Laying It On The Line! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Frank

As a synonym of "laying it on the line", "frank" is used as an adjective meaning "direct and unreserved in speech", which is what someone is when they are laying it on the line. As an adjective, the word comes from the Old French "franc", which means "free and without hindrance". As a verb, meaning "marking a letter of the usual postage charge", it comes from the French "affranchir", which means "to free". It also has many other meanings; as a capitalised noun it can be "a member of a Germanic group that settled in Gaul" (from the Latin "francus"), or a "sausage" (American slang).

Synonyms of "frank" include "familiar", "open", and "like it is"; antonyms are "lying", "meek", and "vague".

Answer: Blunt

As a synonym of "laying it on the line", "blunt" is used as an adjective meaning "abrupt in manner". It can also mean, however, "obtuse" or "rounded". As a verb it means "to weaken" or "make dull", and as a noun it can describe "something that is blunt". As an adjective it is thought that "blunt" derives either from the Old Norse "blundra", which means "to shut one's eyes", or the Old English "blinnan", for "to stop" or "cease".

Synonyms for "blunt" include "dulled", "insensitive", and "unsharpened" and antonyms are "polite" and "subtle".

Answer: Candid

As a synonym of "laying it on the line", the word "candid" is used as an adjective, meaning "outspoken", "straightforward", "unposed", or "honest". Using "candid" as a noun implies its meaning as an "unposed photograph". It is derived from the Latin, "candidus", which means "shining white".

Other synonyms of "candid" include "sincere", "equal", and "genuine"; antonyms include "biased", "untruthful", and "lying".

Answer: Direct

The word "direct" has many meanings and can be used in many ways. As it relates to being a synonym to "laying it on the line", it is used as a verb with a direct object, meaning "to manage, regulate, administer, guide, or point"; as a verb without a direct object it means "to act as a guide" or "to give orders". As an adjective, it means "straight, lineal, absolute, or verbatim". All are derived from the Latin "directus", meaning "straight".

Other synonyms include "bald", "open", and "talk turkey"; among its antonyms are "deceitful", "dishonest", and "vague".

Answer: Vocal

The word vocal, a synonym of "laying it on the line" can be used as either a noun, from the Latin "vox" or "voice" or an adjective, which comes from the Latin "vocalis", meaning "sounding" or "speaking".

Antonyms include "quiet", "modest", and "shy", while some synonyms are "singing", "sung", and "said".

Answer: Shy

An antonym of "laying it on the line", in this usage "shy" is used as an adjective. It, however, is also used to describe someone who is "bashful" or "easily frightened". As a verb it means to "recoil" or "draw back". Originally from the Old English "sceoh" as in "timid" or "easily startled", "short of a full amount" originated in 1895 in American gambling slang.

Some synonyms of shy include "afraid", "humble", and "timid", while antonyms are "bold", "calm", and "eager".

Answer: Reserved

Another antonym of "laying it on the line", reserved is derived as both a noun and adjective from the Latin "reservare" for "keep back" or "save up". As a noun its use dates from the early 1600s, and can relate to finances, as in "cash held for an emergency", a "tract of land set aside for a special purpose", and a "military force held in readiness". Used as a verb, as "kept by special arrangement for someone", or "to book" has been in use since the 1930s.

Synonyms of "reserved" include "placid", "aloof", and "icy"; antonyms are "bold", "excited", and "friendly".

Answer: Devious

Used as an antonym of "laying it on the line" in this clue, "devious" is derived from the Latin, for "out of the way" or "remote". It is also used as an adjective, but has several meanings, including "roundabout", "shifty", or "crooked".

Synonyms include "sneaky", "indirect", and "sly", while antonyms are "fair", "naive", and "truthful".

Answer: Diplomatic

A synonym of "laying it on the line", "diplomatic" is originally derived from the Greek and Latin "diploma", meaning "license" or "chart". In the 1700s, the word word "diplomatique" came to mean "pertaining to international relations". Used as an adjective is can mean "tactful" or "skilled in dealing with difficult matters or people".

Synonyms include "polite", "clever", and "conniving", while antonyms are "impolite" or "rude".

Answer: Square

As a synonym for "laying it on the line", the word "square" is used as an adverb, meaning "directly" or "straightforwardly". In the clue it is used as a noun, however, as a noun it can also denote "a plaza in a town or city". It can also be used as a verb, "to settle" or "agree", and an adjective, as in "formed by a right angle". As used in the clue it originates from the Latin "quadrare", meaning to "make square" or , "set in order"; as an adverb its use in the 1500s was derived from the French "esquarre" as in "honest" and "fair".

Synonyms for "square" include "equal", "even", and "just"; antonyms are "biased", "fake", and "unequal".