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I Lurk Therefore I am Trivia Quiz

Lurk - it certainly is an interesting word. Urban Dictionary.com alone has 27 definitions for the word. This quiz will look at various synonyms for lurk and what they teach us about the word.

A multiple-choice quiz by tazman6619. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
tazman6619

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
322,647

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1254

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. One of the synonyms for the word ambush is lurking. Ambush itself is part of one of the definitions of lurk. Which of the following is NOT a synonym for ambush? Hint

Waylay

Ambuscade

Shanghai

Bushwhack

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Question 2 of 10

2. One of the more intriguing synonyms for lurk is gumshoe. Gumshoe can be either a noun or a verb. As a noun it has become slang for a detective or private investigator. Of the following four possibilities, which one is the MOST likely explanation as to how this came about? Hint

It comes from a type of shoe made from gum rubber that allowed for quieter walking than the shoes of the day.

It comes from the fact that where detectives walked were dirty streets where they got gum on their shoes.

It is related to the term "flatfoot" used for police officers and comes from the fact they are walking around all day.

It comes from the fact that once a detective gets onto something you can't get him off, he is stuck to it like gum on a shoe.

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Question 3 of 10

3. Creep is the next synonym for lurk. It implies stealthy, slow movement meant to elude detection. Three of the following are synonyms for creep, which one is NOT? Hint

Inch

Alienate

Insinuate

Skulk

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Question 4 of 10

4. One form of lurk is lurker. Which of these has NEVER been a definition for lurker? Hint

A member of a 1970s punk rock group

Someone waiting in concealment

A small fishing boat

A person who stands around openly watching others

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Question 5 of 10

5. Snoopy is a famous cartoon dog from "Peanuts" and brings us to our next synonym of lurk - snoop. Snooping goes beyond mere watching or waiting to actually looking for information. Of the following which one is NOT an antonym of snoop? Hint

Ignore

Meddle

Neglect

Leave Alone

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Question 6 of 10

6. A Slinky is a toy from my childhood and it reminds me of the next synonym for lurk - slink. The connotation of slink is more of a negative motivation for the action. Of the following, which is NOT a synonym for slink? Hint

Skitter

Glissade

Prowl

Erect

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Question 7 of 10

7. Lurking is an interesting form of the word lurk. Which one of the following four definitions is NOT a definition of lurking? Hint

To read but not contribute to the discussion in a newsgroup, chatroom, or other online forum.

To lie in wait, as in ambush.

To move about in the open.

To exist unobserved or unsuspected.

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Question 8 of 10

8. The Plymouth Prowler was one mean-looking sports car and it brings us to our next synonym for lurk - prowl. Prowl denotes searching for something of value, food for example. Of the four choices below, which one is NOT a synonym for prowl? Hint

Hunt

Scavenge

Roam

Rush

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Question 9 of 10

9. Another synonym for lurk is conceal. It connotes hiding or keeping something secret. Which of the following is NOT an antonym for conceal? Hint

Divulge

Mascara

Disclose

Reveal

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Question 10 of 10

10. As a child I almost exclusively wore sneakers, which reminds me of the last synonym for lurk - sneak. Which one of the answers below is NOT a synonym of sneak? Hint

Delude

Spirit

Evade

Divulge

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. One of the synonyms for the word ambush is lurking. Ambush itself is part of one of the definitions of lurk. Which of the following is NOT a synonym for ambush?

Answer: Shanghai

Shanghai is a synonym for kidnap, not ambush. Although both shanghai and ambush may come about through sneaky means, their intent and results are different. Ambuscade as a noun means an ambush and as a verb to lie in ambush. Waylay is a verb meaning to attack from hiding.

In this context, bushwhacking/bushwhacker comes from the American Civil War and was used as a term to describe the hit and run tactics of guerrilla fighters. Bushwhack grew out of that. (Source: Wikipedia)

Answer: It comes from a type of shoe made from gum rubber that allowed for quieter walking than the shoes of the day.

