Forgotten 1800s' Idioms Trivia Quiz

Answer: beyond someone's mental reach

Idiom found in the Oakland, California, "Tribune" on Jan. 12, 1885. By the mid-1800s, "nut" was being used to mean a person's head, and around the same time it was decided that someone not quite right in the old noggin was "off his nut" or simply "nuts."

Example in modern usage: He set his nut too high for the open position which requires a degree in business management.

Answer: an undisputed fact

Printed in "Brooklyn Daily Eagle" of Jan. 31, 1871. "Fact" (the truth of the matter is; in reality; actually) has been associated with many idioms, although the word fact is solid in its definition, such as, face the facts, and that's a fact, or grounded in fact. In the 21st century, "bottom fact" could also mean "bottom line".

An example in modern usage: A 2016 bottom fact clearly defines real estate as a desired long-term investment.

Answer: to be beaten verbally yet soundly

Discovered print found in Plymouth, Indiana, "Weekly Democrat" of June 7, 1860, discussing Lincoln's campaign. In 1876, when a baseball team was shut out or didn't score, it was "Chicagoed." This term has been used in an article as recently as 2009, but referencing a hockey team.

Modern Usage of Idiom: The union officers were Chicagoed by disgruntled union members.

Answer: tell a clever lie

Can be found in the "Reminiscences of the Turf" by William Day, 1891. "Thumper" does appear in 16th-century slang as a synonym for a robber, which socially switched to mugger 300 years later according to "Crooked Talk".

Usage in modern day vocabulary: When it came to missing homework, Ashton was known to tell a thumper.

Answer: a big deal

Noted in the "Grant County Herald" in Wisconsin on July 17, 1847.
In 1851: We went on until the third or fourth set, and I thought I was some pumpkins at dancing (An Arkansaw Doctor, p.97).

Usage in modern day language: It was really some pumpkins to see the Dallas Cowboys make it to the Super Bowl after many years of not getting past the playoffs.

Answer: doing something unnecessarily

Reported in the Saint Paul, Minnesota, "Globe" of Nov. 20, 1882. "Colt" is also found in an 1800's idiom "to shoe the wild colt" - to be initiated. In 1500, "Colt's Tooth" referenced an elderly person who was fond of youthful pleasures or juvenile tastes - an allusion to a supposed desire to shed the teeth and see life over again.

Modern Day's usage of the idiom: His rant over tax dollars proved like Thompson's colt as it fell on deaf ears.

Answer: a real success

"That north show window of Shute & Haskell's is a 'lally-cooler,' " the Jan. 4, 1890, Salina, Kan., "Republican" noted. "Lally-Cooler" was also used to emphasize something as very stylish..."the ring-tailedest lally-cooler hotel in town."

In modern day usage: The Broadway musical "Wicked" has been a lally-cooler from day one.

Answer: inebriated

Found in the Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, "People's Press" of May 22, 1835.
"How Came You So" is listed as one of 306 ways to say one is drunk according to "Beerfest Boots". It is possible the term came from the inebriated being asked how they came to be intoxicated (i.e. how came you so to be so upset).

Modern day usage of this idiom: The judge inquired of the plaintiff's attorney how came you so to be standing before his courtroom.

Answer: to see the sights of a town, including the edgier ones

As written in the Lawrence, Kansas, "Daily Journal" reported on Sept. 2, 1891,
"Seeing the elephant" is an Americanism, which refers to gaining experience of the world at a significant cost. It was extremely popular around the 1850s.

Modern day usage: Unfortunately college freshmen are determined to see the elephant while on Spring Break.

Answer: moving about quickly, avoidance

Described in a Dallas, Texas, "Daily Herald" article on Oct. 31, 1877 - "It is shinning around corners to avoid meeting creditors that is sapping the energies of this generation". "Shin" was a term meaning to borrow money. "Shinning around" would be to move quickly to shun creditors.

Modern Day usage of this idiom: Lindsey Lohan is often shinning around to avoid taking responsibility as an adult.