More Wordwise Trivia Quiz

Answer: Aback

If you have been taken aback, you have reacted with surprise at some unexpected event or news, not just by raised eyebrows or facial expression, but perhaps by even an entire body movement backwards. The origin of this expression comes from the nautical world when the sails of a ship were said to be blown "aback" against the masts in a strong wind.

Answer: The seven year itch

Supposedly meaning the feeling of restlessness that comes over a couple after that period of time in a marriage, this saying originally meant something that was very annoying. And that, in turn, was based on an old contagious skin condition in the United States that was said to last for seven years. Bacterial in nature, it consisted of itchy, red pimples that spread over the body. You'll be pleased to know though that this is easily treated today.

It was also known as "camp itch" or "army itch", and was spread by the close contact of soldiers with one another during training or in battle.

This often resulted in everyday citizens going out of their way to avoid any soldier coming down the street towards them.

Answer: A shot across the bows

If you have received a shot across the bows today, you have been warned to stop what you are doing, or that there's danger heading your way. You then proceed at your risk. This is another nautical term, one that was used in forthcoming battles at sea. If one ship fired a shot across the bows of an enemy vessel, it was to let them know that the first ship was prepared to do battle.

The enemy ship then had the choice to engage in that battle, or hoist the white flag to concede surrender.

Answer: Right

Related to the retail trade from the beginning of the 20th century, this term is still pretty much associated with that field today. In theory if not in practice, at any rate. It was a slogan particularly associated with the late 19th century Marshall Field's store in Chicago (now Macy's), and Harry Gordon Selfridge's business in London. Meant to assure any potential customers that their interests are always placed ahead of those of the business, this really was the case back then. With many businesses today, however, it appears to be more a case of "caveat emptor" instead.

Answer: A shrinking violet

A shrinking violet is someone who is very timid and shy and who avoids the limelight as much as possible. Related to the demure little violet and pansy plants, this expression was introduced by poet Leigh Hunt, a friend of the English romantic poets Percy Bysshe Shelley and John Keats. Like all the romantic poets, these writers loved to wander over hill and dale exploring and delighting in nature. Of this dainty bloom, Hunt wrote in the poetry magazine "The Indicator" following one such wander that he spied a "...buttercup, struggling from a white to yellow; and a faint-coloured poppy; and here and there by the thorny underwood a shrinking violet...".

Answer: Lining

"Every cloud has a silver lining" is meant to assure us that, even if we are overcome by the darkest despair following some tragic event or negative happening in life, we should remember that some good will eventually result from same. We can thank the famous English writer John Milton (1608-1674) for this somewhat Pollyanna-like piece of advice.

It appears in his 1634 work "Comus", and, in truth, this is usually the case when viewed retrospectively. It is akin to the biblical advice that God never closes one door without opening another.

Answer: Top dog

The top dog in any field of endeavour, public or private, is the leading figure of same - the chief, the leader, the spokesman, the big cheese, or any other such term that describes the person at the top. This term can also refer to the victor in any engagement or sport or battle. One possible origin of this expression rests in the old manual work of sawing planks. Carried out by two men, the senior of the two usually had his grip on the top handle and stood at a higher position, while the junior was positioned at the less comfortable lower position, with his grasp on the lower part of the saw. The iron clamps that held the wood firm were known as dogs. It's difficult to find written proof of that explanation though.

Another more modern, and uglier, explanation rests in the illegal and despicable "sport" of dog fighting, where two brutalised animals are starved, ill-treated and beaten - and then set free in a ring to tear each other to shreds, while the delighted animal-loving souls who attend such events take bets on the likely winner. Who are the top dogs there? The poor animals ripping each other to pieces below? Or the absolutely loathsome spectators above who encourage such revoltingly cruel events?

Answer: A turn of phrase

A turn of phrase is a distinctive way of expressing something, either vocally or in writing. America's Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) appears to be the first person to use this exact terminology, along with many others of its kind. It appears in his 1779 "Letters" during which he is recommending an updated version of the Bible into the common language of the day.

In this, and so far ahead of his time, he states "A new version (of the Bible), in which, preserving the sense, the turn of phrase and manner of expression should be modern".

The danger of course in doing that willy-nilly (a turn of phrase for you) is losing the original meaning of any phrasing, but as the Bible had already been translated several times over by that time, this had probably already occurred.

A little like Chinese Whispers really.

Answer: Change

A sea change is a radical switch in any form of lifestyle. This could mean relocating to an entirely new climate altogether on retirement, or a complete change of diet following a health scare, or a totally new manner of doing business - anything really, and all relative to the person or people involved. One early written record of this term occurs in Shakespeare's "The Tempest" in which he has Ariel singing of someone's death that "...Nothing of him that doth fade, But doth suffer a sea-change, Into something rich and strange".

The thought occurs that death is a sea change with a vengeance.

Answer: Separate the sheep from the goats

Separating the sheep from the goats is a term that means the same as separating the wheat from the chaff. Originally, this Biblical phrase meant to place the sinners and those who followed the word of the Lord into two distinct categories - in time for judgement. An alarming thought indeed. Today it can be applied to other categories as well, such as placing expert sportspeople into a higher grade than those not so skilled.

Although you wouldn't refer to either group as sheep OR goats without risking a black eye, that is a very general example of this saying in action.