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Quiz about Origins of English words and phrases

Origins of English words and phrases Quiz

Interesting origins to common words and phrases.

A multiple-choice quiz by vendome. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
vendome

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
4,948

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2256

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This word derived from the capturing of Slavic people in Eastern Europe by Germanic tribes. What's the word? Hint

gestapo

slob

slave

germacide

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Question 2 of 10

2. This word comes from the Persian phrase 'Shah Mat.' Do you know the word? Hint

chemistry

shame

checkmate

sheriff

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Question 3 of 10

3. This phrase originally came from the theater and served as a cast instruction. What is it? Hint

about face

two-faced

turn the other cheek

face the music

4. This word comes from the Dutch 'vrijbuiter', a term applied to pirates in the Caribbean in the 16th century. Its French and Spanish equivalents were applied to revolutionaries. By the 18th century, its current meaning was adopted. The word is ? Hint

frontier

fratricide

filibuster

freedom

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Question 5 of 10

5. The phrase, 'the full Monty', came from England and is used to mean 'the whole thing.' From where did it originate? Hint

the formal men's clothing sold at Montague Burton

the origin is unclear - there is some evidence to support various theories

Field Marshall Montgomery

a British TV commercial for DelMonte fruit juice

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Question 6 of 10

6. This comes from the French, 'catdoupe' literally meaning 'waterfall'. It was first used by Jonathan Swift in 'Polite Conversations,' in 1708. What is it? Hint

raindrop

cataracts

raining cats and dogs

catapult

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Question 7 of 10

7. This word's current meaning is far different than its original use. It is first found in 'Beowolf' as a noun meaning 'fate' or 'destiny.' Its new use, as an adjective, was used by Shakespeare to describe someone's sister. It then evolved to mean 'skilled in witchcraft', and then to today's meaning. What is it? Hint

queer

shrew(ish)

manipulate(d)

weird

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Question 8 of 10

8. This phrase most likely comes from French, 'to tie up with a ribbon.' It originated as a blasphemous term for the communion host, and evolved to mean the format used to sign grievance petitons so as to disguise the leader of the group. Can you guess which one it is? Hint

encircle

roundabout

encompass

Round Robin

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Question 9 of 10

9. This word started as an acronym in England and is a slang term for a policeman, and also has roots in the French verb, 'to take.' Which is it? Hint

copper

flick

fuz

cop

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Question 10 of 10

10. This word comes from the French phrase meaning 'to cover the fire,' and is associated with the ringing of a bell in medieval times. What's the word? Hint

curfew

suppress

smother

confine

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This word derived from the capturing of Slavic people in Eastern Europe by Germanic tribes. What's the word?

Answer: slave

The original word was probably sclave, derived from the Middle Latin word for a slave, sclavus (the s being an abbreviation for 'sine', so a sclavus was without a key). The fact that so many slaves in the region were Slavs probably led to the dropping of the c.

2. This word comes from the Persian phrase 'Shah Mat.' Do you know the word?

Answer: checkmate

'Shah Mat' literally means: 'The king is dead.'

3. This phrase originally came from the theater and served as a cast instruction. What is it?

Answer: face the music

With musicians in a pit before the stage, this was a command for the actor to turn towards the audience.

Answer: filibuster

The French and Spanish versions are 'filibustier' and 'filibustero' respectively. The connection is probably that the filibusterers were hijacking the debate much like pirates hijacked ships.

5. The phrase, 'the full Monty', came from England and is used to mean 'the whole thing.' From where did it originate?

Answer: the origin is unclear - there is some evidence to support various theories

Field Marshall Montgomery was noted for his meticulously planned assaults (giving the enemy the 'full Monty'), and his immaculate grooming in his full-dress uniform and medals. He was also known for eating a full English breakfast, and as that was known in some places as "the full Monty", there is some evidence that this is the origin of the phrase.

It is also possible that "the full Monty" is a three piece suit with an extra pair of pants, from Montague Burton - this is certainly the version of the story most accepted in the North of England.

It's very unlikely that the phrase came from fruit juice.

There is enough of a lack of concrete evidence on the phrase's origin that we have to accept that we just don't know for sure.

6. This comes from the French, 'catdoupe' literally meaning 'waterfall'. It was first used by Jonathan Swift in 'Polite Conversations,' in 1708. What is it?

Answer: raining cats and dogs

Answer: weird

Answer: Round Robin

Round Robin comes from the French 'rond ruban' that was used to tie up documents.

9. This word started as an acronym in England and is a slang term for a policeman, and also has roots in the French verb, 'to take.' Which is it?

Answer: cop

Constable On Patrol became 'cop,' with ties to French 'caper', to take.

10. This word comes from the French phrase meaning 'to cover the fire,' and is associated with the ringing of a bell in medieval times. What's the word?

Answer: curfew

'Couvre feu' became curfew. In medieval times, the tolling of a bell indicated it was time to prepare for sleep by extinguishing the fire.

Source: Author vendome

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