Every Picture Tells a Story #1 Quiz

Answer: Sign language

Sign language is a method of communicating with bodily gestures and facial expressions rather than with vocal patterns. Used by the deaf as a principle form of communication, it's something many of us practice every day with a wave of a hand to a friend, showing the palm of your hand to indicate a desire for silence, etc., to communicate with others without words.

Socrates wrote of a sign language used by the deaf back in the fifth century B.C., while American Sign Language was developed in the 19th century.

Answer: Doldrums

In a personal sense, to have the doldrums is to feel mentally listless, filled with ennui or a little depressed. The term was originally a maritime one denoting an area of ocean around the equator which frequently suffered from low winds. Sailing ships could be stranded in the doldrums without the requisite wind to move them along, perhaps for weeks, before the weather changed to push them to their destination.

Answer: Sitting Duck

A person who is seen as an easy target can be called a 'sitting duck' for an attack of some sort, be it physical, financial, sporting etc. The term originated from hunters in the early 20th century, as a duck sitting happily on a piece of ground was much easier to shoot than one in the air.

Answer: Cashier

The word 'cash' came to English speakers originally from Latin via the Old French 'case' or Italian 'cassa', both of which meant a protective box used to store something valuable rather than the contents of said box. I suppose that means the term 'cash box' is a bit redundant, doesn't it?

Answer: Sixes and Sevens

If you're at sixes and sevens, you're a bit confused, discombobulated, perhaps even a bit reckless.

There are a few ways to denote numbers. In this photo, I've written 6 and 7 in Arabic numbers, Roman numerals and Morse code. Six in International Morse Code is -.... while 7 is --... (two dashes, three dots).

How happy am I that I managed to use the word 'discombobulated' in a quiz?! ;-)

Answer: Bluestocking

The term 'bluestocking' goes back hundreds of years, possibly as far back as the 1400s. The fashionable elite wore stockings of black silk while the vast majority of the population wore blue stockings made of worsted wool. Women weren't destined for an education, their minds were to be satisfied by gentle arts such as embroidery. Some women fought this predestination and gathered to study literature, art, architecture and other subjects previously the domain of men. A formal society of bluestockings was first founded in the mid-18th century in England. Interestingly, while the term is generally associated with women these days, many men were in bluestocking societies thanks to a love of learning.

The term has been seen at various times in history as complimentary or derogatory as attitudes to female education have changed. A bluestocking could have denoted a frumpy, unfeminine and self-important woman, or a woman with great beauty, intellect and interest depending on who was speaking and their view on the matter. These days the term often relates to schools or magazines with a feminist history or agenda.

Answer: Piping hot

How tempting it is to imagine the term 'piping hot' came from hot food being brought to the table at a grand castle while bagpipes played, or perhaps on board a ship with the meal being piped into the dining room in the manner of sailors being piped aboard ships.

The real origin is much more prosaic. Ever noticed how hot food, especially if encased in a pie dish for example, can 'whistle' as the steam escapes? That is the origin of 'piping hot'.

Answer: Man in the moon

If one looks at the moon with an artistic eye, one could imagine a face made up of the lighter and darker portions of the moon's surface. A little like seeing shapes in clouds, one could picture a human face imprinted on the moon.

The date in the question was the date man first landed on the moon. Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon on July 21st, with Buzz Aldrin following nineteen minutes later.

Answer: Nightmare

Many of us have suffered from a nightmare i.e. a horrifying dream, but the term has nothing to do with horses. The 'mare' portion of the term comes from 'mare', an Old English mythological term for the demon who afflicts humans with terrifying dreams.

Answer: Ham actors

I certainly didn't want to imply that any of the actors in the list are ham actors! Some of them are favourites of mine. I've certainly seen people in and out of creative roles hamming it up for whatever audience they can attract. The list of actors in the question have won over a dozen Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor Oscars in total.