I’m not sure “woman crossing the street” or “child on the swings” count as idioms, do they? In both cases, the phrases are being used literally to refer to the concepts being described (i.e. woman crossing street, child on swing). It’s only in the context of 47 being compared to these things that they become figurative. So I think it would be more accurate to refer to them as metaphors rather than idioms.
I also think it’s fair to point out a degree of disonnance in their usage here, even if we accept the language is metaphorical. I think the confusion is caused by this line:
He’s the guy you don’t see. The man standing next to you on the bus
47 could literally be “the guy you don’t see” or the “man on the bus”. Yet these statements can also be read as metaphors. You might literally see 47 in plain sight without realising because he blends into his surroundings, so it’s like you don’t see him. Conversely, 47 might not literally be the man on the bus, yet his reputation makes you feel like he could be.
If someone misreads these metaphors as literal statements (which is easily done), then it’s understandable that the following line would seem so jarring.
the woman crossing the street, the child on the swings
This certainly conjours up some very strange images. I’m reminded of this animation (from 0:42)…
The language is clearly being used to imply that 47 is everywhere, hiding in plain sight etc. Nonetheless they still seem like odd metaphors to use. If anything, they serve only to highlight 47’s shortcomings by drawing to our attention the fact that he could not, for instance, literally disguise himself as a child. As such, I think it’s pretty sloppy writing.
I’m not familiar with the quotation myself and can’t find it anywhere else online. I notice OP said they “used chat GPT to find the complete version”. I wonder what exactly that entails and whether, in fact, ChatGPT has cobbled together various phrases to fabricate this quotation. That may explain the sloppiness.
