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Dog Words Trivia Quiz

All of these words and phrases have an origin that has something to do with dogs.

A multiple-choice quiz by crisw. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
crisw

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
103,621

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
3948

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: peg-az (4/10), BayRoan (2/10), Luckycharm60 (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which of the following words, meaning "a person with a negative attitude; someone who believes that all people are selfish," is derived from "kuon", the Greek word meaning "dog"? Hint

Cynic

Pessimist

Misanthrope

Caviler

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Question 2 of 10

2. According to Renaissance author Ben Jonson, which letter "is the dog's letter and hurreth in the sound"?
Hint

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Question 3 of 10

3. Of the following phrases, which is the only one with an origin that has nothing to do with dogs? Hint

Mouthing off

Red herring

To badger someone

Pitting them against each other

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Question 4 of 10

4. If you are "going to see a man about a dog," what are you doing? Hint

Conducting a shady deal

Placing a bet at a racetrack

Going to the bathroom

Buying a dog

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Question 5 of 10

5. A period of often hot and humid days in late summer is called "the dog days of summer." Why? Hint

Because of Sirius, the dog star

Because dogs were not made to work in hot weather, for fear of heat exhaustion

Because there were more rabid dogs at that time

Because dogs enjoyed basking in the sun

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Question 6 of 10

6. What word meaning "spunky and quarrelsome" has its origin in the name of a type of dog? Hint

Sassy

Feisty

Snappish

Cheeky

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Question 7 of 10

7. What Southern food item's name supposedly arose from its use to quiet dogs?

Answer: (Two words)

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Question 8 of 10

8. This canine-related phrase describes a tall tale, usually quite long, with a silly or absurd ending.

Answer: (3 words)

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Question 9 of 10

9. What dog-related term is often used to describe adolescent infatuation?

Answer: (Two Words)

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Question 10 of 10

10. Where in your body will you find the only part which has a name with a dog-related origin? Hint

Legs

Trunk

Head

Abdomen

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 19 2024 : peg-az: 4/10
Nov 16 2024 : BayRoan: 2/10
Nov 06 2024 : Luckycharm60: 10/10
Nov 05 2024 : Fiona112233: 8/10
Oct 28 2024 : mberry923: 7/10
Oct 23 2024 : auto_enigma: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of the following words, meaning "a person with a negative attitude; someone who believes that all people are selfish," is derived from "kuon", the Greek word meaning "dog"?

Answer: Cynic

The word "Cynic" was first used to describe followers of the philosopher Diogenes - men who eschewed all material goods and ran dirty and unshaven through the streets, urinating in public and barking at passers-by.

2. According to Renaissance author Ben Jonson, which letter "is the dog's letter and hurreth in the sound"?

Answer: R

Think of a dog's growl- rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

3. Of the following phrases, which is the only one with an origin that has nothing to do with dogs?

Answer: Mouthing off

"Badgering" arose from badger-baiting, a "sport" in which dogs were set upon an enraged badger. A "red herring" was a decayed fish dragged on the ground in front of hounds to distract them from the scent of their prey. "Pitting" arose from pit-fighting contests, in which dogs fought in an area known as "the pit."

4. If you are "going to see a man about a dog," what are you doing?

Answer: Going to the bathroom

The origin of this phrase is unknown. It was first recorded in the 1920's. It originally served as a euphemism to avoid naming several nasty habits and actions.

5. A period of often hot and humid days in late summer is called "the dog days of summer." Why?

Answer: Because of Sirius, the dog star

In the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere, Sirius rises and sets with the sun during the "dog days." Some ancient astronomers believed that, as the brightest star in the sky, Sirius added its heat to that of the sun during this time.

6. What word meaning "spunky and quarrelsome" has its origin in the name of a type of dog?

Answer: Feisty

Feists are small, active, hot-tempered hunting dogs similar to terriers.

7. What Southern food item's name supposedly arose from its use to quiet dogs?

Answer: hush puppies

Hush puppies are fried balls of cornmeal batter. The story is that they were thrown to baying hounds, attracted by the smell of dinner, to quiet them.

8. This canine-related phrase describes a tall tale, usually quite long, with a silly or absurd ending.

Answer: Shaggy dog story

This phrase arose in the 1930s. The first shaggy dog story was about a competition to find the world's shaggiest dog. After a long tale about the contestants, the punchline is that the winner is presented to the originator of the competition, who proclaims, "I don't think he's so shaggy."

9. What dog-related term is often used to describe adolescent infatuation?

Answer: puppy love

The first recorded usage of this term was in 1834. "Calf love" is a phrase with similar meaning- but it doesn't present nearly as cute a picture!

10. Where in your body will you find the only part which has a name with a dog-related origin?

Answer: Head

This part is the canine teeth, named for the longest and sharpest teeth in a dog's mouth.

Source: Author crisw

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