Apostrophe?

Question

All the bridges you burn come back one day to haunt you.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Where?

Enoon · Answer

No, but I think I should point out that it is a mixed metaphor. A bridge can't haunt anything.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

enoonNo, but I think I should point out that it is a mixed metaphor. A bridge can't haunt anything.

I disagree. "Burning one's bridges" represents making a decision that can't be undone. And that may come back to haunt you.

Enoon · Answer

AlpheccaStars enoonNo, but I think I should point out that it is a mixed metaphor. A bridge can't haunt anything.I disagree. "Burning one's bridges" represents making a decision that can't be undone. And that may come back to haunt you.

Mmmmm ... that's what a mixed metaphor is, though. It makes sense, but the images are incongruous. It's like when you try to unravel a sticky wicket or set the wheels in motion with a kickoff dinner.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

I had a friend who was deathly afraid of going across bridges. there's even a name for this phobia - gephyrophobia. So, to me, the idea of bridges being haunting is not so outlandish or incongruous.
I understood the posting, and was not really taken back or amused. But it might border on being a mixed metaphor...

Mixed metaphors and malapropisms are sometimes used for humor.
I wouldn’t eat that with a ten-foot pole.
These hemorrhoids are a real pain in the neck.
You can’t go in there cold turkey with egg on your face.
A loose tongue spoils the broth.
That wet blanket is a loose cannon.
We don’t want this project to snowball into a can of worms.
They were up a tree without a paddle.
It’s as plain as the egg on your face.
I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel.
Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist ought to have his head examined.
President George W. Bush:
[ Senator John McCain] . . . can't have it both ways. He can't take the high horse and then claim the low road.

Kocka Macka · Answer

Alphecca, please, what does it mean, "I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel"? 'Cause it sounds so lovely..<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/96.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/96.gif' alt='Emotion: giggle'/>

Enoon · Answer

AlpheccaStarsMixed metaphors and malapropisms are sometimes used for humor. I wouldn’t eat that with a ten-foot pole. etc.

Beautiful. My favorite is "We don’t want this project to snowball into a can of worms."

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Kocka MackaAlphecca, please, what does it mean, "I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel"? 'Cause it sounds so lovely..

It is a very funny mix of two idioms:
1. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. - You experience something which makes you believe that a difficult or unpleasant situation will end.
2. The carrot or the stick. The use of rewards or punishments to influence someone's behavior

Kocka Macka · Answer

Thank you very much! I didn't know the second idiom <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous All the bridges you burn come back one day to haunt you.

I must confess that I thought this was one of those purposely funny sayings.

I imagined a pile of ashes (the burnt bridges) coming back to haunt someone.

To my mind it had a sort of family resemblance to "If you commit suicide, you'll live to regret it".

CJ

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