Throw in the hat

Posted: July 19, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: ACTION, CLOTHING | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment

This malaphor mixes two idioms with opposite meanings – “throw in the towel” and “hat in the ring”.   When I heard it, the speaker intended to say”throw in the towel”.   Maybe he didn’t really want to give up?   Or maybe it was that second martini talking….

Out of our price league

Posted: July 18, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: PLACES, THINGS | Tags: , | 2 Comments

 

I heard this one years ago when a chain of stores called “Price Club” existed.  I imagine that may have prompted today’s malaphor, a mixture of “not in my price range” and “out of my league”.   Both indicate something unattainable.  Maybe the combination means it REALLY is unattainable?

Get out of my hair!

Posted: July 17, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS | Tags: , | 1 Comment

 

Just about right, except for the body part.  This is a mash-up of “get off my back” and “out of my hair”.  Perhaps the “malaphoree” had an impressive hairdo?

He’s been shuffling the buck

Posted: July 14, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: ACTION, THINGS | Tags: , | 2 Comments

 

I think this mix-up is caused by two similar looking four letter words – buck and deck.  Both expressions also have  similar meanings – not addressing issues squarely.   Finally, maybe the brain reads “shuffle” equating to shuffleboard and then thinks pucks and it comes out buck.  Is that a stretch?  As “ol pal” notes, this mash up probably includes the phrase “passing the buck” as well, and my guess is that this is what the speaker intended to say.  Again, passing is similar to shuffling as in shuffleboard (pushing or passing the shuffleboard puck).

No turn on right

Posted: July 13, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: ACTION | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

 

This might be one we have all said after driving all day and the mind has turned to mush.  One sees the ubiquitous sign “no turn on red”, processes that as not being able to turn right on a red light, and mumbles, “Crap, no turn on right”.

He’ll do anything at the drop of a bucket

Posted: July 11, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: bucket, CLOTHING, drop, hat, THINGS | Tags: , , | 2 Comments

 

I think the brain twists drop and kick together and comes up with this excellent malaphor.   I have heard this one several times so the synapse must be weak….

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