In Sickness and in Health Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dog

The earliest use of the expression 'as sick as a dog' appears to date from the early years of the eighteenth century. Dogs have had a negative press in idioms, with expressions including 'dog in a manger', 'dog tired' and 'go to the dogs' all being less than flattering. You can also be 'as sick as a parrot', especially if you are a soccer player.

This expression is much used by sportsmen on the losing side, although they are, of course, 'over the moon' with joy if they have won.

Answer: Weather

Being 'under the weather' dates back to 1827 and is probably related to the belief that bad weather makes you ill, as in 'you'll catch your death of cold' if you go out in the rain. It may come from the days of sailing vessels when anyone feeling ill was kept below deck and sheltered from the elements. Something which is 'swept under the carpet' is an attempt to hide a problem rather than deal with it properly. If you are 'under a cloud' you are suspected of some misdeed and to be 'under the radar' is to be unnoticed.

Answer: Fiddle

This expression has been traced back to the seventeenth century. The meaning of 'fit' in the saying was not originally related to health but meant 'suitable' as in 'fit for its purpose'. Another expressions with the same meaning are 'fit as a butcher's dog', likely to be the best fed animal around, and 'fit as a flea'. Foxes are usually proverbially described as 'sly' or 'cunning' and you can be 'a fish out of water', when you are in a situation where you are not comfortable or 'drink like a fish' if you are too fond of alcohol. 'Flowery talk' refers to speeches which have little substance and a 'late bloomer' is someone who has success later in life.

Answer: Pink

The expression can be found in 'Romeo and Juliet', written by Shakespeare in 1597 when Mercutio describes himself as being 'the very pinke of curtesie'. At the time, the expression was not necessarily associated with health but meant to be the 'very best' as in the 'pinnacle' of something. To be in the pink of health means to be in the best possible condition. In the red means to be short of money while in the black means the exact opposite, with money in the bank. In the bag is an expression meaning something is as good as certain.

Answer: False

This expression has been around since the early twentieth century and seems to be purely an alliterative expression rather than having any real meaning. It has been argued that it relates to heavy rain falling straight down, at right angles to the ground, but this has not been substantiated.

Another expression which was used in English is 'right as ninepence', but this is less common following decimalisation of the British currency.

Answer: Below par

Although the expression sounds as if it should come from golf, there is an anomaly as a golf round which is under par is a good thing, not bad. One explanation is that 'par' is the normal standard, so something which is below par is less than the expected result.

This meaning seems to have its basis in finance, where 'par' refers to the face value of, say, a bond. Consequently, if it is traded 'below par' it is exchanged for less than its face value. To be 'in the bunker' and 'in the rough' can be used to describe being in a disadvantage position while 'on the green' is to be where you want to be.

They have no connection to health, although you could be described as 'feeling rough'.

Answer: Daisy

The expression is believed to come from the fact that the daisy opens in the morning and closes at night, thus ensuring a good night's rest. The name of the flower was originally 'day's eye' which reflects this attribute. The other flowers also feature in idioms. 'Everything is coming up roses' means that your plans are turning out well, and a 'shrinking violet' refers to someone who is shy. 'To gild the lily' means to add unnecessary adornment to something which is already beautiful in its natural state.

Answer: Gills

Humans don't actually have gills, which are the organs through which fish obtain oxygen. The use of gills to refer to people has been found in the sixteenth century, when 'to have someone by the gills' referred to being in control of that person. To be 'green about the gills' is often used to describe someone who is hungover or feeling nauseous. You can also be 'loaded to the gills', meaning to be drunk or full of alcohol or 'rosy about the gills' when you are looking well. Green eyes are used idiomatically to describe jealousy and to have 'green fingers' or a 'green thumb' means to be a successful gardener.

Answer: Apple

The expression 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' appears to have originated as a Welsh saying, with phrases.org.uk attributing it to the region of Pembrokeshire. Apples are good for you, as they contain vitamin C, can reduce cholesterol, help keep your teeth clean and may even give some protection against Alzheimer's Disease. Cherries feature in the expressions 'to cherry pick', as in choosing the best and 'a second bite of the cherry', which refers to having a second opportunity to achieve something. Oranges make an appearance in idiom in the expression 'to compare apples and oranges', meaning to compare two things which are unrelated. Bananas come up in the saying 'go bananas', meaning to lose control or in 'a banana skin', which can refer to an unforeseen difficulty which trips you up.

Answer: Bucket

The most likely explanation of the origin of the phrase 'to kick the bucket' is that bucket is a corruption of the French word trebuchet, meaning a beam. Items could be hung from it, including a gibbet, and Shakespeare uses the expression of 'gibbets on the Brewers Bucket' in 'Henry IV, Part II'.

The other options can all be linked to kicking too. 'Kicking the cat' refers to taking out your frustrations on the nearest available person, such as a passing cat and a 'kick in the teeth' means to be treated badly. To 'kick up ones heels' is to have a good time, especially after a period of confinement or hard work. Of course, if you 'turn up your toes' or are 'pushing up daisies' you can also be said to have 'kicked the bucket'.