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Origin Of Phrases Trivia Quiz

You have heard, and no doubt used, the phrases within this quiz. But do you actually know how the phrase originated? Let's find out. The base source for my answers is "A Pig In A Poke" published 2003.

A multiple-choice quiz by simon_templar. Estimated time: 8 mins.

Author
simon_templar

Time
8 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
255,447

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
3010

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 96 (7/10), Guest 172 (2/10), Guest 172 (4/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is the origin of the phrase "Dead as a Doornail"? Hint

This is a gross mis-quote of the phrase "dead as a dawn quail", a now extinct species of the quail. It's in the same genre as "dead as a dodo"

This is a reference to the "doornail" used to nail down the lid of a coffin

The "doornail" is the solid stud against which a door knocker is struck. The assumption is that anything that takes such a constant pounding must surely be totally lifeless

The "doornail" was the small viewing window in a prison cell door. To slam the "doornail" shut would be to lock the prisoner "dead away"

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the origin of the phrase "Beyond the Pale"? Hint

A "pale" is a pointed stake used in a fence. Beyond the "pale" was deemed to be wild and barbarous

This dates back to the days of cowboys and Indians when something or somebody deemed to be uncivilised was other than "pale" faced. They were "beyond the pale"

The "pale" referred to is a bucket of water set ready for extinguishing fires. A fire beyond the range of the thrown pale of water was deemed to be "beyond the pale"

The pale was the reinforced top edge of a drawbridge to a castle. To the lairds and lords of the castles the world outside their domain was deemed to be uncivilised and wild, in fact "beyond the pale".

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Question 3 of 10

3. What is the origin of the phrase "By Hook or by Crook"? Hint

This relates to piracy and the determination to latch one ship to another with a view to boarding the other

Relates to the days when the lord of the manor would grant the right to tenants on his land to gather firewood. The only wood they could take would be that reachable by shepherd's crook or billhook

This simply relates to theft. A "hook" was a con artist or swindler, as opposed to a less sophisticated "crook"

The phrase relates to the gathering in of sheep in preparation for shearing

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is the origin of the phrase "Climbing on the Bandwagon"? Hint

Bands would play on a wagon at early U.S. religious or political rallies. To "climb on the bandwagon" would be to express your support for the cause

A set of musicians in a small town would abandon more meaningful work, such as tending the farmlands, to tour their music through the state using their wagon as a stage. Frowned upon by locals they were "climbing on the bandwagon"

U.S. courts were empowered to ban a man's usage of his wagon as part of a punishment for crime. A man who flouted such an order and "climbed onto his banned wagon", as a convicted drink driver might today, was showing a disregard for the law

European; a circus coming to town would be heralded by a publicity band wagon touring the streets. Excited children would clamour to "climb on the bandwagon" in an expression of their excitement

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the origin of the phrase "Coming up to Scratch"? Hint

A crude and simple reference to the idle amongst us who would finally climb from the bed to do something more useful, to improve themselves, i.e. they finally "came up to scratch"

Derived from the monkey. A monkey that was not picking nits and fleas from himself was deemed "clean" and therefore "up to scratch"

In early boxing matches the boxers had to stand with one foot touching a line scratched in the ground before each round. If they failed to do so they lost the fight

A shoal of flying fish emerging from the water were said to be "coming up to scratch" by the old salts i.e. fit and in their prime

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is the origin of the phrase "Pass The Buck"? Hint

Many card games made use of a marker, "the buck", to denote who had the responsibility for dealing. To "pass the buck" was to relinquish the responsibility to another

Buckles were distance marker points along horse racetracks the largest of which sat at the finish line and was called a "buck"

A phrase, morphed from its original form of "pass the book", originated amongst the learned within society. One in possession of a masterful and educating book would pass it around to others for their betterment

A "Buckler" was a term for a doorman at a munitions factory who would inspect employees entering work to ensure they neither carried, nor wore, anything metallic that might cause an ignition. The employees had to "pass the buck" before commencing work

