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Is there a word for mangled idiom that becomes commonplace (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 month ago by gedaliyah@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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Like "does the Pope shit in the woods?" or "that train has sailed?"

Also, what good examples can you think of?

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[-] Seraph@fedia.io 13 points 1 month ago

"Not the brightest cookie in the crayon box" is an amalgamation of 3 different sayings I've been trying to make happen. It won't happen.

[-] davidgro@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

My mom was fond of "Not the brightest egg in the drawer".

[-] gedaliyah@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago

I used to say not the sharpest cookie in the jar

[-] ghashul@feddit.dk 2 points 1 month ago

I do it in danish, but we have the idiom here too. I'll often make up a new one following the not the x y in the z template. E.g. Not the loudest spoon in the forest.

this post was submitted on 24 Sep 2024

129 points (99.2% liked)

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