Wordwise Number 11 Trivia Quiz

Answer: A bun in the oven

To have a bun in the oven is a somewhat crude expression that describes a pregnant woman. Just as a cook bakes a bun in an oven, so a pregnant woman is said to be making a bub in her belly - an incredibly miraculous achievement you'll all agree. This term sprang into being in the 20th century and appears to have been first seen in print in Nicholas Montserrat's 1951 work, "The Cruel Sea" where one of the characters is referring to a pregnancy.

Answer: A Bunch of Fives

A bunch of fives is a term that describes a clenched fist (four fingers and a thumb) that is threatening to be delivered to an opponent in any type of heated argument. Surprisingly it's been around for almost 200 years now. One printed record of the expression appears in Charles Westmacott's 1825 novel, "The English Spy" where many "youkels" (sic) have been flattened by a bunch of fives.

Answer: A house divided against itself

"A house divided against itself" refers to any dissension or split in a formerly united group, which will ultimately bring that group down. The full term is "A house divided against itself cannot stand", but the shorter version is just as applicable. This expression comes down to us from the King James Bible in Matthew 12:25, where it is recorded that "And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand".

Answer: A load of cobblers

A load of cobblers is Cockney slang for any comment, law, or ruling etc that could be considered a pile of rubbish by an irreverent public. New regulations by the Public Service spring to mind here. This term is sufficient in itself to describe the above, but originally it was rather more vulgar than that and was a rhyming term that referred not to the poor old cobblers - but to awls, their tools. We'll spare you that, however.

Answer: A man after my own heart

A man (or woman) after my own heart describes anyone who is completely in agreement with one in every matter. You both think alike in any matter of importance. Politicians like to surround themselves with such people. They're also known as Yes Men. Once again, we can trace this term right back to the King James Bible, where it says in Acts 13:22 that "And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will".

Answer: Mile

"A miss is as good as a MILE" means that even the smallest miss or error may as well be a really big miss or error. They both fail to have delivered a desired outcome, or both result in the same disastrous outcome. A tiny hole in a dam, for example, can be just as deadly as a cannon ball sized one. Both can result in the dam bursting wide open.

The phrase seems to have first appeared in print in Britain in William Camden's 1605 work "Remaines of a Greater Worke Concerning Britaine" (Ye olde spelling as is) where we are told "An ynche in a misse is as good as an ell".

The ell in question was an old measurement of 45 inches back then.

Answer: A piece of the action

If anyone is claiming or interested in a piece of the action, that person wishes to take part, or share in whatever is going on or being offered. Although this term seems very Americanised in nature (gangster movies, for example), it dates back to the Netherlands and the early 1600s where the concept of Companies was coming into being, as opposed to small businesses.

When it was decided to set up a much larger business - a company - to invest in the profitable spice trade which was impacting on the world at the time, the people of the Netherlands were invited to buy into same. One of the company's founders came up with the term "actions" to describe the shares investors were given to certify that they were part of the new venture.

Answer: A pig in a poke

This term doesn't mean to poke an inoffensive pig in the ribs for no reason ("Oink!") but to be wary when buying anything too quickly without checking all the facts first. A "poke" was an old French word to describe a bag - to carry goods to market for example - and only a foolish buyer would buy that bag without first checking out its contents.

A little animal carried in a bag, wriggling indignantly to get out, could be described unseen as a small tasty piglet, but, without checking, could turn out to be the family cat instead. So, never buy a pig in a poke.

Answer: A plague on both your houses

"A plague on both your houses!" is an exasperated expression that could be used by anyone trying to solve an argument between two warring parties over any bone of contention, but without getting very far in the attempt. It comes down to us from Shakespeare's 1592 "Romeo and Juliet" where the warring of the families of the two dopey lovers in question resulted in the death of several people, including the young lovers themselves. Mercutio, Romeo's friend - who was dragged into a duel over the issues - was another victim.

As he dies in agony, he gasps in anger "A plague on both your houses!"

Answer: A sea change

When anything has undergone a sea change, it has undergone a great change in some way, in life style, or locations or belief structure, for example. Giving up a high powered job in the city to take up breeding chickens in the country would be looked upon as a sea change - that type of thing. And the origin of this term? Shakespeare once again.

In his 1610 work, "The Tempest", Shakespeare has Ariel rather grimly singing "Full fathom five thy father lies; Of his bones are coral made; Those are pearls that were his eyes: Nothing of him that doth fade But doth suffer a sea-change Into something rich and strange."