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the boiling water in my kettle gushing ... and slowly but surely, evaporating and disappearing into the mist.
As WW says, there is a missing link in the original metaphor between 'evaporation' and 'mist.
"evaporating and disappearing" into mist nicely fills the void.
Thank you, maahey, for supplying the missing link.
BTW, is "evaporation into mist" any worse than "clouded in a sea" ... as in the following example of a mixed metaphor (from UVic Writer's Guide).
MIXED METAPHOR
A mixed metaphor attempts to create an extended comparison but fails because it is not consistent with itself. For example, in an essay on the language used in describing pain relief medicine, a student wrote:
"The topic of pain relievers seems clouded in a sea of medical terminology."
The metaphor is mixed because the images of cloud and sea do not match. The student should have said either "drowned in a sea of medical terminology" or "clouded in a fog of medical terminology."
Metaphor can be effective, but do not put too much weight on your own ingenuity; it might collapse under the strain.
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Carpal Tunnel
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yah, I'm a dope. I'm all missed up about this one. foggy. foggy. do.
formerly known as etaoin...
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do not put too much weight on your own ingenuity
Arright, Mr. Mixed Metaphor. Name the right fielder.
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imagine a group of ayleurs standing around watching that steaming kettle and discussing the metaphorical applications of the event.
A most enticing proposition, WW! 
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Great to see you again in one of your many guises, wordminstrel -- and a big "thank-you" for not only teaching us semi-literates and/or fastidious grammarians what's what, but also for the reminder of one of my favorites: "Or to take arms against a sea of troubles..."--Hamlet, Act III, Scene I
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a big "thank-you" for not only teaching us semi-literates and/or fastidious grammarians
I questioned the usage, dear ASp, not the author of the usage ... unless someone takes umbrage with the description "fastidious grammarian".
Personally, I think all grammarians should be "fastidious", or what's the point of being a grammarian?
I would certainly not describe you as "semi-literate", ASp, nor Faldage as "semi-grammatical".
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In reply to:
the reminder of one of my favorites:
"Or to take arms against a sea of troubles..."
But it's hard to beat Sir Boyle Roche:
Mr Speaker, I smell a rat; I see him forming in the air and darkening the sky; but I'll nip him in the bud.
Bingley
Bingley
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nor Faldage as "semi-grammatical"
Bestn't be callin' *me no semi-grammatical. I gots me more grammar in my left little finger than any bowlin-team's worth of prescripters gots in they whole body.
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Sir Boyle Roche
Who is or was he, please?
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Invented "herb" tea, using the fag-ends of marijuana cigarettes.
TEd
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