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What Did They Really Mean? Trivia Quiz

The word "malapropism" comes from Mrs Malaprop, a character created by the playwright Richard Sheridan. She often used fancy words that were just plain wrong. I'll give you some famous malapropisms and you guess the correct term.

A multiple-choice quiz by Catamount. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
Catamount

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
181,986

Updated
Mar 08 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Very Easy

Avg Score
9 / 10

Plays
20532

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

Last 3 plays: Guest 169 (4/10), Guest 174 (10/10), Guest 75 (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. "He is the very pineapple of politeness!" Which is the correct term? Hint

Pinafore

Pinnacle

Pigmy

Pygmalion

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Question 2 of 10

2. Wes Westrum said about a close baseball game: "Well, that was a cliff-dweller." Which word should he have used? Hint

Clip-cutter

Cliff-hanger

Cave-dweller

Cliff-diver

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. "This is unparalysed in the state's history." What is the correct word? Hint

unparalleled

unpopular

unprepared

unpleasant

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. "Listen to the blabbing brook." What word should Norm Crosby have used? Hint

Bubbling

Babbling

Blubbing

Bobbling

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Mike Smith, baseball pitcher, said about his new coat: "It got lots of installation in it." Should he have said "insulation" or "insolation"?

Answer: (One word - insulation or insolation)

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Mike Smith also asked for a salad with "lots of neutrons". What did he really want? Hint

Futons

Zileutons

Teutons

Croutons

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who is credited with this famous malapropism? "We cannot let terrorists and rogue nations hold this nation hostile or hold our allies hostile."
Hint

George W. Bush

Bill Clinton

Tony Blair

John Howard

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Question 8 of 10

8. This is an anonymous example of charting in a nursing home: "Mrs. X is exhibiting bazaar behaviour." What kind of behaviour was the nurse trying to describe? Hint

Bursar

Basilar

Bizarre

Bezoar

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Let's have a Canadian example. Allan Lamport, former mayor of Toronto, said: "Keep this up and we'll have a vicious triangle." What geometric figure should he have used? Hint

Square

Rhombus

Diamond

Circle

10. And finally, another original malapropism from Mrs. Malaprop: "Sure, if I reprehend any thing in this world it is the use of my oracular tongue, and a nice derangement of epitaphs!" What four terms should she have used?
Hint

implement, binocular, range, episodes

comprehend, vernacular, arrangement, epithets

permanent, appendicular, engagement, affidavits

instrument, crepuscular, estrangement, epicurs

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Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "He is the very pineapple of politeness!" Which is the correct term?

Answer: Pinnacle

This is an example of the original Mrs. Malaprop in the play "The Rivals" by Richard Sheridan.

2. Wes Westrum said about a close baseball game: "Well, that was a cliff-dweller." Which word should he have used?

Answer: Cliff-hanger

The former Giants manager also said of baseball: "It's like church: many attend, but few understand."

3. "This is unparalysed in the state's history." What is the correct word?

Answer: unparalleled

Gib Lewis, Texas Speaker of the House, is also credited with asking a group of handicapped people in wheelchairs: "And now, will y'all stand and be recognized?"

4. "Listen to the blabbing brook." What word should Norm Crosby have used?

Answer: Babbling

Norm Crosby is known as "The King of Malaprop". He always speaks from his diagram and drinks decapitated coffee.

5. Mike Smith, baseball pitcher, said about his new coat: "It got lots of installation in it." Should he have said "insulation" or "insolation"?

Answer: Insulation

"Insulation" is the correct term. "Insolation" refers to exposure to sun and solar radiation striking the earth's surface.

6. Mike Smith also asked for a salad with "lots of neutrons". What did he really want?

Answer: Croutons

Croutons are fried or roasted bread cubes. Futons are for sleeping, Teutons were an ancient Celtic or Germanic tribe and zileutons are a kind of asthma drug.

7. Who is credited with this famous malapropism? "We cannot let terrorists and rogue nations hold this nation hostile or hold our allies hostile."

Answer: George W. Bush

"Bushisms" have created lots of material for comedians. "Free societies will be allies against these hateful few who have no conscience, who kill at the whim of a hat" is another famous statement by Dubya.

8. This is an anonymous example of charting in a nursing home: "Mrs. X is exhibiting bazaar behaviour." What kind of behaviour was the nurse trying to describe?

Answer: Bizarre

"Bizarre behaviour" is a catch-all term for people acting, well, strange.

9. Let's have a Canadian example. Allan Lamport, former mayor of Toronto, said: "Keep this up and we'll have a vicious triangle." What geometric figure should he have used?

Answer: Circle

Another acceptable term would be "vicious cycle".

Answer: comprehend, vernacular, arrangement, epithets

Prophetic words indeed!

Source: Author Catamount

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