Mixing phrases
Posted by Barry on January 18, 2000
In Reply to: Mixing phrases posted by Joe Pessell on January 18, 2000
: : : :
: : : : : : : Let sleeping giants lie.
: : : : : : : Up a gum tree without a paddle.
: : : : : : : What is the name for these mixed up phrases?
: : : : : : You've buttered your bread, now sleep in it.
: : : : Those are pretty good ones.
: : : : Here's one I heard: "It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to understand that."
: : : That's funny! I can't wait to use that one.
: : Years ago (maybe late '40s early '50s) there was a radio program
called the Easy Aces. Goodwin Ace and his wife were the hosts. Goody
Ace (a comedy writer) invented a bunch of similar phrases which
became known as Ace-isms, if I remember correctly. I looked all
over the internet to see if there was a site devoted to him/them,
but I've been unable to find one. Perhaps someone has some better
reference? (One I remember: "he was running around like a chicken
with its hat off.") Anybody remember more? He used to write an occasional
humor column for the old Saturday Review of Literature.
: Here's one I use: It's 6 1/2 of one, and half a baker's dozen of the other.
And so I thought, perhaps, "The hole, nine yards down" is where we should bury this one.