Leaping Idiomatically Trivia Quiz

Answer: By leaps and bounds

To increase or improve by leaps and bounds means to show dramatic progress.
The words leap and bound both mean big jumps and using them together emphasizes rapid strides. Another idiom sometimes used in a similar context is quantum leap, which again means significant advances in technology or other fields.

Answer: Leap of faith

The term leap of faith is used to describe any action that is not supported by scientific logic or rational thinking. Generally it is used to describe religious beliefs which cannot be explained by reason or science. This term is commonly attributed to Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, though there are some schools of thought which argue that he did not mean it in the sense that the term is now used.

Answer: Look before you leap

The proverb look before you leap is a cautionary statement advising to carefully consider the consequences before taking any action. The term's first appearance in print has been traced back to 1546 in "A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue" by John Heywood.

Here, like in many contemporary pop songs, the term is used to advise caution before entering into marriage. Another idiom with similar meaning is haste makes waste.

Answer: Leap for joy

To leap for joy is to be in an extreme state of happiness. This phrase occurs commonly in the Bible. An example is from the book of Psalms Chapter 28, verse 7 - "My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song". Another Biblical instance is in the Gospel of Luke, when a pregnant Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist. Elizabeth tells Mary "For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." (Luke 1:44)

Answer: Leap at

To leap at something or someone can be taken in the literal meaning of moving towards the thing or person. Idiomatically, it refers to jumping to take up any opportunity. This idiom is different from leap out which means to be highly noticeable.

Answer: Jump to conclusions

Jumping to conclusions generally has a negative connotation. It describes the act of making hasty judgments without having complete information. Psychologically it has been found that negative stereotypes and generalizations are reinforced when people use incomplete information to confirm their biases. This is referred to as the gap between observation and assumption.

Answer: Jump down somebody's throat

To jump down somebody's throat is to get very angry at a person. The idiom is believed to have originated from the actual action of a person going to grab another's throat in anger. There is no confirmed source of when it first appeared in print, though it is now common usage.

Answer: Jump out of one's skin

To jump out of one's skin is to be shocked or startled. The idiom provides an imagery of a person being so frightened as to actually have their soul leap out of their physical body. The phrase dates back to the early 20th century.

Answer: Jump the queue

To jump the queue is to try and get something out of turn. A queue is a line of people and the word queue came to the English language from Latin via Middle French with the original Latin word meaning tail. These days amusement parks have special passes called 'jump the queue' which enable the buyers to get onto popular rides without waiting for their turn in long queues.

Answer: Jump ship

To jump ship is to abandon a post of responsibility suddenly. It derives from earlier times when sailors had to commit to serve on a ship for a predetermined period of time. They were not allowed to leave abruptly, to avoid putting the vessel, its passengers and cargo at risk. Those who wanted to quit midway were prone to jumping off the ship and swimming to land.