Swimming with Sharks Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sardines

Sardines are small fish, named after the Italian island of Sardinia, which are commonly sold in cans or tins. The term "packed like sardines" is used to describe people crammed into a small space and is often used to denote commuters travelling in public transport like trains or buses during peak hours.

Answer: Whale

To have a whale of a time is to enjoy oneself. It is believed that this idiom has its origins in the size of the mammal. Whales are large animals and having a whale of a time seemingly denoted having a grand time. There is no connection between this idiom and the Biblical story of the prophet Jonah who was swallowed by a big fish and spent three days in its dark belly.

Answer: Stunned mullet

The idiom stunned mullet is Aussie slang for someone in a state of shock or surprise. The first record of this idiom being used is traced to the early 20th century. The idiom alludes to the dazed look of the fish when caught and draws parallels to the open mouthed expression of shock.

Answer: Holy Mackerel

Holy Mackerel! is a minced oath similar to others like Holy Cow! or Holy Moly! These milder terms were used to avoid outright swearing. Some sources claim that the mackerel in the term was a reference to Christians who ate fish on Fridays. Others say that mackerel was used as a euphemism for Mary or Moses.

Answer: Oyster

The term "the world is your oyster" refers to a person having a charmed existence, someone who is able to get all that they want quite easily. It is also commonly used to encourage students who have recently graduated to describe the plentiful opportunities available to them. The term was coined by Shakespeare and used in his play "The Merry Wives of Windsor".

Answer: Clam up

To clam up is to refuse to give any information. The idiom is believed to have originated in the US in the 20th century. It derives from the natural action of clams. When approached by predators or when they find themselves in danger, clams shut themselves up tight.

Answer: Goldfish

A popular myth claims that the memory of a gold fish lasts for only three seconds. That seemingly explains why the fish does not get bored trapped in a small glassbowl, because every three seconds, it's a whole new world! Science has debunked this myth. Goldfish have been found to use spatial memory to get out of mazes.

Other experiments with food (keeping food near a particular place or having the fish pull a lever to get food) have proven that these fish are able to remember things over a span of several weeks, a far cry from the three seconds of popular myth.

Answer: Big fish

The idiom big fish is similar to other such terms like big wig and big cheese. It denotes the person at the top of the hierarchy, mostly in corporate organizations. A related idiom is "big fish in a small pond" which indicates someone who is influential but only in a smaller setting. This can be used to describe students in their last year of high school.

Answer: Red herring

A red herring is a common plot device used in most mystery novels. It is a clue inserted into the plot solely to distract the reader from guessing the correct solution. The term was popularized by William Cobbett in the early 19th century. He took it from the real life scenario of a piece of smoked fish, which has a strong smell, being used to distract hounds from their pursuit of rabbits.

Answer: Cold fish

The term cold fish is used to describe an unfriendly person, someone who does not seem warm. It was coined by Shakespeare in his play "The Winter's Tale". Act 4, Scene 4 states "It was thought she was a woman, and was turn'd into a cold fish." It implied the woman had been turned into a cold fish for being unfeeling.