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Question 7 of 10

7. What is the origin of the phrase "Hoist with his own Petard"? Hint

In gallant days of yore a lord visiting another lords estate would be allowed the honour of hoisting his own "petard", or family flag, atop his hosts property

It was not uncommon in medievil days for a criminal to be made to make his own noose, or "petard", by which he was to be hung and executed

A "petard" was an explosive seige weapon liable to premature explosion so killing the setter of the charge i.e. the setter was "hoisted by his own petard"

The "petard" is the soft underbelly of a pig. Pigs would be unceremoniously hung on hooks by their own "petard" whilst their throats were slit by the butcher to allow the blood to drain

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Question 8 of 10

8. What is the origin of the phrase "To Let the Cat Out of the Bag"? Hint

The cat o' nine tails aboard ship was usually an intricate piece of leatherwear. The captain would preserve it from elements in a special bag. When ready to use it he would let it out of the bag

A vulgar term shouted by the audience at a striptease show. "Let the cats out of the bag" would be a to demand the brassiere be removed

The master of the house, fearing rodent infestation, would issue the order to staff to "let the cat out of the bag" i.e. let the cat go hunting

An unscrupulous market trader dealing in suckling pigs might profiteer by selling a cat sealed in a bag. To "let the cat out of the bag" was to reveal his trickery

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is the origin of the phrase "Nineteen to the Dozen"? Hint

A steam powered pump capable of dispelling 19,000 gallons of water for every 12 bushels of coal burnt was going "nineteen to the dozen"

A baker could be fined heavily for baking underweight loaves. He therefore ensured that his loaves were baked to a 19:12 scale to avoid penalty

This refers to ancient days when effigies of soldiers would be placed amongst an army facing battle, thus giving the army the appearance of looking larger than it in fact was

Press Gangs in ports would "procure" 19 potential seamen for every 12 required as they knew that some would abscond or escape before sailing

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Question 10 of 10

10. What is the origin of the phrase "Son of a Gun"? Hint

In early warships space was limited and sailors would often sleep between the cannons. Prostitutes or wives would sleep with the men and many babies were begat as a reult. They were known as "sons of guns"

Olden day seamen would often bring their young sons aboard to act as runners, bringing munitions and gunpowder to the cannoneers. These would be "sons of guns"

The bastard offspring of a so called "shotgun" wedding

The "son of a gun" was the name given to the single bullet in a revolver used in a game of russian roulette

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the origin of the phrase "Dead as a Doornail"?

Answer: The "doornail" is the solid stud against which a door knocker is struck. The assumption is that anything that takes such a constant pounding must surely be totally lifeless

I appreciate that claims of origin may differ occasionally, therefore I have cross referenced the book "Pig In A Poke" against at least two websites as detailed within each "Interesting Information section.
Variations on the phrase once included "dead as a herring", "dead as Julius Caesar" and "dead as a tent peg". It is the doornail that survived them all.
www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/38250.html
www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-dea1.htm

2. What is the origin of the phrase "Beyond the Pale"?

Answer: A "pale" is a pointed stake used in a fence. Beyond the "pale" was deemed to be wild and barbarous

A "pale" is a pointed stake in a fence construction which by extension came to refer to the fence itself. It was particularly associated with Ireland in the Middle Ages whilst under the English crown. As the English power shrank so did the areas they controlled and the phrase was coined to refer to areas increasingly beyond English control, i.e. "beyond the pale" that were deemed to be returning to a wild and barbarous state.

Yes I know that a bucket is a "pail" and not "pale" but the false answer was irresistible!
www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/64100.html
www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-pal2.htm

3. What is the origin of the phrase "By Hook or by Crook"?

Answer: Relates to the days when the lord of the manor would grant the right to tenants on his land to gather firewood. The only wood they could take would be that reachable by shepherd's crook or billhook

In medieval times forests were owned by the Sovereign and the wood may not be cut down and taken away. Peasants however would be granted the right to gather in firewood for heating and cooking, a valuable legal entitlement. But it was with the condition that only that wood that could be reached by shepherds' crook and cut with a billhook from the ground may be cut away and taken.
The original context implied that this was a lawful activity. Modern usage suggests that something done "by hook or by crook" is undertaken either rightfully or wrongly in order to achieve the objective.
www.answers.com/topic/by-hook-or-crook
www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20010418

