Malaphor

Quick meaning: Malaphor is a noun meaning (rare) An idiom blend: an error in which two similar figures of speech are merged, producing an often nonsensical result.

Meaning

(rare) An idiom blend: an error in which two similar figures of speech are merged, producing an often nonsensical result.

Example Sentences

Among Swift's favorite malaphors are "He's a ragged individualist"; "I was up at the crank of dawn"; and "He's a fly in the oatmeal."

What I conclude from this admittedly narrow data base is that, while the malaphor flourishes in bureaucratic compost, it will grow just about anywhere. The following malaphors are my pick of the letters. They were uttered in the home, on the farm, in the street.

Word Forms

• malaphors

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include malapropism, malapropoism, malaprop, metaphasis, malapropist, metaphore.

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