What Is a Mixed Metaphor? | Definition & Examples
A mixed metaphor is a figure of speech that combines two incompatible metaphors into one comparison.
Mixed metaphors are often unintentional. When writers intentionally use them, they often signal their use (e.g., “excuse the mixed metaphor”).
Children are little sponges, soaking up knowledge. One day, they will blossom into flowers of wisdom. [Children are compared to sponges in the first sentence and seeds in the second]
What is a mixed metaphor?
A mixed metaphor is the fusion of two different metaphors to create an illogical comparison.
A standard metaphor uses consistent language and imagery to make a comparison. Consider this example: “During the negotiations, the CEO stepped up to the plate and hit it out of the park.” The metaphor involves comparing the CEO to a baseball player.
Mixed metaphors involve two comparisons that, on their own, would be logical but when combined are inconsistent. For example: “During the negotiations, the CEO stepped up to the plate and put all her chips on the table.” This mixed metaphor compares the CEO to both a baseball player and a poker player, two incongruous images.
People use mixed metaphors frequently in speech and writing, either accidentally or to intentionally describe something in multiple ways. Mixed metaphors are especially common with phrases that have become so cliché that their meaning no longer relies on understanding the underlying metaphor (e.g., “moonshot,” “gear up,” “slam dunk”).
Your presentation was a slam dunk! I knew you were the one to carry the project across the finish line.
Mixed metaphor vs malaphor
A malaphor happens when two well-known idioms are merged, either unintentionally or for purposeful comedic effect.
We’ll cross that bridge when we burn it. [We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it + Don’t burn bridges]
Let’s get our ducks on the same page. [Get our ducks in a row + Get on the same page]
Many people are referring to malaphors when they use the term “mixed metaphor,” but the categories do not completely overlap.
- Malaphors are nonsensical and typically involve misremembering a fixed phrase. They are always considered a mistake (unless used for intentional humor).
- Mixed metaphors often make sense, but they involve comparing one thing to two unrelated things (e.g., “The journey of her life had been long and winding; it was time to turn a new page”). They are not necessarily a mistake, but they can impede the clarity of your writing or speech.
| Mixed metaphor | Malaphor |
|---|---|
| The CEO stepped up to the plate and put all her chips on the table. | The CEO put all her chips on the plate. |
| The journey of her life had been long and winding; it was time to turn a new page. | She turned a new page on a dime. |
Mixed metaphor vs extended metaphor
A mixed metaphor also differs from an extended metaphor.
- An extended metaphor involves only one main comparison, like a simple metaphor, but it continues for multiple lines or even paragraphs.
- A mixed metaphor can be short or long and combines two different metaphors in an illogical or incompatible way.
| Extended metaphor | Mixed metaphor |
|---|---|
| “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms …” —Shakepeare, As You Like It |
We are all actors in a play and at different times play different roles. When our time is up, we will be remembered for the light we shone into the darkness. |
Frequently asked questions about mixed metaphors
- What is the difference between a malaphor and a mixed metaphor?
-
A malaphor unintentionally combines two idioms or clichés into a nonsensical expression (e.g., “He’s not the brightest crayon in the shed”).
Mixed metaphors combine two metaphors to create an illogical comparison (e.g., “Our love is brighter than the sun. I want to curl up in it and fall asleep”). Mixed metaphors can be created on purpose or by accident.
