FunTrivia Humanities Mix: Vol 20 Quiz

Answer: Out of the blue

The phrase "(it came) out of the blue" indicates something that is unexpected or has occurred without any warning. It can also be expressed as "it came like a bolt out of the blue", the reference being that the event was as unlikely as a thunderbolt coming from a clear blue sky.

The earliest reference that I could track down for this phrase appeared in "The Republican Compiler" (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) of 28th June 1836: "The late veto of President Jackson on the bill to fix a day for the yearly adjournment of Congress, was like a clap of thunder out of a clear sky.

It took both the friends and enemies of the administration by surprise".

Question by player pollucci19

Answer: Record of Arrest and Prosecution

In the US, criminals will have a RAP sheet that is a permanent Record of Arrests and Prosecutions. The RAP sheet is the official police record. Records such as this are used in countries around the world to track criminal behaviour in individuals (although the records are not always called RAP sheets). Rules about what goes on a RAP sheet vary across countries or jurisdictions, but can include a list of all encounters with police from very major offences such as murder to relatively minor traffic offences such as speeding.

In some jurisdictions, the crime needs to be proven in a court of law before it goes on the list, while in others, simply being arrested for a crime is enough to add to the list. Also, in some jurisdictions, offences are removed if legally expunged, while in other jurisdictions, the crime stays on the RAP sheet as a permanent record even if the individual has been acquitted.

Question by player Trivia_Fan54

Answer: Selling his soul to the devil

While the tale of Faust is the effective pace-car of contemporary understanding of satanic ritual, the effects of Faust's actions differ slightly from common conceptions in that, rather than being imbued with supernatural ability, Faust was granted the demon Mephistopheles as what could be described as a supernatural butler, carrying out Faust's will.

While Psilanthropism is a recognized heresy (the belief that Jesus never became divine or did not exist before his time on Earth), it is not something with which Faust or his fictionalizations have been accused.

Question by player OddballJunior

Answer: Persuade

You could make an offer difficult for them to refuse. Or you could persuade them to do something they didn't want to do. According to https://grammarist.com, the phrase originated in the first half of the twentieth century. The phrase actually means using physical force by twisting someone's arm to get a job done, but is now more commonly used in a metaphorical sense.

Question by player Lord_Digby

Answer: To run very fast

Australians tend to shorten multi-syllable words down to a single if they can. When a 15 minute test was introduced to diagnose COVID-19 in 2021, it did not take long for "Rapid Antigen Test" to become "RAT". Used in a sentence: "I was RAT negative today."
In the UK they are known as Lateral Flow Tests (5 syllables!), and in Malaysia they are called ART.

Question by player 1nn1

Answer: lots of work with very little reward

There are/were towns or neighbourhoods named Hardscrabble in Pennsylvania, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. They were doubtless named by people who found life there hard and not particularly rewarding. Hardscrabble means earning a living, with considerable difficulty, which meets only a minimal standard.


Question by player FatherSteve

Answer: King Arthur

King Arthur's horses Llamrei and Hengroen are mentioned in Welsh chronicles, Passelande appears in French sources.

Question by player genoveva

Answer: Canterbury

Archbishop Thomas Becket had been seven years in France for fear of Henry II. Upon his return, there was immediate conflict between the archbishop and the crown over more than a few matters. Acting on what they believed to be the King's orders, four knights killed Becket in his cathedral church at Canterbury in December of 1170.


Question by player FatherSteve

Answer: A protective covering for the thumb of a tailor

"Fiddle" can indeed be used to refer to a violin or even as a verb for playing a violin. It can also be used as a verb for cheating someone, as in "He fiddled with the books so that he could embezzle the funds." Finally, it can mean to be unable to sit still out of nervousness or restlessness.

The word that means "a protective covering for the thumb of a tailor" is "thimble". As to the origins of the word "fiddle", it may have come from the Medieval Latin "vitula" for "stringed instrument", which is in turn likely related to Latin "vitularia" for "celebrate joyfully".

Question by player shuehorn

Answer: Aitch

The fact that the letter "aitch" can also be pronounced "haitch" can be a real bugbear to some.

Now, let's consider unnecessary apostrophes...

Question by player Dreamcoat