Pass or Play? Guess the Words in These Idioms Quiz

Answer: Barking up the wrong tree

The idiom: "Barking up the wrong tree" means to be pursuing the wrong course of action.

The photo hints at this showing two trees, one with a cat in it, the dog barking at the other.

The idiom dates back to the early 1800s when it was used literally in connection with hunting dogs when they would actually surround a tree that didn't have the animal that was being hunted stuck in it.

Answer: Judge the book by its cover

"Don't judge a book by its cover" means just that: don't decide on the quality of a person or object based only on outward appearances.

The photo is a picture of an ugly orange book with the word "bad" written on it. But maybe it's the best book ever written? Don't judge it.

The phrase goes back to the 1800s, appearing in print as early as 1867 in the "Piqua Democrat" newspaper.

Answer: Hat

"At the drop of a hat" means to make a decision quickly.

A haberdashery is a place that makes and sells hats.

According to James Rogers' book "Dictionary of Cliches", the term goes back to when a hat drop was used to start both foot and automobile races.

The photo is a man who just dropped his hat.

Answer: Eye

"Seeing eye to eye" means to agree upon something.

The idiom is used both to show agreement, and also in a negative format as in they "didn't" see eye to eye.

This idiom dates all the way back to biblical times. It was included in Isaiah 52:8. The King James Version reads: "Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion."

The picture is of an eye.

Answer: Hot potatoes

The idiom "a hot potato" means a hot button or difficult to deal with situation.

Webster's dictionary puts the origin of the term at around 1950.

I hope the photo, showing a potato on fire on top of a stove, illustrated the issue well.

Answer: Cutting straight to the issue at hand

"Hitting the nail on the head" means to get something exactly right, often on the first try.

Somewhat obviously, this idiom traces its origin back to carpentry. Basically, don't miss the nail or you may damage whatever you are driving the nail into.

The photo shows a nail sticking out of a piece of wood, being struck by hammer. It literally shows a nail being struck on the head.

Answer: Let them lie

"Let sleeping dogs lie" means to leave an issue alone, to put the past in the past, if you will. It also means not to instigate trouble.

The idiom traces its roots to the Bible, and is very widely used across many cultures and timelines throughout human history.

The photo shows a dog lying on a carpet sleeping, a pretty straight up interpretation of the idiom.

Answer: In a marketing campaign for Wonder Bread

The saying "best (or greatest) thing since sliced bread" simply means in a long time, not specifically back to before sliced bread.

The first commercial machine to slice bread started being used in 1928, and Wonder Bread marketed their product with added vitamins and minerals using this slogan.

Things that are older than sliced bread include actress Betty White and television.

I hope my bread slices were obvious enough.

Answer: Don't worry about things that have already happened.

The meaning of the idiom was answered already in the question. Basically though, don't be upset over things that you can not change, especially minor issues.

The phrase was first recorded in print in the mid-1600s.

A man or woman crying over a spilled quart of milk is depicted.

Answer: Under the weather

"Under the weather" simply means to not be feeling 100 percent, or to be sick.

In the 1800s the term was also used as a euphemism for being drunk.

This photo shows a person wandering around under grey skies and rain, literally under the weather.