Famous Quotes in Mixed Up Form Quiz

Answer: Blessing in Disguise

The phrase "Blessing in Disguise" was based on a 1746 hymn by English writer James Hervey. It has also been credited to John Wesley (1703-1791) as well. Titled "Since all the Downward Tracts of Time" it appeared in a catalogue of works known as "Meditations and Contemplations" and reflects on the belief that God, "when he gives, supremely good! Nor less when he denies: Even crosses from his sovereign hand Are blessings in disguise."

Solution: If you look at the line of letters in the above question, you will see that the letters of the word "blessing" are intermingled within the letters of the word "Disguise".

Answer: Piece of Cake

"Piece of cake" or "A piece of cake" comes from Act 2, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's comedic play "Twelfth Night" which features romance, and twins separated by a shipwreck. The term used partially in the play at that time actually referred to just cakes and drink, when Sir Toby asks of the prim and upright Malvolio that "Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?". Over time, however, the expression has evolved into describing anything that is rewarding and easy to achieve.

Solution: Looking at the word "*C* AKE" in the above question, you will notice that the letter "C" has been distinguished from the rest of the word "Cake", i.e., a "piece" of the word has been removed.

Answer: A plague on both your houses

"A plague on both your houses" comes from Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" towards the close of the play. It occurs when Romeo's friend, Mercutio, is dying from a stab wound caused ultimately by the senseless ongoing struggles between the two warring families of the two doomed young lovers, Romeo and Juliet.

Solution: You'll see in the question that the word "Plague" is on the top line and the words "Your House Your House" is below, ie "A plague" is on both your houses.

Answer: A twice told tale

This short term, "a twice told tale" is from Act 3, Scene 4 of Shakespeare's work, "The Life and Death of King John". It takes place where the heir to the throne of France (the Dauphin) mourns the uninspiring meaningless of his life, and has echoes in the play "Macbeth" when that protagonist gives his incredibly moving and powerful speech just before the close of his own life.

Solution: The word "Tale" repeated once more, equals to the word being said twice, ie "a twice told tale".

Answer: Drops of blood on her hands

The tragedy of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" gives us this extract from Lady Macbeth in Act 5, Scene 1, when, after the murder of King Duncan - which she relentlessly nagged Macbeth into carrying out - she is overtaken by guilt, and keeps imagining she sees her hands stained with spots of blood. She tries frantically to cleanse her hands of their stains with the cry "Out, damned spot". She is not, as some young students think, talking to the family dog.

Solution: The words "Begone" becomes "Out"; "Cursed" becomes damned"; and "Dot" becomes "Spot" in this famous quote.

Answer: Forever and a Day

"Forever and a day" is an expression used in two of Shakespeare's comedies - Act 4, Scene 1 in "As You Like It" where it refers to the eternity of love; and in Act 4, Scene 4 of "The Taming of the Shrew" where it refers to endless time.

Solution: Eternity is a word meaning "forever" and 24 hours equals a day - giving you the expression, with the plus sign, of "Forever and a day".

Answer: Full Circle

In Act 5, Scene 5 of "King Lear", the villain of the piece, Edmund, dwells on how his dastardly deeds have caught up with him in the lines "The wheel is come full circle; I am here". (Boos and hisses from the audience)

Solution: The word "Circle" is not revealed to be the complete word until the end of the line in the question, ie., making it a "Full Circle".

Answer: High

The expression "high time" appears in Act 3, Scene 2 of "A Comedy of Errors" in which one of the characters says "There's none but witches do inhabit here; And therefore 'tis high time that I were hence" to tell himself to get away quickly. Sound thinking!

Solution: The word "Time" is repeated several times going upwards higher and higher, until the top "Time" is highlighted to give you the expression "High Time".

Answer: My Kingdom for a Horse

"My kingdom for a horse" is taken from Shakespeare's "Richard III", where the villain of the play, Richard, (whom you can't help but feel a little sympathy towards) is unseated from his horse during battle with Henry Tudor's men and is basically hacked to death. Poor old Richard. Shakespeare had to portray him as bad as possible to justify the taking of the English crown by the victorious Tudor rulers.

Solution: The speaker of this quote (Richard III) has been unhorsed, and cries out that he would exchange his realm ("My kingdom") for another equine ("for a Horse") in order to ride back into battle.

Answer: Through Thick and Thin

"Through thick and thin" is a very old expression dating back to the Middle English period of English literature (1066 to 1500). Shakespeare wrote during the English Renaissance (late 15th to early 17th century). The saying came into being as a hunting expression during the time when the English country was heavily wooded, and was originally phrased as "Through thicket and thin wood" when hunting prey took place either through the thick forests or the thinner woods. Soldier on, in other words, no matter what.

Solution: The word "Through" is mixed in with the letters of the words "Thick and Thin") in this question, resulting in the term "Through Thick and Thin".