Puns and Word Play 7 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Impressive flying buttocks

Mighty cathedrals, which have been built by man in various countries through the ages, often have large architectural offshoots from their sides, whose purpose is to give much needed support for the walls of the mighty edifices. Flying buttresses, as some are known, extend out at an angle from the walls of cathedrals, with the purpose of redirecting the weight from the height of those buildings down into the ground. Otherwise, they'd eventually collapse under the strain of their own weight. (I know the feeling).

A streaker is someone who runs naked through crowds of people in different venues for the purpose of shocking same, or as an act of protest, or just for a laugh for the easily amused. The malapropism in the question is the substitution for the word "buttresses" with the word "buttocks", the unappealing backsides of naked streakers.

Answer: It made him reel

The Highland Fling is a popular dance associated with the culture of bonny Scotland. It has often been argued that the first Highland Flings arose from the act of showing off individual dance moves from the other popular dance of the time, the Strathspey Reel. This is why, in more modern times, the Highland Fling is also described as a Reel.

This is also why, for this question, the Scotsman was doing the Fling but could be said to be doing the Reel as well - and reeling because he was dizzy.

Answer: Maria Callas

Maria Callas was a famous American-born Greek soprano who lived from 1923 until 1977 when, some say, she died of a broken heart because Aristotle Onassis, her long time lover, had left her to marry Jackie Kennedy, widow of the late US President Kennedy. Maria was particularly noted for the dramatic interpretation she brought to her many operatic roles.

The pun for this question combines the use of Maria's surname "Callas" to the word "callous", an old Latin word that describes hard skin.

Answer: We come in peas

"We come in peace" is a somewhat comical saying attributed, in the world of make believe, to aliens descending on our planet from other worlds, longing to make our acquaintance. In reality, should this unlikely event ever take place, they'd probably just want to milk our planet of its resources, and kill or enslave its denizens. However, let's dream on.

The pun for this question combines the word "peace", a word associated with visiting aliens in pods from other planets - and "peas", little green vegetables that also arrive in pods.

Answer: Illegal

Poor little eagle - deported just because it was feeling ill. The word "illegal" which comes down to us from the French, describes any action that is contrary to the laws of the land in which that action was carried out. (Gosh, I'm starting to sound like a lawyer). It's fascinating to know that Benjamin Franklin, the very soul of common sense, wanted the wild turkey to be the national bird of the United States because it was a creature which helped feed the starving colonists - rather than the magnificent bald eagle, which although very stately looking, would have been much harder to snare, would probably have pecked the eyes out of hopeful captors, and doesn't look at all tasty.

The pun for this question is based on the fact that the word "illegal" and the words "ill eagle" are homophones.

Answer: Delaying

A delay is a pause in proceedings, or a postponement, or a deferral until a later time in various matters under discussion, or in the process of being carried out. This is an old word which has come down to us from Middle English (circa 1300), which in turn evolved from the French word "delaiier" meaning to leave or let.

The pun for this question combines the word "delaying" with the fact that the hen was late for her party because she had to attend to "de laying" of an egg.

Answer: Defence

A fence is a structure made with any one of a variety of materials, built around a house or a building in order to keep wild animals out, or to keep residents in. They can also be for purely ornamental purposes, or, on a subconscious level perhaps, make a statement about ownership of the property enclosed within. Stronger fences, made from sturdier materials, also act as a type of defence barrier against onslaughts from an enemy. The word found its way into the English language from the French, around 1300, meaning "protecting" or "forbidden".

This pun combines the use of the word "fence", as described above, with a stereotyped French accent of "de fence".

Answer: Attack

A small nail is likened here to a tack. The etymology of this word, which originated during the middle ages in Europe, is based on the French word "Tache" which describes a "clasp or large nail". Tacks as we use them in the modern age, are small cousins of nails, and are usually used to fasten notices up on board or tack decorations up for parties and Christmas, that type of thing. They bear a slight resemblance to very small mushrooms.

The pun for this question is based on the fact that a kind of small nail is "a tack", which sounds like what it did, "attack".

Answer: Nudity

A short song is often referred to as a "ditty" in the world of music. Nudity is the act of being without clothing, whether in public or private. It came into use during the late Middle English period of history and is based on the Latin word "nudus" which is defined as "plain or explicit". The positives to this act of defying social norms is the feeling of freedom it gives one - and the downside? Chilblains in winter, mosquitos in summer.

The pun for this question combines a new school song (a new ditty) with the suggestion of nakedness (nudity).

Answer: Toulouse

A "loo" is a British colloquial term for a toilet. Although it's been in use since the 1940s, nobody is really sure of its origins, beyond suggesting that it could have evolved from "waterloo" which was a name given to iron cisterns at the beginning of the 1900s.

The pun for this question combines the word "loo" referring to a toilet, to "two loos", word play on the city name "Toulouse". Any home with two or more loos is considered to be reasonably desirable on the real estate market - but who wants to be cleaning dunnies all day long? Otherwise, line up and take a ticket.