The consensus of most sources is that the relation to gum rubber shoes that allowed for quiet travel is the most probable etymology. In the 1800s gumshoes were shoes or boots made of gum rubber, the forerunners of modern sneakers. Around the turn of the century the term began to be used for sneaking around either to rob or oppositely to catch thieves.

At first it was "Gumshoe man" then shortened to "gumshoe". Over time it came to be applied almost exclusively to detectives, not criminals. (Sources: The Word Detective, Cool Words, Private Investigator's Mall message board)

3. Creep is the next synonym for lurk. It implies stealthy, slow movement meant to elude detection. Three of the following are synonyms for creep, which one is NOT?

Answer: Alienate

Alienate is an antonym for creep, the other three are legitimate synonyms. Creep can be both a noun and a verb. As a noun it takes on a more derisive connotation of someone who does not fit in. Creepy normally denotes something that inspires fear or disgust. "The creeps" come from this idea of the word and means the sensation that is caused by something creepy. Creep in the context of creepy takes lurk to a darker side.

4. One form of lurk is lurker. Which of these has NEVER been a definition for lurker?

Answer: A person who stands around openly watching others

A person who stands around openly watching others is actually more the antithesis of lurker and therefore has never been a definition of it. The Lurkers are an English punk rock band that formed in the 1970s. They had moderate success and are still active today. Lurker used to mean a small fishing boat comes from the 1913 edition of the "Merriam-Webster Dictionary".

Answer: Meddle

Meddle is an accepted synonym for snoop, the rest are antonyms. Snoopy, as the name of Charlie Brown's dog, actually has no relation to the word snoop. It is instead an affectionate Norwegian term. Snoop probably comes from the Dutch snoepen meaning to pry or snappen to bite, snatch as in eat in private. Snoop is lurk carried to a higher degree of activity. (Source: Online Etymology Dictionary)

Answer: Erect

Erect is not a synonym for slink. Slink carries with it the idea of movement caused by fear, cowardice or shame. It also can mean moving in a provocative manner. It is probably one of the closer synonyms to lurk in intent and meaning. It however does usually mean to move away from the object rather than to follow or watch the object as you would if you were lurking.

7. Lurking is an interesting form of the word lurk. Which one of the following four definitions is NOT a definition of lurking?

Answer: To move about in the open.

Lurking does not mean to move about in the open. It can mean to lie in wait or exist unobserved: as in danger lurking around every corner. With the advent of the Internet is has come to mean a person who reads but does not contribute to chatrooms, message boards, etc.

Answer: Rush

Rush is an antonym of prowl while the other three are acceptable synonyms. Prowl takes lurking to a new level in that there is an intent behind it, to find something. Prowl takes lurk more towards its meaning of lying in ambush rather than just mindless following.

9. Another synonym for lurk is conceal. It connotes hiding or keeping something secret. Which of the following is NOT an antonym for conceal?

Answer: Mascara

Mascara is not a antonym for conceal, the other three are legitimate antonyms. Mascara is a cosmetic for eyelashes and eyebrows. Mascara comes from mask and both mask and masquerade are synonyms for conceal but mascara is neither a synonym or an antonym of conceal.

Although cosmetics may be used to cover/hide things, they are usually thought of in the more positive sense of beautifying not hiding. Disclose, divulge, and reveal are all related to exposing something, rather than hiding it.

10. As a child I almost exclusively wore sneakers, which reminds me of the last synonym for lurk - sneak. Which one of the answers below is NOT a synonym of sneak?

Answer: Divulge

Divulge is not a synonym for sneak, the other three are. Divulge means to reveal or disclose. The term sneakers can be traced back all the way to 1895 and sneak goes back to 1862 in relation to a type of shoe. The other three all have elements of deception or secrecy. Delude means to deceive or mislead and like sneak is considered underhanded. Evade means to escape by trickery.

In this context, spirit means to carry off mysteriously or secretly. As a synonym of lurk, sneak brings out the more devious side of lurk.

Source: Author tazman6619

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LadyCaitriona before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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