He Smokes Like a Fish and Other Malaphors (Unintentional Idiom and Word Blends)

Book excerpt: The term "malaphor," a combination of "metaphor" and "malaprop," was coined in 1976 by Lawrence Harrison, a senior executive in the State Department. Harrison found gems in endless bureaucratic meetings, such as "he said it off the top of his cuff" or "don't rock the trough." Author David Hatfield has been collecting malaphors for over thirty years. He Smokes like a Fish and Other Malaphors (Unintentional Idiom and Word Blends) is his offering to language enthusiasts everywhere. Malaphors know no bounds. From the man on the street to President Barack Obama, a truly diverse array of people is represented within these covers. Hatfield has mined for malaphors in every imaginable venue: movies, television, sports, music, the internet, at work, and on the street. People from all over the world have shared gems on Hatfield's website. So sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy this truly unique collection of verbal play and mix-ups.