TipToe Through the Two Lips Trivia Quiz

Answer: Actions speak louder than words

This basically means that anyone can brag all they like, or make all the promises under the sun, for example, but unless these are backed up by actions of some sort, or proof of what was said, then those words aren't worth much but a pile of hot air.

Answer: Enough is enough

This term could also be expressed as the straw that broke the camel's back. A person can only take so much being done to them, or said about them, for example, before taking swift and decisive action of some sort to put a halt to it.

Answer: First things first

When carrying out a new or different task, for example, there is always a set procedure to be followed to make sure that task is successful. Eggs have to be cracked open before their contents are put into a cake mix perhaps. Installing a new computer requires the set up steps to be followed in the order in which they're given in the instruction manual.

Answer: Pay peanuts get monkeys

If you're not prepared to pay a fair price for goods or services, but try to get those same goods or services by paying a lot lower price, then you should be prepared for those goods to be shoddy or faulty, or the service you paid for to be of a very poor quality.

Answer: Goes without saying

Some things are very obvious and hardly need words to be described. You wouldn't, for example, unless extremely intoxicated, dive headlong into an empty swimming pool.

Answer: All roads lead to Rome

Rome was such a huge and mighty empire at the height of its power that it ruled over a vast area of Europe, parts of the Middle East and Northern Africa. Everything ultimately led back to Rome, giving rise to the modern expression that "All roads lead to Rome".

This was based on the ancient saying "Mille viae ducunt homines per saecula Romam " which translated to "A thousand roads lead men forever to Rome". The first English translation of this saying is credited to the writer Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400).

This is found in his "Treatise on the Astrolabe" (1391) where he mentions that "Right as diverse pathes leden the folk the righte wey to Rome". In a broader sense, this saying means that though there may be different ways of doing things, the end result will usually be the same.

Answer: Life begins at forty

So they say. I'm still waiting. The basic meaning of this term is that by the time one has reached that age, a bit of wisdom has been gleaned through experience, and a whole lot of setbacks have also been met and hopefully learned from along the way. This has enabled most people of that age to learn how to cope with life in general with maturity and common sense, instead of each incident being looked upon as a world disaster. One can then relax and start enjoying life to the fullest. Personally I think that's a load of piffle. Everybody is different.

Some teenagers are far wiser in the ways of the world than people who are much older. Even small children can look on life with all the wisdom of the ages in their eyes.

Answer: Little strokes fell great oaks

This means that it can take time to reach long term goals, but if one keeps beavering away at them with endurance, patience and hard work, then those goals will be eventually reached.

Answer: Money speaks all languages

And it does. The darker meaning of this phrase is that people all over the world will do anything for some sort of reward. Perhaps a nicer interpretation is that there are some things that are common to all of us, no matter where we are.

Answer: Fair exchange is no robbery

This means that if you give somebody something concrete in exchange for something of equal value, then a fair deal has been made, and nobody has been short-changed. A fair day's work for a fair day's pay could be an example of this.