: a figure of speech combining inconsistent or incongruous metaphors
Examples of mixed metaphor in a Sentence
“If we want to get ahead we'll have to iron out the remaining bottlenecks” is an example of a mixed metaphor.
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Editors who prioritize style are already hunting drafts for the type of muddy turns of phrase and mixed metaphors that LLMs are known to deploy.—Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 3 June 2026 Have fun with the paper and with the mixed metaphors.—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 Cats, however, may turn out to be the canaries in the coalmines — pardon the mixed metaphor.—Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 24 Dec. 2024 The triple-mixed metaphor says it all: Licht & Co. are struggling with the intractable problem of how to square the CNN brand’s promise — straight news — with the entertainment imperatives of nighttime television.—Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2022 Excuse the mixed metaphor, but the Viper feels like a great white shark on the road.—WSJ, 3 Dec. 2022 Yes, a mixed metaphor, but that essentially is what has been in play to this stage.—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2022 Due to author error a mixed metaphor was labelled as a pun in an earlier version of this post.—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Apr. 2021