Keep your mouth down
Posted: July 27, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: congruent conflation, expressions, humor, keep it down, keep your mouth shut, language, malaphor, malaphors, The Watch, words 1 CommentThis is a great congruent conflation of “keep your mouth shut” and “keep it down”, both meaning to keep quiet. “Keep” is the shared word that adds to the confusion. It was heard on the movie “The Watch”. Here’s the context (heroes talking to the skeptical police):
There’s aliens in the store.
Oh yeah? Aliens. Where?
It was right over there until you scared it. Now keep your mouth down.
http://www.subzin.com/quotes/M5919500d3/The+Watch/Now%2C+keep+your+mouth+down.
A big thanks to Barry Eigen for spotting this one and passing it on!
At the drop of a whim
Posted: July 25, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: at the drop of a hat, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, on a whim, words 1 CommentThis beauty was heard on TMZ. It is a mash up of “at the drop of a hat” (doing something immediately) and “on a whim” (impulse). Both expressions indicate doing something quickly without thinking, making it a congruent conflation. Both expressions begin with prepositions indicating location, adding to the confusion. Perhaps the thinker was also thinking of the brim (rhyming with whim) of a hat. A big thanks to Vicki Kovacs for hearing this one and passing it on!
I have a pulse to the ground
Posted: July 21, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Donald Trump, ear to the ground, expressions, finger on the pulse, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, New York times, words Leave a commentThis timely malaphor was recently uttered by Donald Trump. An article in the July 20, 2015 New York Times quotes The Donald:
“I have a pulse to the ground,” he added. “I think I know what’s wrong with the country, and I think I’ve been able to portray that in a way that people agree with.”
This is a conflation of “have my finger on the pulse” (to be familiar with the most recent developments) and “have my ear to the ground” (to watch and listen carefully to what is happening around you). Lots going on with this one. Fingers go into ears, etc. This one is similar to the March 23, 2015 entry, “keep your finger on the ball”. https://malaphors.com/?s=pulse A big thank you to Paula Garrety for seeing this one and passing it on!
I have a lot of plates up in the air
Posted: July 17, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: a lot on my plate, balls in the air, congruent conflation, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentHeard on a conference call, this is a great congruent conflation of “a lot of balls in the air” and “a lot on my plate”, both meaning having a great deal or too much to deal with. My guess is that the speaker was also thinking not only of ball juggling but also plate spinning, both common juggling acts. Thanks to John Costello for hearing this one and passing it on!
I don’t think I said anything in particular that got under his nerve
Posted: July 13, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, getting on my nerves, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, under his skin, words Leave a commentThis was heard at a Judicial Conference by not one but two faithful malaphor followers! The speaker was talking about presenting an argument before a testy Federal Circuit Court Judge. It is a congruent conflation of “to get under someone’s skin” and “on someone’s nerve”, both meaning to irritate or bother someone. Directions can be confusing, so the mix of under and on is understandable. Also skin contains nerves, adding to the mix up. Thanks to Deb Rose and JoErin O’Leary for both hearing this one and passing it on.
He’s a man of all trades
Posted: July 7, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, jack of all trades, language, malaphor, malaphors, man for all seasons, man of the hour, man of the world, words Leave a commentThis is a mash up of “jack of all trades” (versatile person) and either “man of the world” (experienced), “man of the hour” (important), or “man for all seasons” (successful in many types of activity). “Tradesman” might also be in the brain mix. Thanks to Katie Hatfield for hearing this one in a conversation and passing it on!
I am out of pocket until 3:30
Posted: July 3, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, out of pocket, out of touch, words 1 CommentDon Woodall, an old friend of mine, received an email that closed with the sentence “I am out of pocket until 3:30”. He contacted me, indicating that “out of pocket” normally means paid from personal funds or money lost in a transaction, but that the speaker meant “unavailable” or “out of communication”. While this is more of a misused expression, it does mix out of touch with out of pocket. Interestingly, Don points out that the Urban Dictionary says over the past half year or so, “out of pocket” has become a new business catchphrase meaning. So, considering the upcoming holiday, Malaphors will be out of pocket until Monday! Thanks to Don Woodall for this one!
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=out+of+pocket
You’re a tough nut to follow
Posted: July 1, 2015 Filed under: crack, FOOD, nut | Tags: expressions, hard act to follow, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, tough nut to crack, words Leave a commentI had to post this one right away, as it comes on the heels of Lara Hayhurst Compton’s “better safe than never”, which we both agree should be Planned Parenthood’s new slogan. “A tough nut to follow” was spoken by Tim Hughes, a talented actor who is currently playing the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz at the Fulton Theater in Lancaster, PA. This malaphor is a mash up of “tough act to follow” (outstanding performance) and “tough nut to crack” (difficult person or problem to deal with). Tough is the operative word here, which my guess led to the malaphor. Of course, Tim might have been referring to a difficult person who gave a great performance! This one is also similar to “tough nut to swallow” see – https://malaphors.com/2013/02/20/that-would-be-a-tough-nut-to-swallow/ A big thank you to Lara Hayhurst Compton for hearing this one and passing it on!
Better safe than never
Posted: June 29, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: better late than never, better safe than sorry, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, words Leave a commentThis gem was uttered by that blonde bombshell, Lara Hayhurst Compton, and so could fit in the category entitled “blonde malaphor”. It is a mash up of “better safe than sorry” (be cautious or you may regret it) and “better late than never” (doing something late is better than not doing it). Both expressions do indicate someone doing something, albeit cautiously. “Late” and “safe” are both four letter words and sound similar, adding to the mix-up.
For your consideration – Maybe Lara has unintentionally created the new safe sex slogan. It could replace the abstinence slogan “Just say no”. A big thanks to Lara Hayhurst Compton for blurting this one and sending it in!
His head between his tail
Posted: June 27, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: congruent conflation, expressions, hanging your head, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, tail between your legs, words Leave a commentThe other day on Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough was commenting on Donald Trump’s announcement that he was running for president, “[I]f people think he’s going to get one person and crawl away with his head between his tail, they probably have it wrong.” Body parts are certainly the source of many malaphors. I think this is a congruent conflation of “putting your tail between your legs” and “hanging your head”, both expressions meaning feeling ashamed or embarrassed. As the contributor Louis Mande says, ” Either way, I agree. Neither one describes The Donald.” Thanks Louis for hearing this one and sending it in!
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