Malaphors
A collection of malaphors from public and private discourse
I have noticed, in various conversational and narrative contexts, the occurrence of malaphors. Some are intriguing. Some hilarious. All of them seem to fall under Hofstadter and Moser's definition:
For us, the term "malaphor" designates a seamless blending of two (or more) stock phrases (or even just words) into a single new phrase (or word).[^1]
"first and forefront" -- first and foremost and at the forefront
"a whole other ball of worms" -- ball of wax and can of worms
"...has been with us the entire step of the way." -- every step of the way and the entire time...
"...reading between the leaves" -- reading the tea leaves and reading between the lines
"It's not even a blimp on the radar." -- blip on the radar and ¯\(ツ)/¯
"by the board" -- video @5:00
"first and forefront" -- first and foremost and at the forefront
"I mean that like nobody’s tomorrow" -- Draymond Green
"pipe in" -- pipe up and chime in
"chime up" -- chime in and pipe up
"I’m eating a little humble crow..." -- interview (just after the 2:45 mark)
"flash forward" —- flash back and fast forward Russ Roberts minute 16:30
"...maybe that will help fill in a few dots" -- fill in the gaps and connect the dots (work meeting)
"that just defeats logic" -- defies logic and defeats the purpose
[^1]: Hofstadter, D. R., & Moser, D. (1989). To err is human; to study err-making is cognitive science. Michigan Quarterly Review 27(2), 185-193. permalink