creative modifications of idiomatic expressions

[James A. Landau]

In a message dated 3/21/2003 11:11:05 AM Eastern Standard Time,
mamandel at UNAGI.CIS.UPENN.EDU writes:

> creative modifications of idiomatic
> expressions. I mean those modifications which are not
> institutionalized. These expressions may be creatively modified (or
> exploited, as some scholars call this phenomenon) by replacing one
> word or the whole expression with a synonym, by adding a new term, by
> substituting an item by a homophone, by implying both the idiomatic
> and the literal meanings in that specific context, etc....

<snip>I wonder if anyone knows where (newspapers, magazines, books....) I
>
> can find these type of expressions.
>

If unintentional and humorous, the result is a "malaprop" and losts of people
make collections of them.  President Bush the Younger is prone to such
malaprops, which have nothing to do with whether he's a good or bad
President, but which are lovingly cherished by many of his non-admirers.  I
don't happen to have any URL's for such a collection, but other list-members
could supply you with some.  Bush seems to be generate malaprops when he is
discussing some serious issue, with the result that they are sometimes
thought-provoking, e.g. "women of cover".

            - James A. Landau