On the other token..
Posted: July 21, 2012 Filed under: BODY PARTS, THINGS | Tags: expressions, idioms, malaphors, words Leave a commentClassic mash-up of “on the other hand” with “by the same token”. Perhaps the speaker wanted to express both thoughts at the same time?
Put your shoulder to the grindstone
Posted: July 20, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS, THINGS | Tags: expressions, grindstone, malaphor, mixed idiom, shoulder, words 5 CommentsThe Master uttered this advice to a co-worker many years ago. A brilliant malaphor, it is a mix-up of “nose to the grindstone” and “put your shoulder to the wheel”. As a grindstone is a type of wheel, the confusion unfolded and another masterpiece was born.
Throw in the hat
Posted: July 19, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, CLOTHING | Tags: expressions, hat, malaphor, mixed idiom, words 1 CommentThis malaphor mixes two idioms with opposite meanings – “throw in the towel” and “hat in the ring”. When I heard it, the speaker intended to say”throw in the towel”. Maybe he didn’t really want to give up? Or maybe it was that second martini talking….
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