Opening the Floodgates to a Pandora's Box of Worms

Authors

Don Hauptman

Abstract

in past Word Ways articles, I've differentiated between true mixed metaphors, which combine incongruous, absurd, or unreal images ("it's the whole kettle of fish in a nutshell") and what I call mashed metaphors -where clashing tropes and cliches aren't contradictory or impossible, but nevertheless create an awkward and ludicrous effect because of their proximity ("Investors smelling trouble can vote with their feet").

Recommended Citation

Hauptman, Don (2013) "Opening the Floodgates to a Pandora's Box of Worms," Word Ways: Vol. 46 : Iss. 4 , Article 9.
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/wordways/vol46/iss4/9