MovieChat Forums > Trixie (2000) Discussion > malaprops and mixed metaphors

malaprops and mixed metaphors

posted 17 years ago by gebegb
5 replies | jump to latest

I will grant you, the movie isn't very good, as a "movie" per se.
(Characters are stereotypes; characters are not sympathetic; characters' behavior defy logic; etc.)
But you must admit -- the sheer number, and quality, of MALAPROPS and MIXED-METAPHORS by the lead character Trixie Zurbo, makes the movie worth seeing.
Some mixed-metaphors were so good, I wrote them down!

Hey. Nobody's human.

Parasite for sore eyes.

You can eat steaks up the yazoo.

I only have two pairs of hands.

Time to swallow the bullet.

A big wheel in a small pond.

I'm a little green behind the ears.

Somebody could get killed here and die.

Looking through a needle for a haystack.

Luxury pandemoniums.

The ball is in your camp.

Sit back on my hunches.

Make out like a banshee.

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(spoiler)
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For those interested in sex, beware: there is a hand job, near the movie's "climax" (I'm not kidding).
It occurs while (!) a senator is dining with two lobbyists.
(Hey, this scene by itself might make the film worth renting, no?)
_________
"The Shadow knows." -- Lamont Cranston

[–] Thomas-White2 17 years ago

I loved this movie, and not because of the plot, but simply for Emily Watson's wacky delivery of these lines. It's worth sitting through at least once more, but I wouldn't go looking for anything more in the film. But how are you going to put across such a successive collection of whacked-out mixed metaphors unless it's in a standup routine?

[–] sawsan59 16 years ago

Yes, these were certainly entertaining. But what I don't understand about Trixie's constant abuse of English is this: if she is aware (as she must be) that she can't get one figure of speech right, then why does she insist on using such colorful languages? Her dialogue has much more (attempted) idioms and metaphors than any other character. So, amusing as it is, eventually it becomes rather too much, fit more for a standup routine than for a movie, where dialogue is supposed to reflect character and situation.

[–] TheSnappySneezer 15 years ago

Why isn't this movie "very good"?

While everyone is entitled to their opinion your clainms:

(Characters are stereotypes; characters are not sympathetic; characters' behavior defy logic; etc.)

are the very reasons I find this movie great. This is, these are this way very intentionally and I applaud that kind of thinking and usage.

[–] MystMoonstruck 15 years ago

I worked with a woman who spoke as Trixie does. She would accuse people of trifling (rifling) through the drawers of her desk. Or, she would say that she had a problem with flame (phlegm) in her throat. I wish I'd thought to write down some of them, as we often compared what we had overheard. Yes, people sometimes do speak this "fractured" English and mix up sayings, such as Trixie's "between a rock and the deep blue sea."

Remember: Trixie said that she had to leave school in fifth grade (as I recall) in order to take care of her mother. It's very likely that her mother spoke that way or perhaps other acquaintances did. I didn't find her speech pattern too distracting, and I agree with the poster who suggests that Trixie might have a disorder of some sort. Other characters seemed to take her speech pattern in stride, and some things she said obviously led to throughtful moments, even if only to figure out what she means. Some of her "goofs" were insightful though offbeat.

I'm reminded of the episode of "Grounded for Life" in which Lily was corrected for declaring, "The point is mute.", with her teacher adding the prompt, "Moot." Many people "mis-hear" words and sayings.

~~MystMoonstruck~~

[–] 15 years ago

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