mixing metaphors

[Joel S. Berson]

I don't see "dodging a silver bullet" as a mixed metaphor.  A bullet
of precious metal has extraordinary powers to kill, particularly
mythological nemeses (enemies, rivals).  The deal came off, it was
"gargantuan" with many pitfalls, and if it hadn't been successful
there would have been severe, perhaps fatal, consequences to "we".

For the necessity for a bullet of precious metal, see "Wallace and
Grommit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit".  The Reverend (Mr. or Dr.?)
Clement Hedges gives Lord Victor Quartermaine 24-carrot gold bullets,
the only weapon that will stop the depredations of the Were-Rabbit.

Joel

At 10/23/2010 04:00 AM, Victor Steinbok wrote:
>  http://bit.ly/9vNJH7
>"This is a big deal -- a gargantuan deal -- and we dodged a silver
>bullet," Shelton wrote, according to Agence France-Presse.
>
>Dodging a silver bullet? Really?
>
>VS-)
>
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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org