4. What is the origin of the phrase "Climbing on the Bandwagon"?

Answer: Bands would play on a wagon at early U.S. religious or political rallies. To "climb on the bandwagon" would be to express your support for the cause

This phrase is believed to have been coined in 1896 after U.S. presidential campaigner William Jennings Bryan stood on a wagon with a band to entertain and deliver his speeches to the people. Supporters would climb onto the wagon with him to demonstrate their support for him.
www.joe-ks.com/phrases/phrasesC.htm
www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/94500.html

5. What is the origin of the phrase "Coming up to Scratch"?

Answer: In early boxing matches the boxers had to stand with one foot touching a line scratched in the ground before each round. If they failed to do so they lost the fight

The boxers starting line is a true origin. Today it has evolved to relate to one who achieves a recognised standard.
There is a similar claim that it originated in athletics. Before the introduction of starting blocks competitors in a race had to "come up" to a line scratched in the ground i.e. "come up to scratch".

6. What is the origin of the phrase "Pass The Buck"?

Answer: Many card games made use of a marker, "the buck", to denote who had the responsibility for dealing. To "pass the buck" was to relinquish the responsibility to another

The phrase originated as the dealer's marker in a game of cards but was rendered popular when President Harry Truman proclaimed "the buck stops here". His clear meaning was that he accepted responsibility rather than that he didn't, in which case he would have "passed the buck".
www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/pass-the-buck.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button_(poker)

7. What is the origin of the phrase "Hoist with his own Petard"?

Answer: A "petard" was an explosive seige weapon liable to premature explosion so killing the setter of the charge i.e. the setter was "hoisted by his own petard"

A "petard" was indeed a siege weapon made of iron and filled with gunpowder. It was used in medieval warfare to blow a breach in a wall or fortified gate. Placing and detonating such weapons was hazardous for the charge setter, firstly from attack from the defending forces, but also from premature explosion. Today it refers to anybody caught by his own trap or subterfuge.
www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/hoist%20by%20your%20own%20petard.html
encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861725329

8. What is the origin of the phrase "To Let the Cat Out of the Bag"?

Answer: An unscrupulous market trader dealing in suckling pigs might profiteer by selling a cat sealed in a bag. To "let the cat out of the bag" was to reveal his trickery

A market trader would display a fine example of a suckling pig at his stall yet sell the odd cat in a bag to unsuspecting customers. A customer who checked his purchase first to find a cat would therefore "let the cat out of the bag". i.e. reveal the trick that was being played upon him, reveal a secret.
www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/227250.html
www.writersblock.ca/spring1995/origins.htm

9. What is the origin of the phrase "Nineteen to the Dozen"?

Answer: A steam powered pump capable of dispelling 19,000 gallons of water for every 12 bushels of coal burnt was going "nineteen to the dozen"

"Nineteen to the dozen" dates back to the Cornish tin mines in England which were highly susceptible to flooding. The mines were cleared of water using steam powered pumps. To pump 19,000 gallons of water for every 12 bushels of coal burnt was a measure of maximum efficiency at that time.
www.joe-ks.com/phrases/phrasesG.htm
users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/sayingsn.htm

10. What is the origin of the phrase "Son of a Gun"?

Answer: In early warships space was limited and sailors would often sleep between the cannons. Prostitutes or wives would sleep with the men and many babies were begat as a reult. They were known as "sons of guns"

Early warships had very cramped quarters. Sailors slept between the cannons because that was the only space available.
They sometimes had female company on board. Some ships actually carried prostitutes. Other times a sailor's wife would be allowed on board so that he would not have to leave the ship, and potentially desert.
Many children were conceived, and indeed delivered, between the cannons, or guns. The male children were thus called "son of a gun".
www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/327900.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_a_gun

Source: Author simon_templar

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