We’re behind the ball
Posted: March 24, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: behind the curve, behind the eight ball, expressions, humor, James Hamblin, language, malaphor, on the ball, Reliable Sourcesj, words Leave a commentThis one was uttered by James Hamblin on the CNN show Reliable Sources. It’s a mashup of “behind the curve” (something or someone not quite able to keep up), and “behind the eight ball” (in a difficult situation or at a disadvantage). Either way I think Mr. Hamblin is right! “Behind” is found in both idioms, creating the mental hiccup. “On the ball” (alert or aware) might also be in the mix, but I doubt that the speaker was thinking that way, given the context. A big thanks to John Polk from @ClichesGoneWild for posting this one! @jameshamblin @ReliableSources
When the chips are falling apart
Posted: March 23, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, let the chips fall where they may, malaphor, when the chips are down, words Leave a commentThe submitter’s doctor has been sending daily emails with COVID-19 updates. One update contained today’s malaphor. Here’s the whole paragraph:
It’s happening. Antivirals, old drugs, and new drugs, monoclonal antibodies, filters, passive use of recovered patient serum. When the chips are falling apart, that is when we find the strength to rebuild. That is who we are.
This is a mashup of “when the chips are down” (a stuation has become difficult) and “let the chips fall where they may” (allow events to unfold naturally). Both expressions have the word “chips” in them, probably the source of the conflation. Also, “things are falling apart” (collapsing or breaking down) is probably in the mix, considering “falling apart” is part of the malaphor and it fits in context. A shout out to Barry Eigen who spotted this one. Barry also noted that in 2016 the chips in chip credit cards were falling apart. https://jennstrathman.com/chip-cards-already-falling-apart/.
Those are bitter grapes to swallow
Posted: March 19, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: a bitter pill to swallow, humor, idioms, malaphor, malaphors, sour grapes, words Leave a commentMartin Pietrucha, loyal malaphor follower, unintentionally uttered this one the other night while talking with his kids. It is a mashup of “sour grapes” (someone is angry or bitter because he has not gotten something that he wants) and “a bitter pill to swallow” (an unwanted situation that someone is forced to accept). “Sour” and “bitter” seem to be the culprits here, both are two of the five basic tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami). Also one swallows grapes as well as pills. A big thanks to Martin for sending this one in.
That’s skating very close to the wind
Posted: March 17, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Dr. Zeke Emanuel, humor, language, malaphor, sailing close to the wind, skating on thin ice, words Leave a comment
All the stacks are in his favor
Posted: March 16, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, Helene Cooper, humor, language, malaphor, malaphors, the deck is stacked against him, the odds are in his favor, words Leave a commentHelene Cooper, reporter for the New York Times, speaking about Joe Biden, uttered this nice one on Meet the Press. It’s an incongruent conflation of “the odds are in (someone’s) favor” (someone is likely to win) and “the deck (or cards) is stacked against (someone)” Ms. Cooper is a regular on this site, having uttered more than a few malaphors. A big thanks to Robert J. Smith for hearing this one and passing it on.
Milton Keynes
Posted: March 14, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: humor, John Maynard Keynes, malaphor, Milton Friedman, words Leave a commentThis was uttered by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D- NY). It’s a mashup word blend of two economists, Milton Friedman and John Maynard Keynes. I wonder what economic theory Milton Keynes would espouse? Here is the quote and site:
Milton Keynes is also a town in England, “my ol’ pal” informs me. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Keynes
A big thanks Donna Cosentino for spotting this one and sending it in!
Kind of a tough nut to tease out
Posted: March 13, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, tease out, tough nut to crack, words Leave a commentThis was overheard in a work conversation. It is a mashup of “a tough nut to crack” (a problem that is challenging to solve) and “tease out (something)” (to unravel or separate out something). The two idioms fused together indicate something that is hard to solve. A big thanks to Amanda Zsuzsics for hearing this one and sending it in to my facebook page, Malaphors.
They are high on our radar
Posted: March 11, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, high on the list, humor, language, malaphor, on the radar, under the radar, words Leave a commentA national hockey writer was talking about the Pittsburgh Penguins’ chances of winning the Stanley Cup this year, and he mentioned that the Pens are always “high on our radar”. This is a congruent conflation of “on the radar” and “high on the list” (something important or noteworthy). “Under the radar” (undetected) is an idiom and may have contributed to the mashup (under vs. high). A big thanks to John Kooser for hearing this one and sending it in.
He’s teetering a fragile line
Posted: March 8, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: expressions, humor, language, malaphor, teetering on the edge, Trump, walking a fine line, words Leave a commentGinger Gibson, Reuters Political Correspondent on the NPR show A1, was talking about Trump’s recent actions relative to the Roger Stone sentencing. This is a mashup of “teetering on the edge” (to be very close to a dangerous situation) and “walking a fine line” (in a dangerous situation where you could easily make a mistake). Both idioms involve dangerous situations, and “line” and “edge” are closely related. Not sure where “fragile” fits in, but “fine” has a similar meaning to “fragile”, to wit – fine means “having or requiring an intricate delicacy of touch” as in ‘delicate’, ‘fragile’, ‘frail’,” etc .” Here’s where you can hear a recording: at 7:25. https://the1a.org/segments/the-news-roundup-domestic-2020-014-02/
By the way, this is Ms. Gibson’s second malaphor. See https://malaphors.com/2018/05/18/the-buck-stops-at-the-top/.
A tip of the hat to David Barnes for hearing this one.
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