Editor's Corner

Five or so years ago, I sent out an article on malaphors. I wanted something funny for today, so I dug up another list of malaphors, which are described as “…an informal term for a mixture of two aphorisms, idioms, or clichés (such as "We’ll burn that bridge when we come to it"). Another name for the term is “an idiom blend.” These are from Atkins Bookshelf.

• A loose tongue spoils the broth.
• Don’t judge a book before it’s hatched.
• Every cloud has a silver spoon in its mouth.
• From now on, I’m watching everything you do with a fine-tuned comb.
• He is a little green behind the ears.
• He received a decease and desist order.
• He was watching me like I was a hawk.
• He’s a wolf in cheap clothing.
• He’s burning the midnight oil from both ends.
• He’s like a duck out of water.
• I can read him like the back of my book.
• I have a lot of black sheep in my closet.
• I hope he gets his curve ball straightened out.
• I shot the wind out of his saddle.
• It sticks out like a sore throat.
• It will be a walk in the cake.
• It’s all moth-eared.
• It’s as easy as falling off a piece of cake.
• It’s like looking for a needle in a hayride.
• It’s time to grab the bull by the tail and look him in the eye.
• It’s time to step up to the plate and lay your cards on the table.
• I wouldn’t be caught dead there with a ten-foot pole.
• I wouldn’t eat that with a ten-foot pole.
• I’ll get it by hook or ladder.
• People are dying like hotcakes.
• Take a flying hike.
• That train has left the frying pan.
• The crutch of the matter.
• The fan is gonna hit the roof.
• These hemorrhoids are a real pain in the neck.
• They’re diabolically opposed.
• Until the cows come home to roost.
• Until the pigs freeze over.
• We could stand here and talk until the cows turn blue.
• We have to get all our ducks on the same page.
• You can’t change the spots on an old dog.
• You can’t teach a leopard new spots.
• You can’t go in there cold turkey with egg on your face.
• You could have knocked me over with a fender.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

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