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Quiz about Idiomatic Language Flowers Fruits Etc
Quiz about Idiomatic Language Flowers Fruits Etc

Idiomatic Language: Flowers, Fruits, Etc. Quiz


The names of "flowers, fruits, nuts and other plants" often get secondary meanings or occur in idioms. Check how familiar you are with those "secondary meanings".

A multiple-choice quiz by flem-ish. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
flem-ish
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
105,420
Updated
Oct 15 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
2053
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Which of these is neither a primary nor a secondary current meaning of
the word "chestnut"?
Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which of these meanings does not normally occur for the word lemon? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Which of these can "a peach" never be? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Which of these does the word "plum" never, not even indirectly, refer to? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Which of these would never be meant by the word "gooseberry"? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. In what order is a house when it is perfectly arranged and tidy? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. What do you gild when you try to improve and decorate something that is already perfect in itself? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Which of these doesn't or don't butter parsnips? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. What do you plant for your heirs, rather than for yourself? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. When can you be called a "couch potato"? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which of these is neither a primary nor a secondary current meaning of the word "chestnut"?

Answer: a female body-builder

Female bodybuilders may be nuts about their chests, but chestnut is not a current nickname for them.
2. Which of these meanings does not normally occur for the word lemon?

Answer: a miser

Lemons are the ovate pale yellow acid fruit of the 'Citrus limon'. A lime is smaller and greener. The term also refers to a substandard product (that car I bought was a real lemon), or to a person who might be tempted into purchasing a such a product.
3. Which of these can "a peach" never be?

Answer: a formal accusation

There is a verb "to peach" which is etymologically related to the verb "to impeach", meaning: to make a formal accusation. The present-day meaning of "to peach" is, however, different: to divulge confidential information or secrets. There is no substantive "a peach" with either of these meanings.
4. Which of these does the word "plum" never, not even indirectly, refer to?

Answer: a bunch or tuft of feathers

Tufts of feathers used as ornaments would be plumes, not plums.

The dish plum pudding usually contains dried grapes, also called raisins, although the original concoction used prunes (dried plums). The word plum is also used to describe the "cream of the crop", denoting something that is an excellent example of its kind.
5. Which of these would never be meant by the word "gooseberry"?

Answer: an old joke

To "play gooseberry" is to function as a chaperon.
The "gooseberry season" is an alternative term for the "silly season".
To play gooseberry is a British English idiom referring to all situations where two is company and three is none. It may allude to chaperons picking gooseberries while the lovers are more romantically involved. See sources such as the "Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable".
6. In what order is a house when it is perfectly arranged and tidy?

Answer: apple pie order

A "Banana Split" is of course the dessert consisting of ice-cream and a split banana. Nearly as famous as the "Melba Peach" or the French "Belle Hélène Pear".
7. What do you gild when you try to improve and decorate something that is already perfect in itself?

Answer: the lily

One of course can also gild "the pill", which means that you make something unpleasant seem more acceptable.
8. Which of these doesn't or don't butter parsnips?

Answer: Fine words

The word parsnip is related to neep, turnip, etc.
9. What do you plant for your heirs, rather than for yourself?

Answer: Walnuts and pears

The idea is already to be found in Cicero's "Cato Major" vii.24 :"serit arbores, quae alteri saeclo prosint."
10. When can you be called a "couch potato"?

Answer: when you like to sit and watch television rather than to be active

"Sleeper" is a term for either a "railway sleeping-car" or a "train made up of such cars".
Source: Author flem-ish

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