Spoonerisms, Alphabetically: Part One Quiz

Answer: Automatic

Motto Attic = Automatic

"Spoonerisms" were named after William Archibald Spooner, an English clergyman from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who was known for his unintentional plays on words, alleged or otherwise.

Answer: Black and White

Whack and Blight = Black and White

Black and white, or monochromatic, photography as well as television was the norm until the mid-20th century. I have used black and white for my own amateur photography. However, if color's your cup of tea, you may be interested to know that the first permanent color photograph was taken in 1861 by James Clerk Maxwell.

Answer: Chest of Drawers

Dressed of Chores = Chest of Drawers

One quotation attributed to the aforementioned Spooner, though with questionable authenticity, is: "Mardon me, Padam, but this pie is occupewed - may I sew you to another sheet?" Although some spoonerisms are indeed natural slips of the tongue, I highly doubt that this one was ever said by sheer accident.

Answer: Denmark

Men Dark = Denmark

Denmark is a Scandinavian country, located in northern Europe. It is Europe's oldest monarchy.

Answer: Eight Ball

Bait All = Eight Ball

The number eight ball is easily recognized by its usual black coloring. But as I know nothing about the games of pool, billiards, or eight ball, I shall not attempt to tell you anything interesting about them.

Answer: Floor Wax

War Flax = Floor Wax

Really, what can one say about floor wax? So instead, I will discuss the wonders of flax. It is the national flower of Belarus; is grown for seeds (which are also known as linseed) as well as fibers, such as are used to make linen; and has possible medicinal uses.

Answer: Ground Beef

Bound Grief = Ground Beef

Ground beef is the meat used to make the delicious hamburger. The name "hamburger" comes from Hamburg steak, called such after the city of Hamburg, Germany.

Answer: Hallway

Wall Hay = Hallway

Another kind of wordplay, related to Spoonerisms, are malapropisms, which involve replacing one word with a word that sounds similar, but has an entirely different meaning. I.E.: "Good punctuation means not to be late."

Answer: Indigo

Den Ago = Indigo

In times past, natural indigo dye would be extracted from plants, and also from Phoenician sea snails. Nowadays, synthetic indigo dyes are used to color such objects as denim for blue jeans.

Answer: Jack of all Trades

Track of all Jades = Jack of all Trades

A Jack of all trades is one who has skills in many different fields, without specializing in any specific one. Many centuries ago when the phrase originated, "Jack" was a generic term for man. A longer version of phrase reads: "Jack of all trades, master of none, though oftimes better than master of one." This, depending on your point of view, can be a positive thing or have negative connotations.