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Origin of the Phrase Trivia Quiz

Have you ever wondered what was the origin of a particular phrase? Here are a few that you may have used yourself, see if you can figure out where they came from.

A multiple-choice quiz by Foxicat. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Foxicat

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
89,020

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
2183

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Abandon all hope ye who enter here. Hint

Carved into the archway at Folsom prison

The inscription at the entrance to Hell in the "Divine Comedy"

Scratched on the wall at Bedlam, an insane asylum

Inscribed over Harvard's Law library entrance

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Question 2 of 10

2. That makes your hair stand on end! Hint

Thomas Edison's words when working with electricity

Inspired from a scene in Hamlet

Written on the movie poster promoting the original Psycho

Partial quote from a can of Aqua Net

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Question 3 of 10

3. What's up Doc? Hint

James T. Kirk's inquiry to Dr. McCoy

Used by Wyatt Earp at the OK Corral to Doc Holliday

Usual salutation from Bugs Bunny

Title of Marvin "Doc" Hollaway's second album

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Question 4 of 10

4. No man is an island. Hint

A phrase from Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech

A quotation from English poet John Donne

Taken from the New Testament, King James version

Ancient Hawaiian inscription at Molokai's Leper colony

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Question 5 of 10

5. "Play it again, Sam" is a misquotation, but from where? Hint

The book, "Green Eggs and Ham"

Cheer used at Sam Houston State University in Texas

Slogan used by WalMart before the demise of its founder

The movie "Casablanca"

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Question 6 of 10

6. The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Hint

Old English pub saying in the 1500's

From Shakespeare's "As You Like It"

From the Bible, Matthew 6:3

Edgar Allen Poe's admonition in "The Tell Tale Heart"

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Question 7 of 10

7. Go ahead, make my _________.

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 8 of 10

8. Discretion is the better part of valor. Hint

Gandhi's reply when forced from passive protest

Last words of George A. Custer

Words from Henry IV, by Shakespeare

Rally cry of General MacArthur in the Philippines

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Question 9 of 10

9. Eat, drink, and be merry! Hint

From WWII signs posted in English pubs

From Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor"

From the Old Testament, Ecclesiastes 8:15

Slogan for Sizzler's chain of restaurants

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Question 10 of 10

10. Make him an offer he can't refuse. Hint

Hamlet's advice to his Stepfather

Motto of Judge Roy Bean

John F. Kennedy's instructions to aides about Castro

A line from the movie, "The Godfather"

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Abandon all hope ye who enter here.

Answer: The inscription at the entrance to Hell in the "Divine Comedy"

"Divine Comedy" was written by Dante and his real name was Durante Alighieri; he was born in Florence in May or June, 1265.

2. That makes your hair stand on end!

Answer: Inspired from a scene in Hamlet

"I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres, thy knotted and combined locks to part and each particular hair to stand an end, like quills upon the fretful porpentine." The phrase is used to denote something scary/frightening.

3. What's up Doc?

Answer: Usual salutation from Bugs Bunny

The voice of Bugs Bunny was provided by Mel Blanc who did numerous other Warner Brother cartoon voices, as well as many radio program voices. Sadly, he passed away in 1989.

4. No man is an island.

Answer: A quotation from English poet John Donne

"No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main.... Any man's death diminishes me because I am involved in Mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." John Donne, born in 1572, was an English poet, and was thought to be one of the greatest metaphysical poets.

5. "Play it again, Sam" is a misquotation, but from where?

Answer: The movie "Casablanca"

Actually this line is not in the movie; however, most people use it as a quote.
Rick: "You played it for her you can play it for me!"
Sam: "Well I don't think I can remember"
Rick: "If she can stand it, I can. Play it!"
(Thanks to msymsed for the actual quote from the movie).

6. The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

Answer: From the Bible, Matthew 6:3

'But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.'

7. Go ahead, make my _________.

Answer: day

Any Dirty Harry afficionado will recognize this saying, a staple now in American slang! Clint Eastwood starred in the Dirty Harry movies. This particular phrase comes from the Dirty Harry film "Sudden Impact".

8. Discretion is the better part of valor.

Answer: Words from Henry IV, by Shakespeare

Henry IV, Part One, "The better part of valour is discretion; in the which better part I have saved my life." Many common sayings come from the works of Shakespeare!

9. Eat, drink, and be merry!

Answer: From the Old Testament, Ecclesiastes 8:15

From The Bible, Old Testament Ecclesiastes 8:15 - "To eat, and to drink, and to be merry." Another source of many quotes we use today.

10. Make him an offer he can't refuse.

Answer: A line from the movie, "The Godfather"

"The Godfather" was made in 1972 and was the first in a trilogy directed by Italian-American director Francis Ford Coppola. The movie won three Oscars, Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

Source: Author Foxicat

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