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We Stole That from the Irish Trivia Quiz

Ireland and England are neighbors so it is no surprise the Irish and English languages share so many words. Here are ten English words based off an Irish (Gaelic) word.

A matching quiz by Joepetz. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
Joepetz

Time
3 mins

Type
Match Quiz

Quiz #
390,444

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Very Easy

Avg Score
9 / 10

Plays
1281

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 108 (10/10), zp2000 (10/10), Guest 68 (10/10).

(a) Drag-and-drop from the right to the left, or (b) click on a right side answer box and then on a left side box to move it.

Questions		Choices
1. From the Irish word for soft ground - don't get lost in one		Clock
2. From the Old Irish word for bell - Big Ben is associated with both		Leprechaun
3. From the Irish word for small body - top o' the morning to you		Shamrock
4. From the Irish word for death cap - it's all over now		Phony
5. From the Irish phrase for water of life - I can't have too much life		Kibosh
6. From the Irish word for female fairy - they'll be the death of me		Banshee
7. From the Old Irish word for battle cry - Yes, we can		Bog
8. From the Old Irish word for clover - you have three chances to get it right		Smithereens
9. From the Irish word for ring - you better get the ring appraised		Whisky
10. From the Irish word for little fragments - I'll blow you to pieces!		Slogan

Select each answer

1. From the Irish word for soft ground - don't get lost in one

2. From the Old Irish word for bell - Big Ben is associated with both

3. From the Irish word for small body - top o' the morning to you

4. From the Irish word for death cap - it's all over now

5. From the Irish phrase for water of life - I can't have too much life

6. From the Irish word for female fairy - they'll be the death of me

7. From the Old Irish word for battle cry - Yes, we can

8. From the Old Irish word for clover - you have three chances to get it right

9. From the Irish word for ring - you better get the ring appraised

10. From the Irish word for little fragments - I'll blow you to pieces!

Most Recent Scores

Nov 12 2024 : Guest 108: 10/10
Nov 11 2024 : zp2000: 10/10
Nov 01 2024 : Guest 68: 10/10
Oct 23 2024 : Kiwikaz: 10/10

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. From the Irish word for soft ground - don't get lost in one

Answer: Bog

Bog comes from the Irish or Gaelic word "bogach" meaning soft ground. Bogs are muddy wetlands also called quagmire or mire. Bogs consist of moss, peat and other dead plant material and are known to be very thick and difficult to travel or walk through.

2. From the Old Irish word for bell - Big Ben is associated with both

Answer: Clock

The Old Irish word for bell is "clocc" and refers to how Irish missionaries would ring bells at certain hours of the day. Several other languages have similar words for bell and they all originate from the Old Irish.

3. From the Irish word for small body - top o' the morning to you

Answer: Leprechaun

The word leprechaun loosely translates to small body from the Irish word "leipreachan" or "luprachan". In Irish lore, leprechauns are little mischievous fairies associated with rainbows and pots of gold. The stereotypical appearance of leprechauns wearing all green and having red hair and beards is a relatively recent development based on Irish stereotypes.

In Irish lore, leprechauns had many different looks.

4. From the Irish word for death cap - it's all over now

Answer: Kibosh

To "put the kibosh" on something means to end it. The word kibosh comes from the Irish word "caidhp bhais" which is the black hood that is placed over the heads of condemned men and women before they are hanged.

5. From the Irish phrase for water of life - I can't have too much life

Answer: Whisky

The Irish phrase "uisce beatha" translates to "water of life". Whisky is a strong fermented alcohol made from grain and traditionally associated with Ireland and Scotland.

6. From the Irish word for female fairy - they'll be the death of me

Answer: Banshee

Banshee comes from the Irish word "bains�dhe" which can mean either female fairy or woman of the fairies. In Irish mythology, banshees are associated with a loud wail that is said to signal an upcoming death.

7. From the Old Irish word for battle cry - Yes, we can

Answer: Slogan

Slogan comes from the Old Irish word "sluagh-ghairm" meaning battle cry. Other possible origins of the word come from a combination of the Old Irish words "slog", "slougos", "gairm" "garman" meaning army, troop, cry and call respectively. Slogans originated as war cries but nowadays, slogans are usually catchy sayings used in political campaigns and advertising.

8. From the Old Irish word for clover - you have three chances to get it right

Answer: Shamrock

Shamrocks and clovers have long been associated with Ireland. The three-leaf variety is the most common while the four-leaf clovers are said to bring good luck. The word shamrock comes from the Old Irish word "semroc" which means clover.

9. From the Irish word for ring - you better get the ring appraised

Answer: Phony

The word phony, meaning fraudulent, comes from the Irish word "fainne" which means ring. It came about through a popular confidence swindle involving rings where a trickster would sell unsuspecting people gold rings that were really made of brass.

10. From the Irish word for little fragments - I'll blow you to pieces!

Answer: Smithereens

The Irish word "smidrini" came to be the English smithereens. "Smidrini" means tiny fragments. Smithereens is mostly commonly used colloquially in the English language such as in the phrase "blow to smithereens".

Source: Author Joepetz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.
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