They are trying to rattle his tree
Posted: January 30, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, MSNBC, rattle his cage, Robert Torricelli, shake his tree, Stephanie Ruhle, Trump, words Leave a comment
We are not out of the clear
Posted: January 25, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, in the clear, Kamala Harris, malaphor, malaphors, MSNBC, out of the woods, Rachel Maddow, Trump, words Leave a commentThis dandy conflation comes straight from the mouth of Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) on MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show. She was discussing Russian interference in the U.S. Presidential election and explained that “we are not out of the clear”. This is congruent conflation of “out of the woods” and “in the clear”, both meaning to be free from danger or suspicion of wrongdoing. This malaphor was repeated by MSNBC on its twitter feed: Sen. Kamala Harris: “We’re not out of the clear in terms of 2018 election cycle” https://twitter.com/MSNBC/status/952057691974881280
Many followers caught this one, including Beatrice Zablocki, Sam Edelmann, and Frank King. I guess this one was very clear.
We can’t keep kicking this issue down the can
Posted: January 24, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Bernie Sanders, expressions, kick the can down the road, malaphor, malaphors, Trump, words 1 CommentI know it’s similar to other posts regarding malaphors on the idiom, “kick the can down the road”, but this one was again uttered in the political world and I can’t pass it up. This time it is Bernie Sanders, appearing on the Andrea Mitchell show on MSNBC, talking about the DACA impasse between Congress and the president. A big thanks to Mike Browning for spotting this one.
They are kicking the can down the table
Posted: January 22, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Chuck Schumer, cnn, come to the table, expressions, humor, kick the can down the road, language, malaphor, malaphors, Trump, words Leave a commentSimilar to the last post, this is another “kick the can down the road” malaphor. Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader, said this one on CNN. He was explaining why he did not want to pass a CR. This is a mashup of “kick the can down the road” (to postpone or defer an action) and I think “come to the table”(to meet to negotiate a particular issue or situation). My guess is that Schumer combined these two thoughts as he is currently negotiating a deal to stop the government shutdown. New Yorkers talk faster than their thoughts. A big thanks to Beatrice Zablocki for hearing this one.
So it only stands fair that he should be prosecuted for misconduct also
Posted: December 18, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, PBS Newshour, seems fair, stands to reason, Trump, words 2 CommentsThis one was heard on the PBS News hour by one of Trump’s accusers of sexual misconduct. It is a blend of “seems fair” and “stands to reason” (is obvious). A big thanks to Laszlo Veres for hearing this one.
It’s like putting the wolf in charge of the hen house
Posted: October 30, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Chuck Schumer, expressions, humor, idioms, language, malaphor, malaphors, the fox guarding the hen house, Tom Marino, Trump, wolf in sheep's clothing, words Leave a commentThis was uttered by Chuck Schumer when discussing Trump’s nominee, Tom Marino, as Drug Czar. Schumer said Marino’s confirmation would be “like putting the wolf in charge of the hen house”. https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/10/17/Drug-czar-nominee-Marino-withdraws-from-consideration-Trump-says/9001508246201/
This is a mashup of “the fox guarding the hen house” (assigning the duty of guarding valuable information or resources to someone who is likely to exploit that opportunity) and “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” (a person or thing that appears harmless but is actually dangerous). Now certainly you wouldn’t want a wolf in charge of the hen house either, but the correct idiom only indicts the fox. A big thanks to Steve Grieme for catching this one and sending it on.
The USFL went down in smoke because of Trump
Posted: October 17, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: down in flames, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, Trump, up in smoke, USFL, words 1 CommentI am guilty of this one. I was talking to my wife about what happened when Trump convinced the USFL owners to change the schedule from the Spring to the Fall season in order to compete head to head against the NFL. This is a congruent conflation of “up in smoke” and “down in flames”, both meaning something failed or was destroyed. Flames and smoke are the culprits here. Also down and up. Directionally challenged semantically?
It’s dead as a cucumber
Posted: September 23, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Chris Matthews, cool as a cucumber, dead as a door nail, expressions, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, Trump, wordplay, words Leave a commentChris Matthews from MSNBC was referring to the Graham-Cassidy Health Bill when he uttered this beauty. He immediately realized his mistake and then said “dead as a door nail” but it was too late. The malaphor is in the books. It is a mashup of “dead as a door nail” (undoubtedly dead) and “cool as a cucumber” (extremely calm and in control of your emotions). Certainly when you are dead you are pretty cool temperature-wise. Perhaps this is what Mr. Matthews was thinking. I’m glad cucumbers are dead. I still remember live tomatoes in the movie “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.” A big thanks to “my ol’ pal” Beatrice Zablocki for hearing this one and passing it on quickly.
Liked this one? Order my book “He Smokes Like a Fish and other Malaphors” for more. Available on Amazon. Click on http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692652205
The world is going to shit in a handcart
Posted: September 3, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, going to hell in a handbasket, going to shit, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, Trump, words 3 CommentsThis colorful malaphor was uttered by someone referring to the Trump presidency. It is a nice congruent conflation of “gone to shit” and “going to hell in a handbasket (or handcart)” both meaning a person or system is in a bad state and getting worse. This malaphor is very similar to a previous one posted, “the project is going to pot in a handbasket” (9/15/02). https://malaphors.com/2012/09/15/the-project-is-going-to-pot-in-a-handbasket/ A big thanks to Kerry Reynolds for hearing this one and passing it on.
Crazy as a three dollar bill
Posted: August 19, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Chuck Todd, crazy as a loon, expressions, humor, J.C. Watts, language, malaphor, malaphors, MSNBC, phony as a three dollar bill, Trump, words Leave a commentThis one was uttered by J.C. Watts on the MTP (Meet the Press) Daily show on MSNBC. It is a nice mash up of “crazy as a loon” (insane) and “phony (or queer) as a three dollar bill” (bogus). http://www.zajilspeed.com/2017/08/african-american-republicans-tried-to.html
I suppose a three dollar bill is pretty crazy, but those loons definitely are the craziest. Of course, pileated woodpeckers sound daffy as well. A big thanks to Chief Malaphor Hunter (CMH) Mike Kovacs for hearing this one and immediately recording it.
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