To be in the eye of a storm means to be caught in the middle of a difficult situation. The center of a hurricane or tornado is known as the eye, leading to this idiom.
2. Stiff upper ___
Answer: Lip
Often used in the context of the British, the term stiff upper lip denotes an ability to control your emotions without making an outward display. A quivering lip is considered one of the first signs of a person buckling under pressure or adversity.
3. Give someone a cold ___
Answer: Shoulder
To give a cold shoulder to someone implies that they have been deliberately ignored or treated without courtesy. In recent times, cold shoulder has also been used to describe tops or dresses with the shoulders cut out.
4. To have two left ___
Answer: Feet
This idiom is used to describe someone who is clumsy or awkward, especially while dancing or doing any other activity that requires grace or coordination. The term is believed to have entered common usage in the early 20th century.
5. ___ the music
Answer: Face
To face the music means to face the consequences of your actions. There are multiple theories around the origin of this phrase. One of these is that it described the position of actors on stage who faced the orchestra that played from a pit below it.
6. The long ___ of the law
Answer: Arm
The long arm of the law implies the ability to eventually bring all manners of criminals to task. The idiom is used figuratively for the police force and the judiciary.
7. Word of ____
Answer: Mouth
Word of mouth indicates the passing of a message orally rather than through written orders. Earlier used to describe folk tales and cultural traditions that were passed orally through generations, it is now also an accepted style of marketing where positive reviews on any product are passed on directly by customers.
8. Keep your ___ up
Answer: Chin
To keep your chin up means to bravely face difficulties or trials. Sometimes the word head is used in place of chin to mean the same thing - to keep your head up. The first written use of this phrase has been traced to a Pennsylvanian newspaper called "The Evening Democrat" in an October 1900 edition.
9. Break a ___
Answer: Leg
Break a leg is an idiomatic way of wishing someone good luck. The phrase originated among the people working on plays and other forms of theater since the formal expression of wishing someone good luck was ironically thought to be inauspicious and bring bad luck.
10. ____ the line
Answer: Toe
To toe the line means to comply with the existing rules of any particular organization or social situation. Phrases with similar meanings that were in use earlier are 'toe the mark' and 'toe the plank'. The exact origins of these phrases are unknown.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.
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