Spit Fire! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Baptism

The term initially referred to martyrs being burned at the stake, though in Matthew 3:11 (KJV) it alludes to the granting of a grace when John (the Baptist) declares that, whilst he may baptise with water, a greater man will arrive who will baptise the people with fire and the Holy Ghost. That latter meaning has since faded by the wayside and the phrase grew to be applied to soldiers and their first confrontation with battle. This connection was strengthened when Barry E. O'Meara recorded in his 1822 book, "Napoleon in Exile": "I love a brave soldier who has undergone, le bapteme du fer, whatever nation he may belong to."

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Answer: It is all smoke and mirrors

Smoke and mirrors is a "magical" illusion that makes an entity appear to hover in empty space. The illusion is created with a hidden projector (called a magic lantern) and a smoke machine. It was used as early as 1770 and this sort of illusion seemed to be a highlight of "magic" shows, even in contemporary society.

The phrase "smoke and mirrors" has entered the English lexicon to refer to any proposal that proves to be an illusion when scrutinised.

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Answer: A burnt child dreads the fire

Both "once bitten, twice shy" and "a burnt child dreads the fire" are used to describe a situation in which a person is cautious because of a previous unpleasant experience. Other idioms that have the same meaning are "a beaten dog may cower before a friendly hand" and "bitten by a snake on one morning, afraid of the rope by the well for ten years".

The origin of the "burnt child" saying has been difficult to trace; however,its doppelganger, "once bitten, twice shy," appeared in English literature as early as 1320, most notably in the poem "The Proverbs of Hendyng."

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Answer: Ears

This little saying was cultivated from the beliefs of the ancient Romans, who accepted the tenet that when certain parts of your body were tingling or feeling a warm sensation it was a forecast of something happening at the time or at some point in the near future. The tingling in the ears was considered an indication that someone nearby was conducting a conversation in which you were the subject matter. Now, the question to consider is, which of your ears was burning? If it were your left ear then someone was saying bad things about you, but the right ear was a sure bet that you were being praised.

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Answer: You look like death warmed up!

The idiom "death warmed up", or "death warmed over" implies that a person appears to be extremely unwell, to the point of death. It is usually used to express concern about another's well-being. The phrase appeared in the "Soldier's War Slang Dictionary" in 1939, but it is uncertain if it was in use prior to that. There are numerous instances of it in modern texts.

The phrase "warming the bench" is a sporting analogy that applies to a team member who has not been very effective in the game. "Warm as toast" suggests that a person is like toast that has just been made - nice and warm! "Keeping a seat warm" connotes someone who is filling in for someone else, perhaps while that person is ill or on vacation.

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Answer: Burning the candle at both ends

Whilst it can be seen as living life to the fullest, burning the candle at both ends is aimed at those that party until the wee hours and then get up a few hours later to go and put in a solid day's work. These are actions that are both frenetic and unsustainable. However, this was not the original meaning of the phrase, though it did provide the foundations for its modern day meaning. During the eighteenth century candles were a valuable commodity. It had a similar impact to the family budget as electricity has today - you may have heard the phrase "not worth the candle". This implied that the suggested activity was frivolous and not worth wasting a candle on. Accordingly, to burn a candle at both ends was a means of wasting something precious. This idea of waste was extended in 1730 by Nathan Bailey in his "Dictionarium Britannicum" where he describes both ends of the candle to mean a husband and wife and both being spendthrifts.

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Answer: Fry

This expression is an old one - it even appears in the first English translation of the novel 'Don Quixote', by Miguel de Cervantes, but it's probably much older than that. It speaks of relegating small matters in order to pursue those that are more urgent or pressing.

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Answer: Flash

A flintlock musket is the object that provides the origin of this phrase. The musket contains a small pan into which gunpowder is poured and then set off to fire the bullet. Sometimes the powder simply flares and fails to fire. This was called a "flash in the pan". There are some who believe that the term originated from the California gold rush of the mid-nineteenth century when prospectors, who were panning for gold, would suddenly get their hopes up at something that briefly shone in the pan, only to be disappointed. Whilst this is not the origin of the term it certainly would have added to its history. The latter may have, however, led to the origin of another term, "it didn't pan out".

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Answer: Mr Lee is seldom affectionate with his children but ensures they are well provided for.

"Cold hands, warm heart" describes someone who doesn't give outward appearance of emotions but is actually very kind-hearted. In Mr Lee's case, he doesn't display his affection for his children openly but shows he cares by doing the best he can for them.

According to the "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" by Gregory Y. Titelman (1996) this idiom was first cited in "Lean's Collectanea" by V.S. Lean, published in 1903.

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Answer: Spitting Fire

A spitfire describes a person who is known for outbursts of temper. Historically, the phrase 'spit fire' or 'spitting fire' has been recorded as early as 1600. Other idioms akin to this, meaning to be furiously angry, include 'spitting blood' and in Australia, 'spitting chips'.

This question was vented by Phoenix Rising member VegemiteKid.