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Oh No! Even More Clichés Trivia Quiz

"In this day and age" it's good to enjoy "some quality time", so "put on your thinking cap", "take the plunge" and get quizzing!Contains some US, and some British usage.

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

Author
musicmonkeyman

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
175,606

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Easy

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
18174

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

Last 3 plays: rivenproctor (10/10), Guest 173 (9/10), Poppet18 (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which word completes this cliché?
"Rats abandon a ______ ship". Hint

sailing

space

clean

sinking

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Question 2 of 10

2. Is a "white elephant" considered to be a useful possession?

Yes

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which word is missing from this common phrase?
"Explore every ______" Hint

avenue

road

street

lane

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. What is the meaning of the expression "from the horse's mouth"? Hint

stop whining

bad breath

credible information

you've taken his food

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Describing a narrow escape you might say "you had a close ______".
There are two possible answers to this question, and either one will do.

Answer: (One Word)

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Which word is missing from this cliché?
"I don't like the cut of his ______? Hint

wit

cloth

jib

hair

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Complete this saying.
"A friend in need is a ______ indeed" Hint

nuisance

problem

friend

liability

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. What is the meaning of the expression "Hobson's choice"? Hint

choose only the best

choose anything you want

you have no meaningful choice

choose carefully

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Question 9 of 10

9. Stay calm while you answer this next question.
"Keep your ______ on"
What word is missing? Hint

skirt

shirt

jacket

feet

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What is meant by the expression "a flash in the pan"? Hint

a very rare steak

last night's curry was hot!

a fire in the kitchen

a short lived success

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which word completes this cliché? "Rats abandon a ______ ship".

Answer: sinking

This saying comes from nautical belief that if the rats left a ship before it sailed, the voyage was doomed.

2. Is a "white elephant" considered to be a useful possession?

Answer: no

A "white elephant" is the description of something that is useless or a liability. The king of Siam owned all the albino (white) elephants in his nation. It's said that he gave an albino elephant to any of his subjects who displeased him. The elephant's upkeep proved such a financial liability that it ruined the new owner.

3. Which word is missing from this common phrase? "Explore every ______"

Answer: avenue

The cliché "Explore every avenue" means to look at all the options, often when seeking the solution to a problem.

4. What is the meaning of the expression "from the horse's mouth"?

Answer: credible information

It is said that information "from the horses mouth" is reliable.

This expression stems from the fact that is easy to tell the age of a horse by looking at its teeth. It is therefore difficult to lie about the horse's age.

The expression "long in the tooth", meaning old, has a similar equine connection.

5. Describing a narrow escape you might say "you had a close ______". There are two possible answers to this question, and either one will do.

Answer: shave

"A close shave" means- had the shave been any closer you would have been cut.

"A close call" originates from the baseball umpire having to make a decision on a marginal situation.

6. Which word is missing from this cliché? "I don't like the cut of his ______?

Answer: jib

This expression means to be concerned about a persons honesty or suspicious of their motives. A jib is the front sail of a ship and it was often possible to tell the nationality of a vessel by the style of its jib.

Not all nations were friendly at sea.

7. Complete this saying. "A friend in need is a ______ indeed"

Answer: friend

Someone who helps and supports a friend in difficulties, or in times of need, is a true friend.

8. What is the meaning of the expression "Hobson's choice"?

Answer: you have no meaningful choice

Tobias Hobson operated a livery stable in the 17th century. He imposed a rule that each customer took the horse closest to the stable door, and had no choice in the matter. Therefore "Hobson's choice" is a choice to take it or leave it.

9. Stay calm while you answer this next question. "Keep your ______ on" What word is missing?

Answer: shirt

"Keep your shirt on" means don't get angry, or stay calm. It possibly stems from men removing their shirt in preparation for a fight.

The expression "keep your hair on" has a similar meaning.

10. What is meant by the expression "a flash in the pan"?

Answer: a short lived success

This cliché harks back to the days of the flintlock pistol. The pan held the powder that the spark from the flint ignited, this then ignited the powder in the barrel of the pistol. When the powder in the pan ignited, but failed to fire the charge in the barrel, this was known as "a flash in the pan".

Source: Author musicmonkeyman

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