Proverbially Meowing... Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cruel

If someone is playing a cat and mouse game with another person, they are playing with the person in a cruel and unkind way, before the final act of cruelty. Much like a cat plays with a mouse before it eats it.

Answer: No one is so important that an ordinary person cannot look at them

Despite the belief of some who are high up in the ranks of social class, there is NO ONE who is so important that they cannot be looked at, or gazed upon, by other members of society. This saying merely brings this to our attention, by saying that even a cat can look at someone as high up as a king.

Answer: False

Nope. The proverb says that "you should keep NO more cats than catch mice." It's a bit of a harsh saying, as it's basically advising that you should not support anyone who can do nothing for you in return.

Answer: Insulting you

If someone said this to you, you could smile sweetly, and politely reply "Only because he couldn't stomach the idea of touching you." Generally, this comment is made in jest - only a friend might be expected to accept such a gratuitous insult as a welcome!

Answer: When the cat's away, the mice will play

This saying is associated with the idea that when the cat isn't in the house anymore, the mice will have a real good time, as they can now come out and eat the cheese and run around a little bit. And it's true! I've often seen a group of what I thought were fairly civilised people turn into absolute hooligans as soon as there is no official authority there anymore.

Answer: Not enough room to swing a cat

This will generally be used to describe a room that is very small, and does not have a whole lot of space. Swinging a cat should not (I don't know, I've never tried) take up a lot of space, which makes it a very appropriate saying.

One theory as to the origin of this idiom is that it is a naval saying - the cat o' nine tails was a whipping device used in the Navy. There was not enough room below deck (i.e. in the cabins) to "swing the cat" and hence carry out punishment (punishment was therefore carried out above deck), and hence the phrase "not enough room to swing a cat" came into play.

Answer: Added a violently disturbing new element to something

What is a cat going to do if he's set down amongst a large group of pigeons? Have the time of his life causing chaos (i.e. catching, playing with, and finally eating the poor birds.) This is said if someone adds a new, and potentially violent or dangerous thing to something that was originally peaceful.

A non-cat idiom that may be associated with this saying is "adding fuel to the flames."

Answer: A successful businessman, with lots of money

Contrary to what it sound like, if you are called a "fat cat," it is not necessarily an insult. If you are a "fat cat," it simply means that you are very successful in the business world, and have made a great deal of money. The term may also carry connotations of being overpaid, and not really earning the success which has been achieved.

Answer: False

If the "cat's got your tongue," you are speechless, and unable to speak.

Answer: It's very expensive

I'm not quite sure of why whoever came up with this idiom thought that the hair on a cat's back was very high, but either way, it's worked its way into idiomatic language, and if something is "as high on the hair on the cat's back," it is considered to be very expensive, and possibly a little out of reach.

Answer: It's all that and a bag of chips

"All that and a bag of chips" means that something is really great, but this saying is generally used in a sarcastic manner.
"Don't you think Anna's great?"
"Yeah. Just the cat's pyjamas."

Answer: False

If it's raining cats and dogs, it is REALLY pouring, and I recommend that you get out of the rain FAST!

Answer: Curiosity

This is just a warning about being curious, and advises that you do not go looking for trouble, because it will find you all by itself with no problem. I have heard otherwise:
"Curiosity killed the cat
But satisfaction brought him back."

Answer: Agitated

"Calm down! You're like a cat on a hot tin roof!"
This may be said by one friend to another, if their friend is being particularly fidgety.
This is a pretty descriptive saying. Imagine you were a cat, and you had been forced to sit down on a tin roof in the middle of the day (and a particularly hot day it is.) Of course you're going to be agitated!

Answer: 9

Ok, maybe this isn't the most proverbial sort of question I could have asked. But cats have been known to survive the most bizarre sort of things, that, if the laws of science applied, would kill them. Of course, this probably isn't true, but it's a cool saying!

Answer: False

Actually, the Cheshire cat can be found in the story "Alice In Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll. The Cheshire cat was the animal that insisted on giving vague answers, and who also had a very broad grin, which is where the saying originates.

Answer: skin

Not a very nice idiom, but it basically just means that there is more than one way of doing something.

Answer: You tell a secret you shouldn't have

If someone "lets the cat out of the bag," they let out a secret, usually by accident.

The origin of this idiom also lies in the Navy - as mentioned before, the cat o' nine tails was a whipping device. Thus, if someone "let the cat out of the bag", there was going to be trouble.

Answer: A cat in gloves catches no mice

According to the proverb "a cat in gloves catches no mice," you will not always be able to achieve your goals if you are always being polite and careful about it.

Answer: No

A "fraidy cat" or a "scaredy cat" is generally a name given to someone who is not very courageous, and is scared to do something.

Thanks for playing my quiz. Hope you enjoyed it!