Book of Proverbs Trivia Quiz

Answer: A bird

Who even thought ...'you know what? If I hold onto this ostrich, it's worth the same as two ostriches out in a bush somewhere.' It makes more sense when you recognize the proverb as 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush'.

What does it all mean? Well, if you happen to have something, it's better to keep a steady hold on what you have rather than gamble to get more. Although this phrase is most commonly used in English-speaking nations, it's derived from a Latin phrase meaning virtually the same thing. Hold onto those ostriches!

Answer: An apple

This image, perhaps, shows that PC users are more likely to become ill, thus requiring more medical attention than usual. Of course, with a MacBook Pro you're more likely to be healthy. It's just common sense.

The proverb at hand would be 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away', a phrase derived from UK origins. It's meant to be taken literally-- an apple a day will make you healthier. Recent studies show that other fruits (berries specifically) may be better for you, but the Vitamin C of an apple will definitely contribute to better all-around health.

Oh...and if you keep getting a lemon a day, make lemonade with them (after all, life handed them to you).

Answer: Silver

That can't possibly be true. If every cloud had a silver lining, it would rain forks and knives. We'd need lead umbrellas.

This book seems to have gotten the phrase 'every cloud has a silver lining' a bit wrong. If a metaphorical cloud has a silver lining, it means that there's always an ounce of good to be taken from a bad situation. For example, it may rain spoons if the clouds are lined with sterling silverware, but at least you'll never need to purchase utensils. The phrase originated in a work by John Milton in the seventeenth century.

Answer: The present

You know what? Finally I understand a proverb -- I love receiving presents!

If there's 'no time like the present', someone is implying that things might as well be accomplished immediately; why waste time for something that can be done now? This proverb is typically an English one, but it certainly speaks to a universal crowd. Who's not impatient? Speaking of which, turn the page!

Answer: Well

Somehow I think that Shakespeare never intended to write a play about a water well. Then again, if he initially planned to write about a well he didn't do a good job. In that case, none started nor ended well.

If 'all's well that ends well', then something that could have originally been ill-fated ended up being a worthwhile venture provided the result was a success. In other words, if something works out, then the idea was a good one. Shakespeare wrote a play with this title in the early seventeenth century. It ended alright.

Answer: Credit

In other words, if it comes time to pay the bill, use Visa or Mastercard.
Not really.

If you're 'giving credit where credit's due', you're congratulating or commending someone for work and effort they've put forth. This phrase comes from Biblical times -- Romans 13:7 stated "Give everyone what you owe him". That's pretty much it. You have to hand it to the makers of this proverb book -- they deserve all the credit for making these proverbs difficult to interpret.

Answer: The iron

UH...this one here was clearly a miscommunication. If you're striking while your household iron is hot, you're probably committing a violent crime. This one should be much simpler.

If you 'strike while the iron is hot', you take the reins of a situation when it's available and to your advantage. Striking something when the iron is hot refers to blacksmithing. If the iron is hot you're able to forge new items. The proverb was used by several authors of the past (including Scott and Chaucer). To be fair, it'd probably be striking while the iron is hot to toss this book of proverbs into the trash...at least while I have it.

Answer: The cart

Suffice to say the author of this book expects us to bring our horse to the supermarket. For those of us who are sane, there's probably something to be said for doing this on the farm. If you 'put the cart before the horse', you're wasting no time in doing things the wrong way. In other words, the goal is not to do it -- you wouldn't want to pull a horse using a cart, would you?

Amongst other things you shouldn't do to a horse are 'look a gift horse in the mouth' and 'lead a horse to water and expect it to drink'. Doing both of those things would be foolish...just like this book of proverbs.

Answer: Flow

If you were to go with the bathwater, you might as well follow the baby out with it. If you 'throw the baby out with the bathwater' you end up being unable to overlook the bad aspects of something. If you happen to 'go with the flow', however, you tend to coast along, taking things as they come and remaining unwavering.

The phrase 'go with the flow' has become more famous over time -- in the late twentieth century it started appearing in common vernacular and even became a song title on several occasions (Queens of the Stone Age, for example, used the phrase).

Answer: Ear

I hope you've hollowed out that ear of corn -- otherwise what people are saying might get retained.

Wait...what?

If something 'goes in one ear and out the other', you're clearly not retaining it. This phenomenon usually happens between spouses or in parent-teenager relationships and usually results in someone saying "you just don't get it." Listening tends to be important; this is why another proverb is 'To appear wise, one must talk; to be wise, one must listen.'

Who wants corn?