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Why Did I Say That? Trivia Quiz

There are many idioms and phrases we use every day without fully understanding their initial meaning or origin. Do this quiz and you will be able to answer the question, 'Why did I say that?'

A multiple-choice quiz by ojen. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
ojen

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
341,178

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1859

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. "Alive and kicking" means alert and active. Where did the phrase originate? Hint

From horses who will kick when frisky

From fresh fish flapping in fishmonger's carts

From the kick from a strong drink

From being kicked by a tantruming child

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Question 2 of 10

2. Alice blue is a lovely pale blue color. Where did the name come from? Hint

From President Theodore Roosevelt's daughter, Alice

From the color favored by American Romantic artist Alice Ball

From Alice in Wonderland

From the flower alyssum or sweet Alice

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Question 3 of 10

3. To have a rough or traumatic initiation into something is called a "baptism of fire". Where did the phrase originate? Hint

A reference to the fire of the Holy Spirit

From exposure to gunfire in battle

From a chef's first dish

From a fire fighter's first day at work

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Question 4 of 10

4. To bravely face an adversary is to "beard the lion in his den." Where did this phrase originate? Hint

From Aesop's fable about the lion and the mouse.

From an incident at Central Park Zoo

From the story of Androcles and the lion

From two Biblical stories

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Question 5 of 10

5. To treat someone in an unfair and an unjust way is to hit them "below the belt". Where did the phrase originate? Hint

From the traditions of medieval jousting

From the rules of boxing

From Elizabethan dress code

From a reference to the constellation Orion's belt

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Question 6 of 10

6. To "bet your bottom dollar" is to bet all you have. Where did the phrase originate? Hint

From a pile of lottery tickets

From the bottom of your pockets

From poker

From Ancient Greek tax collecting lists

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Question 7 of 10

7. If you are in a seemingly impossible predicament you are stuck between the "devil and the deep blue sea". Where did the phrase originate? Hint

From the Bible

A geographical term - from the Devil's Marbles

From a popular nineteenth century "penny dreadful'

From the navy - referring to planks on a ship's deck

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Question 8 of 10

8. An important person is a "big wig". Where did the phrase originate? Hint

From the headwear of nobles and judges in the 18th century

From the insect, the earwig

From the wigs of important actors in Restoration comedy

From a tradional English nursery rhyme

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Question 9 of 10

9. If you are cast out or ostracized by a group you are said to be "black balled". From what did the phrase originate? Hint

From a ritual used in Aztec sacrifice

From the black ball used in billiards

From the ballots used in 18th century men's clubs

From the black ball in lawn bowls

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Question 10 of 10

10. A person who is in disgrace is called a "black sheep". Where did the phrase originate? Hint

From a belief that black is the devil's color

From the rhyme "Baa Baa Black Sheep"

From the problems of mating black sheep

From the problems farmers had with selling black wool

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 15 2024 : callie_ross: 1/10
Oct 17 2024 : leith90: 10/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Alive and kicking" means alert and active. Where did the phrase originate?

Answer: From fresh fish flapping in fishmonger's carts

The phrase originated in the 18th century among London fishmongers.

2. Alice blue is a lovely pale blue color. Where did the name come from?

Answer: From President Theodore Roosevelt's daughter, Alice

The color was named for Alice Roosevelt Longworth or 'Princess Alice' who spent her childhood in the White House and was a long time leader of Washington society. The color was further popularized by the song "Alice Blue Gown".

3. To have a rough or traumatic initiation into something is called a "baptism of fire". Where did the phrase originate?

Answer: From exposure to gunfire in battle

The phrase can be dated precisely to the battle of Searbuck in the Franco-Prussian war in 1870. The French emperor Napoleon III sent his son and heir Louis Napoleon into battle despite the fact that the boy was only 14. The French referred to this as the child's "bapteme de feu" or baptism of fire.

4. To bravely face an adversary is to "beard the lion in his den." Where did this phrase originate?

Answer: From two Biblical stories

The phrase is actually based on a combination of two Biblical stories. In 1 Samuel 17:35 there is a story about the shepherd David (later to be King David) who rescued a lamb that had been stolen by a lion by grabbing the lion's beard (mane) and killing it. The other story tells of Daniel being shut in a lions' den overnight, and being miraculously saved by God.

5. To treat someone in an unfair and an unjust way is to hit them "below the belt". Where did the phrase originate?

Answer: From the rules of boxing

The Marquis of Queensberry revolutionized boxing in 1867 when he drew up a code of twelve rules to govern boxing matches. These rules included prohibiting wrestling, gouging and hitting below the belt of the boxer's trunk.

6. To "bet your bottom dollar" is to bet all you have. Where did the phrase originate?

Answer: From poker

The expression comes from poker. When all the chips or "dollars" are piled up a player takes his chip from the top if he is betting a little, but from the bottom if he is betting the whole stack.

7. If you are in a seemingly impossible predicament you are stuck between the "devil and the deep blue sea". Where did the phrase originate?

Answer: From the navy - referring to planks on a ship's deck

The phrase refers to the seam between planks on a wooden ship's deck and around the hull. The longest seam was the 'Devil to get at', and any sailor who had the misfortune to be caulking this area in a heavy sea risked being washed overboard.

As is often the case, other alternative sources for the phrase have been offered, based on the concept that one is placed between two evil options. One example is the Greek myth of Scylla (a six-headed monster) and Charybdis (a whirlpool), between which Odysseus had to pass in "The Odyssey".

8. An important person is a "big wig". Where did the phrase originate?

Answer: From the headwear of nobles and judges in the 18th century

The fashion of wearing long, flowing wigs was popularized by kings such as Louis XIV of France. The more important the person, the grander and larger was his wig.

9. If you are cast out or ostracized by a group you are said to be "black balled". From what did the phrase originate?

Answer: From the ballots used in 18th century men's clubs

When voting by secret ballot for candidates for prestigious British clubs, members who supported a candidate dropped in a white ball while those who opposed his membership dropped in a black ball.

10. A person who is in disgrace is called a "black sheep". Where did the phrase originate?

Answer: From the problems farmers had with selling black wool

In earlier days, dyes were not very effective and were extremely expensive. A black sheep was practically worthless, as there were usually not enough in a flock to market their wool undyed. Farmers therefore saw black sheep as undesirable.

Source: Author ojen

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