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Answer: A blind eye

To "turn a blind eye" is to deliberately ignore or overlook a truth that you would rather not face, as when you pretend not to notice or acknowledge something that you don't want to deal with. The saying is believed to have some historical basis. In 1801, Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson was leading the British naval forces during the Battle of Copenhagen when he received a flag signal from his commanding officer to retreat. Nelson preferred to press on, so he reputedly placed his telescope over the eye which had been blinded in a previous engagement, and claimed not to see the flag signal.

He continued with the attack, and proved to be victorious.

Answer: The tables

To "turn the tables" on someone or something is to reverse a situation to become the opposite of what it once was. It usually means that the advantage has shifted, and the person has moved from a position of weakness to a position of strength. The "tables" in the expression is a reference to table games like chess or backgammon.

The logic behind the saying is that if a game is going badly for a player, then in order to have any chance of winning, he would have to "turn the table" so that he plays from his opponent's position, and his opponent plays from his.

A similar saying that fits the theme of this quiz is "the tide has turned".

Answer: The other cheek

To "turn the other cheek" is to abstain from revenge when someone injures you in some way. The expression comes from the Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament, where Jesus teaches his followers the value of restraint. Instead of subscribing to the adage "an eye for an eye", Jesus advocated that you should treat people as you would like to be treated. So if someone strikes you on your right cheek, rather than fight back, you should "turn the other cheek".

Answer: A new leaf

To "turn over a new leaf" means that you are abandoning your previous behavior and making a change for the better. The saying indicates a desire on the part of the speaker to reform his ways, and mark a new beginning. The "leaf" in the phrase doesn't refer to the leaves that grow on trees, but rather to the pages of a book. Thus to "turn over a new leaf" means to turn to a new page in a book in order to start from a blank slate.

Answer: Your nose

If you "turn up your nose" or "turn your nose up" at something, it means that you are refusing to accept it because it doesn't meet your standards. The saying dates back to the 18th century, and is used to indicate rejection, contempt or even disgust. Don't get confused by the directions, though - if you want to turn down an offer, you turn your nose up at it.

It helps to have the mental image of someone who is snobbish or "stuck up". It doesn't help that there's a similar saying that conveys the same meaning. If you treat someone with disdain or scorn, then you are "looking down your nose at them".

Answer: The waterworks

To "turn on the waterworks" is to cry in order to gain sympathy or pity from others, usually in the face of some kind of setback or disappointment. The saying implies that the tears are not genuine, as it gives the impression that you can summon tears as easily as turning on a tap or faucet. So if someone is described as "turning on the waterworks", it implies that their crying is a calculated action designed to provoke a desired response from others.

Answer: Your back

To "turn your back on someone" is to deny, abandon, or ignore them, especially in situations where you owe them your loyalty. The "back" is a body part that shows up in several related sayings. If someone is "on their back", they're laid up or helpless.

When you "back someone" or "have their back", it means you are supporting or looking out for them. If you do or say something "behind someone's back", you are doing it in the hope that they don't find out. And when you betray someone, you "stab them in the back".

Answer: Turning up

"A bad penny always turns up" means that anyone who is unwelcome or undesirable (like a freeloader or troublemaker) will always show up where they are not wanted, often at the worst possible time. The "bad penny" in the saying is a reference to actual counterfeit currency, as the saying appears to have originated in England during a time when such "bad pennies" were commonplace.

They were "always turning up" because people tended to spend any counterfeit coins they received quickly in order to be rid of them, which kept them always in circulation.

They eventually became a metaphor for any unwanted person, who like a "bad penny" was always turning up.

Answer: Another

The saying "one good turn deserves another" simply means that if someone does something helpful or kind for you, the proper way to repay the favor is for you to help them in return. This principle of reciprocity is illustrated by two of Aesop's Fables, "The Dove and the Ant" and "The Lion and the Mouse".

In each story, an act of kindness or compassion by a larger animal toward a smaller animal is later repaid when the smaller creature intervenes to save the first animal's life. The moral to remember is that no good deed, no matter how small, goes unrewarded.

Answer: His grave

The usual image one conjures up of a dead person is of him being laid eternally to rest, and many gravestones are engraved with the words "Rest in Peace". The idea behind this saying is that something can be so shocking or disagreeable, and goes against a person's beliefs or principles to such an extent that it is capable of disturbing him even in death, so that he would be turning about restlessly in his grave.

For example, critics of sensationalist news reporting often illustrate their displeasure by stating that the state of journalism today would make Edward R. Murrow, himself a highly respected newscaster, "turn in his grave". Critics of these critics are quick to point out that Murrow was cremated, but the saying was so popular that it even inspired Fleetwood Mac to write a song entitled "Murrow Turning Over in His Grave". Oddly enough, other songs have been written about this phenomenon, like Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven", which references Beethoven's likely reaction to rock 'n' roll music.