This news hits me in the old jugular
Posted: December 16, 2013 Filed under: gut, jugular | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, go for the jugular, hit me in the gut, humor, language, malaphors, Mike Shanahan, mixed idioms, Robert Griffin III, Terry Shea, Washington Redskins, words Leave a comment
Redskins primary logo 1972-1981, 1983-present (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Robert Griffin III’s quarterback guru, Terry Shea, was stunned to hear Griffin had been benched in favor of backup Kirk Cousins
and rendered inactive for the rest of the season. “This news hits me right in the old jugular.” This is a mash up of “hit me in the gut” (surprising news) and “go for the jugular” (strike quickly and immediately). I think perhaps the speaker was also thinking of “the old one-two” (two quick punches) as I cant think of anything else where “old” would sneak in there. Thoughts anyone? Thanks to John Costello for sending this one in. You can read the malaphor in its entire context below:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/usatoday/article/3988865
It added another feather to his bow
Posted: December 12, 2013 Filed under: bow, feather, Uncategorized | Tags: another string to his bow, bow, Bow and arrow, expressions, feather, feather boa, feather in his cap, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a comment
Bow, Arrows, & Quiver (Photo credit: Travis S.)
This is a mash up of “another string to his bow” (an Australian and British idiom meaning an extra skill or qualification), “another arrow to his quiver” (American version of the same), and “a feather in his cap” (an honor or award). The confusion certainly lies in the meanings of both phrases which are similar, but also that bows and arrows conjure up feathers in headdresses. Arrows also contain feathers at the ends. I can also see the speaker confusing bow with boa, and that of course leads to feather boas, a must have item in burlesque shows. Lots going on in this malaphor. Thanks to Eric Marsh for sending this one in.
Ingrown players
Posted: December 9, 2013 Filed under: house, WORD BLENDS | Tags: blended idioms, congruent conflation, expressions, home-grown, humor, in-grown, in-house, Ingrown hair, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words Leave a commentIf you have been following this blog and my website – http://www.malaphors.com – you know that the sports world is a gold mine for malaphors. This beauty was heard on a local sports radio talk show (Pittsburgh). A guy was talking about the Pirates and criticized the organization for focusing exclusively on “ingrown players” rather than seeking free agents. This is a congruent conflation of “home-grown” and “in-house”, both meaning something local or conducted within the organization. Just wondering, but was Tom Herr, the second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, an in-grown ballplayer? A big thanks to Justin Taylor for hearing this one and passing it along!
I wasn’t born off the turnip truck
Posted: December 7, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, fall off the turnip truck, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, not born yesterday, turnip, words Leave a commentThis masterpiece is a blend of “wasn’t born yesterday” and “fallen off the turnip truck”, the former describing someone who is not naiive or easily fooled and the latter someone who is unsophisticated or ignorant. I think this would be a good one to say when you REALLY want to let someone know you are aware of what is going on. Or if you really were born off a turnip truck. And if that’s the case, I would always root for you. Thanks to Brad Stone for uttering this unintentional malaphor and to his wife Char for sending it in!
English: A Turnip (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This hotel needs a faceover
Posted: December 6, 2013 Filed under: WORD BLENDS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, facelift, humor, language, makeover, malaphors, mixed idioms, WORD BLENDS, words 2 CommentsOkay, I admit saying this one. While visiting Miami on business this week, I remarked to a colleague that the hotel I was staying in was very nice but was showing its age, and then blurted the above. I silently screamed Malaphor! and immediately wrote it down. As you know, the best malaphors are quickly forgotten because of their subtlety. Faceover is a one word blend of “facelift” and “makeover”, both indicating improved cosmetic changes. I actually like the word faceover as it is a good description of any rehab project. I would encourage everyone to start using it. Now if the subject matter was a hockey arena, it might be a triple blend with faceoff in the mix….
It will help you get your toe in the door
Posted: December 2, 2013 Filed under: BODY PARTS, door, foot, toes | Tags: blended idioms, dip your toe in the water, expressions, foot, get your foot in the door, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, toe, words Leave a commentThis mix-up was heard last week on the Today Show. A person was giving advice on how women can network to get back into a career after being out of work for a long time. She gave an example of web ideas and then uttered this great malaphor. It is a mash up of “get your foot in the door” (start at a low level in an organization in order to get a better job in that organization) and “dip your toe in the water” (start carefully or test things first). So perhaps a toe in the door is almost getting the job. I note that Australians say “get a leg in the door” instead of “foot in the door”, indicating that they are expecting a little higher level entry position? Certainly their minimum wage indicates so (Australia 15.96/hr vs. US 7.25/hr). Thanks to Ron Marks for sending this one in!
JFK was a duck in a barrel
Posted: November 30, 2013 Filed under: ACTION, ANIMALS, duck, shoot | Tags: Assassination, Assassination of John F. Kennedy, blended idioms, humor, John F. Kennedy, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, shooting fish in a barrel, sitting duck, words 3 Comments
Picture of President Kennedy in the limousine in Dallas, Texas, on Main Street, minutes before the assassination. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This phrase mixes “sitting duck” (someone vulnerable to an attack) and “shooting fish in a barrel” (ridiculously easy). A big thanks to Michael Ameel for hearing this one on a radio program recently about the Kennedy assassination. An expert on the show indicated that JFK was an easy target, and blurted out this malaphor. It is similar to the 1/16/13 entry, “It’s like shooting ducks in a barrel”.
It’s trial by error
Posted: November 27, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphors, Murder She Wrote, television, trial and error, trial by fire, wordplay, words Leave a commentThis might be another “freudian slip malaphor” (see “I have nothing to hide but the truth”), when considering it was spoken by a physician. This is a mash up of “trial by fire” (ability to perform under pressure) and “trial and error” (trying repeatedly for success). It’s also the title of a “Murder She Wrote” and a “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” episode. Who knew? Thanks to Barry Eigen for sending in this gem.
I’ve got nothing to hide but the truth
Posted: November 25, 2013 Filed under: hide, truth | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, freudian slip, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, nothing but the truth, nothing to hide, oath, truth, words Leave a commentPerhaps this malaphor should be categorized as a “freudian slip malaphor”, as it was uttered by a person under oath. It combines the phrase “I have nothing to hide” and the end of the witness oath in which one swears to tell the truth, the whole truth and “nothing but the truth.” It might also apply to politicians these days. Thanks to John Costello for sending this beauty in!
The company’s stock price is through the moon
Posted: November 23, 2013 Filed under: moon, PLACES, roof | Tags: blended idioms, cnn, Erin Burnett, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, over the moon, Tesla Motors, through the roof, words Leave a commentIn the conclusion to a report today regarding the Tesla Motor Car Corp. CNN news host Erin Burnett described the company’s stock price for the year as being “…through the moon…” This wonderful malaphor is a mash up of the phrases “through the roof” (prices very high) and “over the moon” (extremely pleased). Jackie Gleason’s famous line, “to the moon, Alice!” might also have been on Ms. Burnett’s mind. Many thanks to David Spain for sending this one in and attaching the video with concluding malaphor below:
Malaphors 
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