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In a Manner of Speaking Trivia Quiz

These cliches and idioms are used very frequently - but do you actually know what they mean?

A multiple-choice quiz by mcsheffrey19. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
mcsheffrey19

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
316,819

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Very Easy

Avg Score
9 / 10

Plays
2789

Last 3 plays: Drplumber (8/10), Lenny2003 (10/10), OldTowneMal (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What does 'as the crow flies' mean? Hint

A description for a straight road

The way in which a crow flies

The shortest distance between two points

Comparing how crows fly to how other birds do

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Question 2 of 10

2. What does 'paint the town red' mean? Hint

Vandalise the buildings in the town

Go out and enjoy yourself

Paint the outside of your house red

Have a very violent fight

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Question 3 of 10

3. What does 'it's raining cats and dogs' mean? Hint

Rain which seems to make noises like dogs barking and cats meowing

The area is overrun with cats and dogs

It's raining very heavily

Through a freak weather event, it is actually raining cats and dogs

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Question 4 of 10

4. What does 'at the eleventh hour' mean? Hint

At 11 o'clock

At the last minute

After you have been awake for eleven hours

When it is too late

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Question 5 of 10

5. What does 'jump the gun' mean? Hint

Do something that you should never do

Jump over a gun

Start doing something before you should

Shoot someone

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Question 6 of 10

6. What does 'let sleeping dogs lie' mean? Hint

Never wake a sleeping dog

Dogs cannot be trusted to be truthful

Dogs should not be made to sleep standing up

Leave things as they are

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Question 7 of 10

7. What does 'to wear your welcome out' mean? Hint

To make your host extremely tired

To stay for longer than the host wishes

To wear a welcome (item of clothing) outside

To stay so long in one place that you are late for your next appointment

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Question 8 of 10

8. What does 'wet behind the ears' mean? Hint

Stupid

Covered in water

Naive or inexperienced

Keen to do something

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Question 9 of 10

9. What does 'don't let the cat out of the bag' mean? Hint

Cats should not be carried in bags

Don't disclose a secret

Don't let anyone see that there is a cat in the bag

Don't be a telltale

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Question 10 of 10

10. What is a 'pop quiz' to a North American student? Hint

A written quiz

A quiz on pop music

A surprise test

A quiz that is very popular

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 08 2024 : Drplumber: 8/10
Dec 08 2024 : Lenny2003: 10/10
Dec 08 2024 : OldTowneMal: 10/10
Dec 08 2024 : fullerw: 10/10
Dec 08 2024 : serpa: 9/10
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Dec 04 2024 : Melokia56: 10/10
Dec 04 2024 : HarrietTB: 10/10
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Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What does 'as the crow flies' mean?

Answer: The shortest distance between two points

This phrase is thought to have been in use since 1800 and that it originated in Pennsylvania.

2. What does 'paint the town red' mean?

Answer: Go out and enjoy yourself

The meaning of this phrase has changed over time. Nowadays it means to go out and enjoy yourself, whereas in the mid 1800s when this phrase started to be used, it meant to 'engage in a riotous spree'.

3. What does 'it's raining cats and dogs' mean?

Answer: It's raining very heavily

There is no definitive origin to this idiom - one possibility is that cats and dogs were washed from the roofs in very bad weather.

4. What does 'at the eleventh hour' mean?

Answer: At the last minute

This expression may come from the Bible, referring to the story (Mark 20:9) of the labourers who were hired only for the last hour of the working day, but received the same pay as those who had worked all day. However, the link is not clearcut, and is disputed by some authorities.

5. What does 'jump the gun' mean?

Answer: Start doing something before you should

This phrase has been used since the early 20th century and refers to athletes making false starts.

6. What does 'let sleeping dogs lie' mean?

Answer: Leave things as they are

This phrase originates in 1380 and was coined by Chaucer.

7. What does 'to wear your welcome out' mean?

Answer: To stay for longer than the host wishes

Hopefully you will always know the right time to leave so that you will be welcomed back in future!

8. What does 'wet behind the ears' mean?

Answer: Naive or inexperienced

This phrase began circulating the USA in the early 20th century - it referred to the inexperience of a baby. The opposite phrase - dry behind the ears - was circulating at the same time and was used to express the idea that someone was mature.

9. What does 'don't let the cat out of the bag' mean?

Answer: Don't disclose a secret

This phrase dates back to the Middle Ages where markets were held to sell livestock. The purchaser would pick the animal that they desired and the merchant would put it in a bag for them to carry home. Sometimes however, in order to save themselves some money, the merchants would put an animal like a cat (one which is readily available) in the bag instead without the purchaser seeing.

This plan would only work if the purchaser did not open the bag until they got home, by which time it would be too late.

10. What is a 'pop quiz' to a North American student?

Answer: A surprise test

Though not necessarily an idiom, this is something that all high school students should know the meaning of!

Source: Author mcsheffrey19

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LadyCaitriona before going online.
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