The Year of the Sheep Trivia Quiz

Answer: Black

The phrase, "a black sheep in the family", came about due to the occasional birth of a (literally) black sheep to a white flock. The phrase is also one which has negative connotations, both literally and metaphorically. Idiomatically speaking, a "black sheep" is known as a wayward member of the family, and one who doesn't follow suit.

In addition to this, in nineteenth-century England a black sheep was considered to be a sign of the devil. Moreover its wool was far less sellable than white wool, as it could not be dyed.

Answer: A sheep as a lamb

This idiom loosely translates to "If you are going to be punished for something, you might as well be punished for something big, as for something small." The origin of this idiom dates back to nineteenth-century England, when a person risked being deported or killed for stealing sheep, no matter what the age of the animal was.

Therefore in this respect, the thief might as well steal a sheep (which has more meat on it than a lamb), as the punishment was just as severe if it was a lamb that was taken.

Answer: A sheepish one

The online dictionary, "dictionary.com", notes that the first definition of "sheepish" (recorded around 1200) was "resembling a sheep in some characteristic". However by 1693 the definition had changed to "embarrassed or bashful".

Answer: Aesop

The idiom, "a wolf in sheep's clothing", originates from one of Aesop's fables. The plot of the fable revolves around a hungry wolf, who, having found a sheep's fleece in a field, decides to try and pass as sheep in order to find food. However before the wolf can steal a sheep, a shepherd mistakes him for one and kills him for his own dinner. Over time the idiom has become synonymous with a hidden danger.

Answer: To the slaughter

The phrase, "lamb to the slaughter", comes from the Bible (King James), and illustrates the helplessness of individuals who are unaware of the dangers that lie ahead of them. In 1953, Welsh author, Roald Dahl, wrote a short story entitled, "Lamb to the Slaughter", playing on the meaning of the idiom in a rather grotesque way.

The plot of the story revolved around a usually mild-mannered woman named Mary Maloney, who murdered her husband when he tried to leave her, by hitting him over the head with a leg of lamb.

Moreover when the police came to investigate, Mary came up with an ingenious way to get rid of the murder weapon, by serving it to them. Thus the police were, without realising it, the proverbial "lambs to the slaughter", innocently munching away on a rather unpleasant meal.

Answer: To rob or cheat

The term, "fleeced", dates back to 1530, and refers to the literal "fleecing" or "sheering" of a sheep's wool. By 1570, however, its definition had changed to embrace the metaphorical, which is how "fleeced" became a common English idiom for "swindled or cheated".

Answer: Count sheep

"Counting sheep" is considered an old fashioned cure for sleeplessness. Its origin relates back to the time when shepherds were responsible for keeping track of their sheep, in order to prevent them from straying or being stolen. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, shepherds in England and Scotland used number systems, such as the "Yan Tan Tethera", to help them keep track of their flock.

Answer: Shepherds' warning

Various countries and cultures have their own weather folklore, some of which is similar to the United Kingdom's "Red sky at night" rhyme. It was believed that red sky at night meant no rain, while the reverse was true in the morning.

Answer: Inappropriate

The phrase, "mutton dressed like lamb", refers to an older woman who attempts to dress younger than her age. It is a rather offensive and somewhat catty expression, which exploits the difference between young and old meat. Mutton is older and darker, while lamb's meat is pink and tender.

Answer: Speedily

The idiom, "two shakes of a lamb's tail", means to do something quite quickly, and was inspired by the way lambs wag their tails when feeding. While some have cited it as First World War British Army slang, others have claimed that it is American in origin.