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- Burning the Midnight Oil From Both Ends. “I’m so stressed that I’m burning the midnight oil from both ends.” This is a mixup of the two idioms, “burning the midnight oil” and “burning the candle at both ends.”
- Heavy Is the Goose That Lays the Golden Egg. “George just got promoted to management, I hope he’s ready for it. Heavy is the goose that lays the golden egg.”
- Walking a Thin Line. “That decision seems a little risky! He’s walking a thin line.” This malaphor is a combination of “walking on thin ice” and “walking a fine line.”
- I Can Read Him Like the Back of My Book. “He couldn’t hide anything from me. I can read him like the back of my book!” This malaphor mixes up two very common idioms: “know him like the back of my hand” and “read him like a book.”
An excellent source of mixed metaphors is the 6-part sketches 'Peter and John' on the British TV program 'A Bit of Fry and Laurie'. The two hard-drinking Fitness club owners do a lot of damage to standard English idioms. Example: Fry:'The boardroom and the bedroom are just two sides of the same agenda' –
The phrase “mix up” has been a part of the English language for centuries, and it is used to describe a situation where things become confused or jumbled. The origins of this idiom are not entirely clear, but it likely developed from the idea of mixing ingredients together in cooking or blending different substances.
May 20, 2022 · A malaphor is a mixed metaphor that got lost in translation somewhere. What does this look like? Discover some of the more common malaphors here.
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Dec 14, 2023 · Idioms and phrases are quirky parts of the English language, but they can be a tricky concept for non-native speakers to master. You might find yourself mixing up prepositions, which can entirely change the meaning of your idioms. In this article, get ready to explore some common idiom mistakes and learn how to avoid making them.
Nov 10, 2023 · One of the easiest ways to get words mixed up is to think of one word while trying to say another. This is how blends end up happening. These mistakes happen regularly in all languages and are usually easy to notice. One famous example in pop culture is from the 2004 film Mean Girls, where the main character Cady gets nervous and accidentally ...
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Nov 13, 2019 · Try one of these 11 idioms. If you’re interested in learning more idioms, check out the idioms and phrasal verb section of the site. mixed up (adj.), mix-up (n.) If you are mixed up about something, it means that you are confused. “Whenever we change the clocks for daylight savings time, I get mixed up and can’t figure out what time it is.”
