She raked his name over the coals
Posted: July 17, 2014 Filed under: coals | Tags: dragged his name through the mud, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, raked him over the coals, words Leave a commentMy wife interrupted one of my rants the other night to point out that I had uttered a malaphor. Of course I immediately stopped blabbering and wrote it down. This one is a bit subtle, combining “rake him over the coals” (to scold) and “drag his name through the mud” (disparage someone publicly). One positive about getting older is that it comes with more malaphors.
I wouldn’t nickel-pick over that
Posted: July 15, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, Marie Osmond, mixed idioms, nickel and dimed, nickel-pick, nit-pick, The Talk, words Leave a commentOh boy, this is a good one. Kudos again to Vicky Ameel-Kovacs for hearing this beauty on the tv show, “The Talk”. Marie Osmond uttered this mash up of “nit-pick” (overly concerned with inconsequential details) and “nickel and dimed” (to charge small amounts to someone – a form of monetary nit pick). Perhaps pickle was also on her brain and nickle rhymes with that, or that nit and nickle have similar sounds. The fact that Vicky is watching “The Talk” concerns me a little, but I wouldn’t nickel-pick over that.
It’s a two way blade
Posted: July 12, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blended idioms, cuts both ways, Diane Rehm, double edged sword, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, two way street, words Leave a commentThis one was heard on the NPR radio show, the Diane Rehm show, last week. The speaker intended to say “double-edged sword” based on the context. This is a mash up of “two way street” (reciprocal situation), “cuts both ways”, and “double edged sword”, both meaning advantages and disadvantages. Of course I am also reminded of those swiss army knives, with the various blades and devices all in one unit. Thanks to Vicky Ameel-Kovacs for hearing and sharing this one!
I think I have put in my stripes
Posted: July 7, 2014 Filed under: stripes | Tags: blended idioms, congruent conflations, earned my stripes, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, put in my time, retirement, words Leave a commentSubtlety makes the best malaphor. When spoken, you pause and consider if the phrase was correct. It is a passing thought, because you will quickly forget it. Today’s malaphor fits that bill. The speaker was explaining why he should retire. It is a mash up of “earned my stripes” and “put in my time”, both meaning hard work that deserves an award. Kudos to Ed Brady for sending me this congruent conflation!
I don’t want to be a bandwagon fan
Posted: July 4, 2014 Filed under: fans | Tags: bandwagon., blended idioms, expressions, fair-weather fans, humor, jump on the bandwagon, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentThis malaphor is a mash up of “fair-weather fan” (someone who supports a team only when it is winning) and “jump on the bandwagon” (joining something only when it is popular). It is a congruent conflation as both phrases concern a person who is being supportive of something or someone only because it is the popular thing to do. This malaphor has evolved into an accepted phrase, apparently, as it can be found in Urban Dictionary and has been used by several people (e.g., Cuba Gooding Jr.). Thanks to Katie Hatfield for uttering this one unintentionally and then recognizing it as malaphor worthy.
http://www.tmz.com/2014/06/12/cuba-gooding-jr-i-hate-bandwagon-fans-and-l-a-is-packed-with-em/
He’s three sheets in the bag
Posted: June 30, 2014 Filed under: bag, sheets | Tags: congruent conflations, drunk, expressions, half in the bag, intoxicated, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, three sheets to the wind, words 6 CommentsCouldn’t wait until next week to post this beauty. This is another congruent conflation (mixed idioms with the same or similar meaning), combining “three sheets to the wind” and “half in the bag”, both describing someone who is intoxicated. The confusion might also lie in sheets sometimes being in laundry bags? Then again, the speaker, Lisa Davies O’Donnell, might have just had a few too many… Thanks Lisa for contributing to the malaphor library!
He’s pooping on your parade
Posted: June 29, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blended idioms, congruent conflation, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, party pooper, raining on your parade, words Leave a commentThis alliterative congruent conflation is a mix of “party pooper” and “raining on your parade”, both meaning to spoil something. I suppose raining and pooping could also be part of the confusion, both being action verbs and, well, you know…. The mash up was spoken by that Mistress of Malaphors, Naomi David.
I fall asleep at the drop of a dime
Posted: June 26, 2014 Filed under: ACTION, CLOTHING, dime, hat, sleep, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, congruent conflation, drop of a hat, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, stop on a dime, words 6 CommentsThis wonderful congruent conflation is a mash up of “at the drop of a hat” and “stop on a dime”, both meaning an action done instantly. Drop and stop are four letter words that rhyme, adding to the befuddlement. This beauty was heard at a court hearing. Kudos to Sam Edelmann for sending this one into Malaphor central!
I slept like a dog last night
Posted: June 18, 2014 Filed under: ACTION, ANIMALS, dog, sleep | Tags: blended idioms, dogs, expressions, humor, language, let sleeping dogs lie, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, out like a log, slept like a baby, words 1 CommentDogs sleep pretty soundly, but this is definitely a malaphor. It is a mash up of “slept like a log (or baby)” (restful sleep) and “let sleeping dogs lie” (do not instigate trouble). Nice mix up as it involves assonance (log, dog, and lie, like) and similar words in the phrases (sleep, dog). This beauty was uttered by John Costello, one of my roving malaphor reporters!
He was trying to woo her over
Posted: June 17, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, mixed idioms, pull the wool over ones eyes, win her over, woo her, words 1 CommentThis is a mash up of “woo her” (to seek the affection of someone) and “win her over” (to succeed in making someone favorable to something). Perhaps “pull the wool over her eyes” (to deceive someone) is also in the muddled brain mix. This is one I uttered a couple of days ago that my wife caught. As with all good malaphors, they are quickly forgotten, so I wrote it down immediately.
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