An Idiom By Any Other Name Trivia Quiz

Answer: All fingers and thumbs

If someone is described as being "all fingers and thumbs", that person is usually exceptionally clumsy when handling anything, and the object tends to end up on the floor or completely broken.

Answer: A bitter pill

Having "a bitter pill" to swallow means having to face up to doing or accepting something very unpleasant, or having been told equally disturbing news. There is nothing enjoyable at all with what you have to deal with, but it has to be accepted.

Answer: An ace in the hole

Having "an ace in the hole" means having some hitherto unrevealed advantage in any given situation that hasn't as yet been played, but has been kept on standby to produce at the most advantageous time. An example of this could be a small stash of money that you have been squirreling away for emergencies, or a skill you haven't yet disclosed, or even a useful ally yet not brought into an endeavour of some kind.

Answer: An apple of discord

"An apple of discord" is some person, situation, or thing that is causing trouble, or dissent or difficulty in some way, usually on an ongoing basis. This idiom tends more to refer to a person, such as someone who is always complaining about one's cooking. Or someone who always wants to do the opposite of everyone else, or always has a negative comment, and so on.

Answer: At the drop of a hat

To be ready to do something "at the drop of a hat" means that a person is always immediately available for whatever has been asked of him or her, or that something can be achieved, or produced quickly and without any trouble. It is readily available and easily accessible.

Answer: Back to the drawing board

Going "back to the drawing board" means that something needs tweaking or reworking in some way, and this usually means having to go back to the beginning and starting out all over again. This is not necessarily a bad thing, and an even better product or production can be produced on the second or third, fourth or fifth time around.

Answer: The best of both worlds

Having "the best of both worlds" means being fortunate enough to be in some situation involving two equally favourable outcomes, or having nothing but a good result from whatever choice that is about to be made. An example of this could be choosing between two satisfying and highly paid jobs.

Answer: A cat nap

Cats are noted for their enviable ability to have little short naps whenever the lordly creatures please. Having "a cat nap" for us means to have a short and restful sleep at any time of the day. It's probably the most literal of all the idioms used in this quiz.

Answer: The cold shoulder

If you've been given "the cold shoulder" by anyone, you haven't been given a chilled side of beef, but have been ignored or rebuffed in some way by another person.

Answer: A couch potato

"A couch potato" is a lazybones who spends all day lazing about the house, usually sitting on the lounge with a drink in one hand and the television remote in the other, and without the incentive or initiative to do much of anything else at all.