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- A “mixed idiom” is a mixed-up phrase accidentally constructed from one or more well-known phrases. Often people mix up these phrases without realizing it. e.g. “ You are skating close to the wind ” is a mix-up of the phrases (idioms) “ Skating on thin ice ” and “ Sailing close to the wind “.
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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.”
- Examples
- Metaphors and Malaphors
- Examples from Richard Lederer
The following are some examples of malaphors. 1. Blends at the phrase level: "You hit the nail right on the nose." (A combination of "You hit the nail right on the head" and "That’s right on the nose.”) "She really stuck her neck out on a limb." ("Stuck her neck out" and "went out on a limb") . . . "I can’t make these split-minute decisions." (spli...
Below, find some malaphors that areclose, mixed-up cousins of mixed metaphors. 1. "Malaphors aren't quite malapropisms and aren't quite mixed metaphors but the best are as memorable as either. Whatever you want to call these, I hope you'll agree: each one is a pearl worth its weight in gold. - I can read him like the back of my book. - The sacred c...
Have fun with these "accidental assaults" on the English language according to Richard Lederer. 1. It's time to swallow the bullet. It's as easy as falling off a piece of cake. Let dead dogs sleep. That guy's out to butter his own nest. He's between a rock and the deep blue sea. (Richard Lederer, Anguished English: An Anthology of Accidental Assaul...
- Richard Nordquist
- A blessing in disguise. Meaning: Something that seems bad or unlucky at first but turns out to be good. Example: Losing that job was a blessing in disguise because it pushed me to start my own business.
- A dime a dozen. Meaning: Very common and easy to find. Example: Those souvenir keychains are a dime a dozen at the tourist shops.
- All ears. Meaning: Fully listening and paying attention. Example: Go ahead, I’m all ears. Tell me what’s been on your mind.
- All in the same boat. Meaning: In the same situation or predicament. Example: Everybody on staff got a pay cut – we’re all in the same boat.
“ You are skating close to the wind ” is a mix-up of the phrases (idioms) “ Skating on thin ice ” and “ Sailing close to the wind “. What is a Malaphor? A “Malaphor” is a misquoted or erroneous metaphor. e.g. “They treated me like a leopard” What else is “a Malaphor” called?
May 20, 2022 · You’ve mixed up “let sleeping dogs lie” and “beating a dead horse,” and now your perfect comeback is a messy malaphor — also known as a mixed metaphor or proverb. Oops. Bat In Your Bonnet. Another malaphor, “bat in your bonnet,” sounds terrifying. Much more than, say, a bee — which is the actual idiom.
- admin@yourdictionary.com
- Senior Writer
It's fun to use a mixed or reverse metaphor deliberately and which elicits corrections from jerks who don't get the joke. Three of my favorites are: 'If you can't laugh at other people, who can you laugh at?'; 'It's as plain as the face on your nose!'; 'I thank you from the heart of my bottom.'
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Nov 13, 2019 · 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.” “I’m a little mixed up. Is our meeting on Thursday or Friday?”
