mixed metaphor

American  

noun

1. the use in the same expression of two or more metaphors that are incongruous or illogical when combined, as in “The president will put the ship of state on its feet.”

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mixed metaphor British  

noun

1. a combination of incongruous metaphors, as when the Nazi jackboots sing their swan song

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Etymology

Origin of mixed metaphor

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

The metallic colors on stage will blur and shine and hypnotize in HD just as well as they did live, and it will feel like luxuriating in a mixed metaphor just as it did live.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2023

The resulting mess is what you might call a mixed metaphor, or maybe just a redundant one.

From New York Times • Oct. 6, 2022

This is something of a mixed metaphor, but I think you get my point.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 28, 2022

This VHS conceit is a bit of a mixed metaphor given that you are playing the game, not watching someone else play it.

From The Verge • Nov. 24, 2019

The odd thing is that, whether he is on the offensive or the defensive, the writer who ventures to talk of mixing metaphors often shows that he does not know what mixed metaphor is.

From Society for Pure English, Tract 11 Three Articles on Metaphor by Society for Pure English