Green behind the ears
Posted: August 8, 2012 Filed under: BODY PARTS, COLORS | Tags: blended idioms, ears, expressions, green, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, Obama, wet, words 3 CommentsThis is a blend of “green with envy” (jealous) and “wet behind the ears” (novice, inexperienced). I first heard this one back in 1984, and for some reason it seems to be a fairly common one. Even President Obama said it during the 2008 Obama/McCain debates – see my Malaphors in the Media section on this website to watch him. My guess on the mix up stems from the words green and wet, both adjectives for grass.
Perhaps a better interpretation comes from “my ol pal” in her comments. “Green behind the gills” (nauseated) might be the blended idiom with “wet behind the ears” given that gills and ears are in close proximity and that the words “around” and “behind” both indicate location and are also both 6 letter words. Let’s add to the equation “greenhorn” which means naive or new to the situation, identical to the definition of “wet behind the ears.” Not sure what I would do without you, “my ol pal”.
Don’t run around the bush
Posted: August 1, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, PLACES | Tags: blended idioms, bush, don't run around the bush, expressions, malaphor, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis beauty is a mix – up of “don’t beat around the bush” and “don’t give me the run around” , both idioms meaning don’t be so evasive. Because the meanings are very similar, the malaphor is a common one. I have heard it 4 or 5 times over the years. In fact, this one is so subtle that you might miss it when it is uttered.
I can’t put my foot on it
Posted: July 31, 2012 Filed under: BODY PARTS | Tags: blended idiom, expressions, malaphor, mixed idiom, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, words 2 CommentsI read this one in the local paper (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) yesterday. In responding to a question as to why he has been pitching so poorly since the All star break, James McDonald of the Pittsburgh Pirates said, “I can’t put my foot on it yet”. This malaphor is a combo of “can’t put my finger on it” and “putting my foot down”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Let’s roll up our elbows and get to work
Posted: July 30, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS, CLOTHING | Tags: blended idiom, elbow, expressions, malaphor, mixed idiom, sleeves, words, work 1 CommentThis one is a mash-up of “roll up your sleeves” and “elbow grease”, both idioms describing working hard. Rolling up the elbows fuses those idioms together very nicely and describes applying oneself to the task at hand perhaps better and certainly more succinctly! By the way, this is another one of the master’s gems.
He did it at the drop of a dime
Posted: July 30, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: blended idiom, dime, expressions, hat, malaphor, mixed idiom, words 4 CommentsPretty straightforward malaphor? Seems like a combination of “do at the drop of a hat” and “he dropped the dime”. Very different meanings, but the word “drop” apparently led the speaker to think “dime” instead of “hat” (alliteration perhaps?) and thus another malaphor was born.
Spur of the minute
Posted: July 26, 2012 Filed under: TIME | Tags: blended idiom, expressions, idiom, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idiom, words Leave a commentI heard this from “the master” several times. He was never one to do things spontaneously, so I thought this malaphor expressed his actual feelings. This classic mixes “spur of the moment” with “in a minute”, implying perhaps a bit of hesitancy to a potential spontaneous action?
All your eggs lined up
Posted: July 25, 2012 Filed under: ANIMALS, FOOD, PLACES | Tags: ducks, eggs, expressions, malaphor, mixed idiom, scrambled eggs, words 4 CommentsThis is a mix-up of “lining up your ducks in a row” and “all your eggs in one basket”. Since ducks lay eggs, does the mind want to “scramble” eggs and ducks?
The phones have been ringing off the wall!
Posted: July 24, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: expression, malaphor, mixed idiom, phones, words 3 CommentsI heard this one on tv during a PBS fundraiser several years ago. As with any good malaphor, I had to write it down immediately or I would have forgotten it. This is a combination of “ringing off the hook” and “off the wall”. It probably was said by someone my age or older, people who grew up with landline phones and where at least one phone was on the wall, usually the kitchen. The phones at that telethon were not on the wall, however.
I was lost from the word start
Posted: July 23, 2012 Filed under: TIME | Tags: expressions, malaphor, mixed idiom, words Leave a commentI heard this one from a good friend and it sounded slightly wrong and yet it fit in context with the subject matter. The best malaphors are the ones just slightly off kilter. They also are difficult to remember as they blend into the lexicon landscape so effortlessly. This subtle malaphor is a mix up of “from the word go” and “from the start”.
Put your shoulder to the grindstone
Posted: July 20, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS, THINGS | Tags: expressions, grindstone, malaphor, mixed idiom, shoulder, words 4 CommentsThe Master uttered this advice to a co-worker many years ago. A brilliant malaphor, it is a mix-up of “nose to the grindstone” and “put your shoulder to the wheel”. As a grindstone is a type of wheel, the confusion unfolded and another masterpiece was born.
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