What if we’re sitting on a golden goose?!
Posted: December 14, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, golden goose, goose that laid the golden egg, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, sitting on a goldmine, words Leave a commentA couple were chatting about a few big ideas when this malaphor was exclaimed. This is a nice congruent conflation of “golden goose” and “sitting on a goldmine”, both referring to something very valuable. One usually sits on a gold mine while the goose sits on the golden egg. But if one does decide to sit on a golden goose, it certainly would make him a wise quacker (and rich to boot). Many thanks to Joel Friend for saying this one and then sending it in.
It might not be a golden goose, but my book “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors” will give you enough laughs to be a very valuable read. It’s available on Amazon and very cheap. Be a wise quacker and get one today!
Everybody’s hearts were in their stomachs
Posted: December 13, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, hearts in their throats, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, pit of my stomach, words Leave a commentDuring the highlights of the Michigan – Ohio State game on TV, one of the commentators was talking about Tyler Durbin’s game-tying field-goal, and he said “everybody’s hearts were in their stomachs.” This is a nice mash-up of “hearts in their throats” (to be nervous or frightened) and “a bad feeling in the pit of their stomachs” (visceral response). Perhaps the commentator was also thinking of the phrase, “a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” (if you want a man to love you, feed him good food). In typing this malaphor on Google, I came across an article of a man whose heart was literally in his stomach. His picture is below. Many thanks to Martin Pietrucha for hearing this beauty and sending it on.
It’s not a cake in the walk
Posted: December 12, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cakewalk, congruent conflation, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, walk in the park, words 2 CommentsA coworker left instructions to a friend for a difficult work task, and another coworker uttered this nice mixed idiom. It is a congruent conflation (the best kind of malaphor) of “a walk in the park” and “cakewalk”, both describing something that is easy to do or accomplish. Just be sure to not let the cake out in the rain. A big thanks to Josh Berry for hearing this one and passing it on!
If you want an entire book of malaphors, it’s easy to get! Just go to Amazon and type “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”. It’s a cake in the walk. And cheap.
It’s cold out there. No two questions about it.
Posted: December 1, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, no question about it, no two ways about it, words Leave a commentThis is a nice congruent conflation of “no question” and “no two ways about it”, both meaning there is no doubt about something. My guess is that there probably wasn’t even one question about it. This perfectly crafted mash up was heard by Marcia Riefer Johnston. Thanks Marcia for passing this one on! By the way, for all you word freaks out there check out Marcia’s great books on writing, “Word Up!” and “You Can Say That Again”, both available on Amazon. Also check her website out – http://www.writing.rocks.
Speaking of books on Amazon, check out my malaphor book, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, today! http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205 Makes a great stocking stuffer and a wonderful addition to any bathroom library.
There’s a lot of mending bridges going on
Posted: November 28, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: building bridges, expressions, humor, Jenna Johnson, language, malaphor, malaphors, mending fences, MSNBC, With All Due Respect, words Leave a comment
We are trying to problem shoot this
Posted: November 26, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, problem solve, troubleshoot, words Leave a commentThis is a nice mash up of “problem-solve” and “troubleshoot”, both meaning to locate the cause of a problem and treat it. As the contributor, John Polk said, it’s “better to shoot the problem than the messenger”. You can follow John on Twitter @ClichesGoneWild.
Cameras blazing
Posted: November 23, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cameras rolling, Donald Trump, expressions, Hamilton, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, with guns blazing, words Leave a commentThis one was tweeted last week by President-elect Donald Trump in one of his many tweets: “Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing. This should not happen!” https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/799972624713420804
It is a mash up of “with (your) guns blazing” (doing something with a lot of force or energy) and “keep the cameras rolling” (staying on the record after intending to end a discussion or video). However, perhaps Mr. Trump really intended to use the mixed idiom to convey many cameras having great force or effect. Or, perhaps he was emphasizing that a trip to the theater should not be in the press? Maybe many phones lighting up at once creating a fiery effect? What do you think? Not sure what he really meant, but I do know he formed a very nice malaphor for this website! A big thanks to Yvonne Stam, frequent malaphor contributor for spotting this one and sending it in!
Enjoyed this malaphor? Check out my book “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors” available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205. Lots of mixed idioms in the political world, and a few from Mr. Trump as well!
She’s trying to walk this needle
Posted: November 21, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Boston Globe, Chris Matthews, congruent conflation, expressions, humor, Kelly Ayotte, language, malaphor, malaphors, thread the needle, toe the line, walk a fine line, words Leave a commentThe election is over, but the malaphors continue to flood in. This one was heard on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews. Discussing Kelly Ayotte’s (R-NH) response to the question of Donald Trump being a role model, James Pindell of the Boston Globe uttered this gem. It is a congruent conflation of “walk a thin (fine) line” and “thread the needle”, both meaning to skillfully navigate through a tough dilemma. “Toe the line” might also be in the mix, with the speaker thinking toes do the walking. A big thanks to Sally Adler for hearing this one and sending it in!
The coach makes no qualms about it
Posted: November 18, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, no bones about it, qualms about, words Leave a commentThis subtle malaphor was uttered by a CBS reporter covering an El Paso high school basketball team. The reporter said “the coach makes no qualms about it, he has a favorite on this team.” This is a mash up of “no qualms” (no question about the rightness of an action) and “make no bones about it” (to state clearly what you think or feel about something). Frank King strikes again, sending this one in!
This is up my wheelhouse
Posted: November 16, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, in my wheelhouse, language, malaphor, malaphors, The Real Housewives of Orange County, up my alley, Vicki Gunvalson, words 3 CommentsHere’s the link to the story where this appeared:
http://pagesix.com/2016/09/28/rhoc-star-whose-boyfriend-allegedly-faked-cancer-launches-charity/
This is a congruent conflation of “up my alley” and “in my wheelhouse”, both phrases meaning something matching one’s interests or abilities in someone’s comfort zone. Location seems to be the culprit here, with “up” and “in” getting confused. A big, big, thanks to the Duke of Malaphors, Mike Kovacs, for seeing this one and passing it on.
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