Wordwise II 16 Trivia Quiz

Answer: set in stone

When something is set in stone, it means that something has been determined and it is very difficult to overturn. The origin of this idiom may have come from the book of Exodus, where God gives Moses two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments inscribed on them.

Answer: write down

You might want to write down something in order to remember it in the future. An example is when you are talking to a customer service agent on the phone, and they give you a confirmation number. Perhaps you might write something down in a journal or diary.

Answer: get into hot water

If you are in trouble, then you might be in hot water. This idiom dates back to the 14th century when people would use a pan or bucket with scalding hot water to throw on intruders in order to get them to return to from where they came.

Answer: feel under the weather

Gales, sun, and rain all have to do with the weather; a gale is a strong wind, the sun is the only star in our solar system and provides Earth with heat, and rain is precipitation that falls from the sky. To feel under the weather means that you are not in optimal condition; perhaps you are sick or just in a low mood.

The idiom comes from sailors who would go under the deck to rest when they were feeling ill.

Answer: sail before the wind

There are several options for this one. To sail before the wind means to easily accomplish something. To sail close to, or with, or into the wind means to do something that is morally or ethically questionable. To sail against the wind means to strive to accomplish something that is frowned upon and met with opposition.

Answer: Beat around the bush

To beat around the bush means to avoid talking about an unpleasant or difficult situation or circumstance, thus failing to reach the point of the topic. This idiom dates back to the medieval ages when hunters would have people hit around the area of bushes with sticks in order to drive out animals to be captured.

Answer: break a leg

When someone tells you to "break a leg," they are wishing you luck. The term is often used in theatre, as simply saying "good luck" before an actor takes the stage. You might have heard that the origin of this idiom comes from John Wilkes Booth breaking his leg after shooting Abraham Lincoln, but there is dispute regarding the validity of that claim.

Answer: bit by bit

Little by little, step by step, or bit by bit means to gradually accumulate in stages. If you've ever had a car payment or a house mortgage, you will chip away at the outstanding balance bit by bit until you have paid in full.

Answer: second wind

When you catch a second wind, you are able to continue a difficult task that has hindered you once you have had time to rest or collect your thoughts; there is a rejuvenation that takes place physically or mentally that allows you to push forward. The idiom has been a popular saying since the 19th century.

Answer: icing on the cake

When something is "icing on the cake," it means that there is an added, albeit unnecessary feature to something that would have been satisfied without said feature. A literal example of this is the invention of cake icing which dates back to the 17th century. People had enjoyed eating cake without icing for hundreds of years, but when icing was popularized, it made the cake even more enjoyable.