He was always under his mother’s apron strings

This one was uttered by a nurse relating a story about someone.  It is a mash up of “tied to (one’s) mother’s apron strings” (dominated or dependent on one’s mother) and “under (someone’s) thumb” (dominated by someone).  Both expressions relate to domination, causing the confusion.  The speaker might have also conjured up the image of a child under his mother’s apron in the kitchen.  A big thanks to Steve Grieme for hearing this one and passing it on!

Did you like this one?  Check out the book on malaphors, “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors”, available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205.