Facebook is a bubble chamber
Posted: December 20, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: echo chamber, expressions, facebook, humor, language, live in a bubble, malaphor, malaphors, words 1 CommentThe “Great Malaphor Hunter”, Mike Kovacs, uttered this one at lunch the other day. He was talking about Facebook posts and how people don’t engage in actual discussions with others with opposing views. This is a nice mashup of “live in a bubble” (separated from society or sheltered) and “echo chamber” (a metaphorical description of a situation in which beliefs are amplified or reinforced by communication and repetition inside a closed system). When I heard this, I immediately thought of Get Smart and the “cone of silence”. A big thanks to Anthony Kovacs for outting his Dad, malaphorically speaking.
It’s not too late to stuff that stocking with THE book on malaphors, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon for a mere 7.99. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205 That’s cheaper than those Altoids you were thinking of dropping in the Christmas sock.
I was elected to “Clean the Swamp”
Posted: December 15, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: clean house, drain the swamp, expressions, humor, idioms, malaphor, malaphors, Trump, words Leave a commentThis was uttered by President Trump in a December 5, 2019 tweet. Here it is:
..trial in the Senate, and so that our Country can get back to business. We will have Schiff, the Bidens, Pelosi and many more testify, and will reveal, for the first time, how corrupt our system really is. I was elected to “Clean the Swamp,” and that’s what I am doing!
Trump’s mantra has always been “drain the swamp”, so I believe this is a malaphor, conflating “drain the swamp” with “clean house”, both meaning to wipe out corruption or inefficiency. A big thanks to Sandor Kovacs for spotting this one and sending it in.
Trump walked in like an elephant in a china shop
Posted: December 9, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bull in a china shop, elephant in the room, expressions, humor, malaphor, malaphors, Morning Joe, Trump, words 4 CommentsNicole Wallace on Morning Joe uttered this nice malaphor. It is a mashup of “bull in a china shop” (one who is aggressive and clumsy in a situation that requires care and delicacy) and “the elephant in the room” (an obvious truth or fact that is being intentionally ignored or left unaddressed). Not sure what would cause more damage in a china shop – a bull or an elephant? By the way, elephants are a common source of malaphors: just type the word “elephant” in the search engine on my website and you will find a treasure trove of elephant malaphors. a big thanks to Donna Calvert for hearing this one and passing it on.
Want to see more elephant malaphors? Chedk out my book, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other malaphors” and see a whole chapter devoted to pachyderm mashups. Available on Amazon for a cheap $7.99.
middle of the ground
Posted: November 25, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, malaphor, malaphors, middle ground, middle of the road, words Leave a commentThe speaker was talking about taking a centrist approach. This is a nice mashup of “middle ground” (compromise) and “middle of the road” (moderate or centrist). Both idioms have the word “middle” and both describe the center of something, hence the mixup. A big thanks to Katie Norwood for uttering this one and sharing it!
Did you like this malaphor? Then get the best stocking stuffer around, the classic book on malaphors, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon for a cheap 7.99 (that’s cheaper than the toothbrush and toothpaste you were going to add to the stocking). After the holidays the book can be a great addition to any bathroom library. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205
Let’s kick this down the line
Posted: November 22, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: down the line, expressions, humor, kick this around, malaphor, malaphors, up the line, words Leave a commentThe Queen of Malaphors, Naomi David, is back! She uttered this beauty, which is a mashup of “kick this around” (mull over or consider something) and “down the line” (in the future), creating a definition of thinking about something for the future. She may also have been thinking “up the line” (through the chain of command). And of course she may have been thinking of “kicking the can down the road” (avoiding making a decision) although I believe the context was brainstorming. A big thanks to Katie Norwood who passed this one on.
We’re as thick as two thieves in a pod
Posted: November 18, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, like two peas in a pod, malaphor, malaphors, Scrubs, thick as thieves, words 2 CommentsThis one comes from the tv show Scrubs. While intentional, it’s a classic malaphor and worth posting (although it does go against the rules that the malaphor spoken or written should be unintentional). Still, too good to pass up. It’s a mashup (of course) of “thick as thieves” (a close alliance or friendship) and “like two peas in a pod” (similar interests or beliefs). This one works on many levels – similar idioms, and the rhyme of “peas” and “thieves”. A big thanks to Elly Pietrucha for spotting this one on a rerun.
The doors are closing in
Posted: November 16, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: doors are closing, Gregory Meeks, humor, idioms, language, malaphors, The Last Word, Trump, walls are closing in Leave a comment
Quid pro quo is one of these things to muddy the works
Posted: November 11, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, gum up the works, humor, Jim Himes, language, malaphor, malaphors, Meet the Press, muddy the waters, Trump, words Leave a commentThis gem was uttered by Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT) yesterday on Meet the Press, talking about the Trump impeachment inquiry. It is a mashup of “muddy the waters” (to make a situation less clear) and “gum up the works” (to interfere with the proper functioning of something). Both expressions refer to degrading something, and “works” and “waters” might have been jumbled by the phrase “water works”? A big shout out to Bruce Ryan who heard this one and passed it on. @jahimes @MeetThePress
You can hear this malaphor just about at the beginning of the video:
The book is running away from the charts
Posted: November 2, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, off the charts, ran away with, words Leave a commentA TV host was interviewing an author, and commenting on the author’s successful book (on the NY Times bestseller list). This seems to be a mashup of “run away with” (win handily) and “off the charts” (spectacular). Both phrases refer to something or someone having success, hence the mixup in context. A big thanks to Verbatim for hearing this one and sending it in.
Speaking of books running away from the charts, check out my malaphor book, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon. They’re selling like butter! https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205
He would do fine if he keeps his eyes on the wheel
Posted: October 18, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, eyes on the ball, eyes on the prize, humor, malaphor, malaphors, put your shoulder to the wheel s, words Leave a commentThis one was uttered by a witness in a trial. It is a conflation of “keep your eyes on the ball” (stay focused) and I think “put your shoulder to the wheel” (work hard, put an effort into something). Certainly one has to keep their eyes open when driving, but don’t stare at the wheel or you will be in big trouble. Perhaps the speaker was thinking “eyes on the prize”, and the big Wheel of Fortune bubbled up in his brain. Not sure. A big thanks to Tom Justice who heard this one and passed it on.
Malaphors 
Recent Comments