Count your losses
Posted: October 30, 2013 Filed under: blessings, count | Tags: blended idioms, count your blessings, cut your losses, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Tomato, words Leave a comment
fried green tomatoes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This beauty comes from Sarah Hodges: “My husband and I were discussing the coming frost and my still-green
tomatoes. He told me to “count my losses” and just pick them green.” This is a mash up of “cut your losses” (do something to stop further losses) and I believe “count your blessings” (grateful for any small benefit, particularly in a difficult situation). Hey, a green tomato is better than no tomato, right?
Elephant poaching is over the roof
Posted: October 29, 2013 Filed under: roof | Tags: Barbara Baker, blended idioms, elephant, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, over the top, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Poaching, through the roof, words Leave a comment
African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) in Pittsburgh Zoo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This malaphor combines two expressions concerning high numbers – “through the roof” (increasing very quickly) and “over the top”. Barbara Baker, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo, made this comment in reference to the increase in elephant poaching. Many thanks to Sam Edelmann who heard this on the radio last week.
They really can hold their water
Posted: October 24, 2013 Filed under: FOOD, water | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, hold their own, hold water, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Waterboy, words 2 Comments
The Waterboy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We’re not talking camels here, but a sports description. The speaker has mixed “hold their own” (do as well as anyone else), the phrase the speaker meant to say, and “not hold water” (an argument or opinion that can be shown to be wrong). Perhaps the speaker was also thinking of those folks that literally hold water for athletes, such as The Waterboy? A big thanks to Justin Taylor, who certainly does not need to hold water for anyone, for sending this one in!
She’s going to kick some dust off the tires
Posted: October 22, 2013 Filed under: ACTION, brush, dirt, dust, kick | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, Hillary Clinton, humor, kick the tires, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 2 Comments
CNN studio (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Hillary Clinton that is. This malaphor was spoken by CNN political reporter Peter Hamby when discussing the Hillary campaign speech in the Virginia governor‘s race. It is a mash up of “kick the tires” (to test something) and I think “when the dust settles” (waiting for things to calm down), although “bite the dust” (to die) might be in the mix as well. Certainly tires cause lots of dust so hence the confusion. A big thanks to Steve Grieme for hearing this one and sending it in.
They have gone off the ranch
Posted: October 21, 2013 Filed under: ranch, reservation | Tags: bet the ranch, blended idioms, Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield, expressions, humor, Jeremy Scahill, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, off the reservation, Renée Montagne, words Leave a commentThis subtle mix up combines “off the reservation” (thinking differently than what the group believes is acceptable) and “bet the ranch” (risk everything because you are certain of its success). This was heard on NPR: Author of ‘Dirty Wars‘, Jeremy Scahill, speaking to Renee Montagne on NPR’s Morning Edition 10/16/13: “Also there have been incidents where U.S. forces are deployed as trainers and then have sort of gone off the ranch and done unilateral activities that have angered the host government.” Perhaps the speaker was thinking that the trainers were mavericks or cowboys, conjuring up ranches instead of reservations. Thanks to Sally Adler for sending this one in!
It’s working like a glove
Posted: October 15, 2013 Filed under: glove, works | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, fits like a glove, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words, works like a charm Leave a commentThis is a mix of the phrases “fits like a glove” (fits very well) and “works like a charm” (works just the way you intended). Both phrases indicate things that are exactly right, so hence the confusion. Also charm and glove are five letter words. A big shout out to Tim Kunzler who uttered this beauty, and Marsha Roberts for ratting him out! 🙂
The Japanese Power Glove with receivers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
That’ll be a kettle of worms
Posted: October 12, 2013 Filed under: ANIMALS, ball, fish, kettle, THINGS, worms | Tags: ball of wax, can of worms, expressions, humor, kettle of fish, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, words, Worm 2 Comments
Kettle of Fish (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This gem is a mixture of “a fine kettle of fish” and “a can of worms”, both meaning to describe a difficult situation or problem. My guess is that the speaker was also confusing worms with fish, as worms are bait for fish. Similar malaphors at this site are “I’ve opened up a can of beans” (7/31/13 compliments of Denita) and “that’s a real ball of worms” (12/18/12, submitted by Paula Fow). Thanks to Barry Eigen who sent this one in, and added that if the speaker had only said “a fine kettle of worms”, the malaphor would have been perfect. Perfection is elusive.
He just wanted to cover his neck
Posted: October 8, 2013 Filed under: ass, BODY PARTS, butt, cover, neck | Tags: blended idioms, cover your ass, cover your butt, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, stick your neck out, words Leave a commentThis is a mash up of “cover his butt (ass)” (make excuses or otherwise take action to avoid being blamed) and “don’t stick your neck out” (avoid risk). This malaphor was said by a person describing his physician and the excessive treatment given. I think it also applies to Congress lately…. A tip of the hat to JoErin O’Leary for sending this one in!
He has stuck his feet in the sand
Posted: October 3, 2013 Filed under: BODY PARTS, foot, sand, THINGS | Tags: blended idioms, bury your head in the sand, Capitol Hill, dig your heels in, draw a line in the sand, expressions, Harry Reid, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, Republican Party United States, Senate Democrats, Steve Scalise, stick your head in the sand, words 2 Comments
Photo of Congressman Steve Scalise (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This timely malaphor is a mash up of several phrases, idioms, and ideas. Certainly “stick one’s head in the sand” (refuse to think about an unpleasant event) and “bury one’s head in the sand” (to ignore or hide from obvious signs of danger) is in the mix, along with “draw a line in the sand” (create an artificial boundary and imply that crossing it will cause trouble). In addition, “dig your heels in” (refuse to alter a course of action) is in play, considering context. Sticking your feet in cement also comes to mind. This mix-up was spoken by Steve Scalise (R-LA) at a press conference on Capitol Hill. Mr. Scalise was referring to Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats, indicating that they would not negotiate. You can find this beauty at about 1:30 in the video below:
WATCH: Hecklers rip into House Republicans during press conference addressing government shutdown
Thanks to Susan Kestner for sending this current and timely malaphor in!
He rubbed his face in the wound
Posted: October 1, 2013 Filed under: ACTION, rub, salt, wound | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, humor, language, malaphors, mixed idioms, rub salt in the wound, rub your nose in it, words Leave a commentThis beauty is a mash up of “rubbed salt in the wound” (make someone feel worse about something) and “rubbed his nose in it” (remind someone of something one has done wrong). Perhaps the speaker was reminding someone of a mistake and bragging about it at the same time. Or maybe this is a new form of medical treatment? A big thank you to Ed Brady for hearing and sending this one in.
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