@thepoliticalcat @billcipher @Gediren @christianselig an egg corn is a misused phrase that still works, such as ex-patriot instead of expatriate and upmost instead of utmost. So in this case back paddling is not the original phrase but works anyway, and is a nice one because it makes more sense if they're in "hot water"
@pidgeon_pete @billcipher @Gediren @christianselig Ah! Like a mondegreen for song lyrics! I've never heard that term before. Must go look it up.