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Quiz about Serenity Phraseology on Firefly

"Serenity": Phraseology on "Firefly" Quiz

"Serenity" is one of my favorite movies. I especially enjoy the writing and the quirky phrases used by the characters. Here's a quiz translating from "Firefly"-ese to English. No Spoilers here.

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

Author
jnebarton

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
359,783

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Easy

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
281

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Kaylee says "Everything's shiny, Cap'n. Not to fret."
"Shiny" is used often and means what, basically? Hint

just fine, perfect, satisfactory

falling apart, a disaster

brightly lit, reflective

unclear, ineffective

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Mal: "I look out for me and mine. That don't include you 'less I conjure it does."
"Conjure" is used to mean what? Hint

receive authorization

create as if from magic

think, come to mind, believe

make up, fabricate

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Mal: "I ain't looking for help from on high. That's a long wait for a train don't come."
The second sentence means what?
Hint

have patience, faith

change comes slowly

a waste of time, pointless

wrong place at the wrong time

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Girl 2: "Reavers aren't real."
Boy 2: "Full well they are."
How is "full well" being used in this context? Hint

absolutely, undoubtedly

originally, at first

basically, simply

secretly, underhandedly

5. Mal: "But you fog things up. Always have - you spin me about. I wish to hell you was elsewhere"
"Spin me about" is not uncommon in naval or boating parlance. What does it mean in this context? Hint

turn in tight circles like a whirlpool

alter the magnetism of a compass

make dizzy, nauseous

confuse things, make things unclear

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Mr Universe: "You're gonna get caught in the ion cloud, it'll play merry hob with your radar but pretty, pretty lights and a few miles after, you'll be right in my orbit"
What in the 'Verse is "merry hob"? Hint

begin playing music

a children's game

confuse, display false images

destroy the equipment

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Mal: "Did the primary buffer panel just fall off my gorram ship for no apparent reason?"
You heard correct, gorram. Can you guess what it means? Hint

westernization of a Chinese word

old and broken down

beautiful, a desireable thing

a television-friendly version of a swear word

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Simon: "And that's your guiding star, isn't it. What's of use."
"Guiding star" is another nautical term. What is Simon's meaning? Hint

a "Peter Pan" reference

primary motivation

Earth-That-Was' sun

a pinpoint reference

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. The Operative: "Forget the pulse beacon. There has to be another way to track that ship - get a read on the nav sat."
What's a "nav sat"? Hint

Navy Satellite

Naval Satisfaction

Navigation Saturday

Navigation Satellite

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Jayne: "Hidin' under the Shepherd's skirts, that's a manful scheme..."
Great phraseology. What is Jayne trying to say? Hint

He is a wolf in sheep's clothing

Shepherds wear dresslike vestments

Taking refuge with the Shepherd is cowardly

Hiding is a great plan

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Kaylee says "Everything's shiny, Cap'n. Not to fret." "Shiny" is used often and means what, basically?

Answer: just fine, perfect, satisfactory

"Shiny" is used by many characters in both the TV series and the film. Kaylee is responding to Mal's complaint of the primary buffer panel breaking off his ship. He follows that up with "My ship don't crash. If she crashes, you crashed her."

2. Mal: "I look out for me and mine. That don't include you 'less I conjure it does." "Conjure" is used to mean what?

Answer: think, come to mind, believe

Mal uses "conjure" on a few occasions. Mal is having yet another argument with Simon regarding Simon's sister, River. Since they met, Mal has threatened to kick Simon and River off his ship, and almost succeeds, on occasion.

3. Mal: "I ain't looking for help from on high. That's a long wait for a train don't come." The second sentence means what?

Answer: a waste of time, pointless

Mal is an inveterate agnostic. Shepherd Book serves as a sort of spiritual sounding board and Mal respects his advice. Book also has a past shrouded in mystery.

4. Girl 2: "Reavers aren't real." Boy 2: "Full well they are." How is "full well" being used in this context?

Answer: absolutely, undoubtedly

Full well is used commonly in a different context but I like what Joss Whedon did here. In this scene, we see a much younger River and her classmates arguing the finer points of the existence of Reavers during a lesson.

5. Mal: "But you fog things up. Always have - you spin me about. I wish to hell you was elsewhere" "Spin me about" is not uncommon in naval or boating parlance. What does it mean in this context?

Answer: confuse things, make things unclear

If Mal or Inara had a Facebook account, the relationship status would read "It's complicated." In her defense, she did try to stay away.

Answer: confuse, display false images

Mr. Universe, played by David Krumholtz, is a great character. He agrees to help out the crew of Serenity but also makes some bad decisions.

7. Mal: "Did the primary buffer panel just fall off my gorram ship for no apparent reason?" You heard correct, gorram. Can you guess what it means?

Answer: a television-friendly version of a swear word

Many words and phrases are spoken in Mandarin Chinese in both the television series and the movie but this one is a fabrication Joss Whedon created.

8. Simon: "And that's your guiding star, isn't it. What's of use." "Guiding star" is another nautical term. What is Simon's meaning?

Answer: primary motivation

Simon and Mal have never really seen eye-to-eye on any subject. This conversation follows Mal's admonishment about Simon's status as a crew member, referenced in another question on this quiz.

9. The Operative: "Forget the pulse beacon. There has to be another way to track that ship - get a read on the nav sat." What's a "nav sat"?

Answer: Navigation Satellite

Mal outsmarts the nav sat by sending out six decoys. It seems that the Serenity crew is often prepared for outrunning the Alliance when needed.

10. Jayne: "Hidin' under the Shepherd's skirts, that's a manful scheme..." Great phraseology. What is Jayne trying to say?

Answer: Taking refuge with the Shepherd is cowardly

Jayne is none-too-pleased with how Mal is handling things at this point. This is another of numerous arguments between Jayne and Mal over the handling of nearly everything and, as tends to be the case, Jayne ends up getting in to trouble.

Source: Author jnebarton

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