertheless a nice mixed idiom. Hats off to Yvonne Stam for hearing this one!
Let’s float a carrot
Posted: May 3, 2014 Filed under: carrot, float | Tags: blended idioms, dangle a carrot, expressions, float an offer, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis was heard on a conference call in reference to a price proposal that would be presented to a customer. It is a mash up of “float an offer or idea” (present something informally to see if people are interested) and “dangle a carrot” (encourage someone with an incentive). By the way, carrots do float (I think). This beauty was heard by my chief roving malaphor reporter Mike Kovacs. Of course I thank him profusely.
You’re being such a team sport
Posted: April 28, 2014 Filed under: player, team | Tags: blended idioms, congrunet conflation, expressions, good sport, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, take one for the team, team player, words Leave a commentThis odd sounding congruent conflation is a mash up of “good sport” and “team player”, both meaning to get along well in a group. There may be a sprinkle of “taking one for the team” (sacrifice yourself for the good of the group) as it was uttered to someone in high heels trying to keep up with her friends. A big thanks to Naomi David for saying and sharing this one. She is quickly becoming the female version of “the master”.
Malaphors 
Recent Comments