Why climate change deniers are running out of rope
Posted: October 21, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: at the end of one's rope, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, on the ropes, running out of time, words Leave a commentThis is actually the title of an article in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/17/climate-science-deniers-environment-warning
It is a mashup of “running out of time” (to no longer have any time left to finish an activity) and, based on the context, I believe “on the ropes” (close to defeat). “At the end of (one’s) rope” (completely worn out) might also be in the mix as both idioms refer to the end of an activity. A big thanks to John Kooser who spotted this one in plain sight.
His back is on the ropes
Posted: July 19, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: back against the wall, Brian Johnson, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, on the ropes, San Francisco Giants, words Leave a commentThis malaphor was uttered by Brian Johnson, the San Francisco Giants’ color announcer, describing a Detroit Tigers pitcher. It is a mash up of “on the ropes” (doing badly and likely to fail) and “back against the wall” (to have serious problems which limit the way you can act). The speaker may have been thinking of the boxer with his back on the ropes, getting pummeled. A shout out to Pete Mamalis for hearing this one and sending it in!
There are lots of malaphors from the sports world in my book, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon for a mere $6.99! Check it out at this link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205
Malaphors 
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