You and I Trivia Quiz

Answer: I say "Straw's cheaper, grass is free!"

This exchange dates back to a time when attracting a person's attention by saying "Hey!" was deemed to be rude. One was meant to say "Excuse me" or some other polite greeting. The response, most often given by youngsters, supposed that the word used was in fact "hay" and pointed out cheaper versions of the animal feed.

Answer: I say "Only her hairdresser knows for sure."

These lines come from a television advertisement from the mid-1950s, for a hair colouring product by Clairol. The implication was that the product produced such a natural colour that one needed inside information to be able to tell if the subject had dyed their hair or not. Like many advertising slogans of the time it became a familiar exchange.

Answer: I say "After 'while, crocodile!"

Preteens and teenagers of the late 1950s might use these lines to bid farewell to one another, instead of a simple "Bye" or "See you tomorrow". They were borrowing from the lyrics of a song made popular by Bill Haley and his Comets which they recorded in 1956. Later kiddie versions, with expanded responses from more animals, changed the response to "In awhile..." but online video proof exists of the original being as stated here.

Answer: I say "A little dab'll do ya!"

This is another advertising slogan which I remember well from my childhood (late fifties). A memorable ad was in animated form, with a chap with unruly hair discovering Brylcreem, applying it and subsequently being pursued by beautiful women. A later line stated "She'll love to run her fingers through your hair". I find this highly suspect, as greasy hair doesn't seem all that appealing.

Answer: I say "with LBJ!"

This was Lyndon Baines Johnson's campaign slogan during his successful 1964 campaign to be re-elected President of the USA. He had become president in November 1963 after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and was thus mounting his first presidential campaign. Hubert Humphrey was his running mate.

Answer: I say "Buckle my shoe."

This is the first line of a nursery rhyme that teaches children counting in an amusing, and memorable, way. It goes on to rhyme "three, four" with "shut the door" or "knock at the door", as far as "eleven, twelve, dig and delve", thus also teaching young children unusual words (like "delve") that they may seldom need to use again.

Some versions go even higher, but the rhymes become less convincing.

Answer: I say "Yes, we can!"

These lines are from the theme song of the children's TV show "Bob the Builder", as sung by all the machines that made up Bob's crew. The series was an animated British production that ran from 1997 until 2015 and promoted positive attitudes to problem solving, as exemplified by these lines.

Answer: I say "And Tyler too!"

Here we have another US presidential campaign slogan, this time from the 1840 campaign of William Henry Harrison, the Whig candidate who defeated the sitting Democratic president Martin Van Buren. The Tippecanoe reference was to a battle in 1811, in which Harrison had been triumphant, and John Tyler was Harrison's running mate. Tyler soon became president, when Harrison died a mere month after taking office.

Answer: I say "Polo!"

Recognizable as the name of a Venetian explorer, the call and response of Marco Polo's name is most often heard as a game played in or around a swimming pool. The idea is for one person, designated "it", to close their eyes and call out "Marco!". The other players reply "Polo" and the first tries to find and tag them using sound alone. Variations, of course, exist.

Answer: I say "Two for the show!"

Then we both sing along with Elvis about staying off of his "Blue Suede Shoes", these being the opening lines of the song. It was, in fact, first recorded by the person who wrote it, Carl Perkins, in 1955, but for many it will be the Elvis Presley version, recorded a year later, that comes to mind first.

Answer: I say "Do you know where your children are?"

These words were spoken on US television stations as a Public Service Announcement, beginning in the late 1960s, continuing in some form into the 1990s and even beyond. It would often precede the late news, and implied that the kids should probably be tucked safely in their beds, or at least be indoors, by then.

Answer: I say "How low can you go?"

These words, from the song "Limbo Rock" recorded by Chubby Checker in 1958, were heard at many a party in the late fifties and early sixties. Originating in Tobago as a game, the idea of limbo is to shimmy under a pole without touching the ground with any part of your body but your feet. As the game progresses the bar is lowered so the task becomes progressively more difficult.

Answer: I say "How high?"

The implication here is that the second person will do whatever the first person asks them to do, without any question other than to ascertain to what extent they should go. Whether or not this is the best thing to do is a question for each individual.

Answer: I say "Oh, yes he is!"

These lines, heard at a Christmas pantomime performance somewhere in the UK, might be preceded by "He's behind you!" or some other warning, given either by a cast member or by the audience. These two lines might be said several times before the situation resolves itself. Audience participation is encouraged in this situation, and can be great fun, especially for the youngest audience members.

Answer: I say "It works if you work it."

If you are familiar with these lines, you might just be a friend of Bill W, or at least be familiar with twelve step programs. Often repeated at the end of a meeting, these words of encouragement are meant as positive reinforcement for all who attend and who are striving to better their lives.