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The Ups and Downs Quiz

Ups and downs are a part of life, and of the English language! Sometimes, by adding "up" or "down" to another word, the resulting word has a very different meaning. Can you work out these ten?

A multiple-choice quiz by Honggui. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Honggui

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
425,899

Updated
Oct 17 26

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Easy

Avg Score
9 / 10

Plays
21

Last 3 plays: psnz (10/10), ceetee (10/10), briarwoodrose (10/10).

Author's Note: Add 'up' or 'down' at the front of the word suggested by the clue to give a new compound word with a different meaning

Question 1 of 10

1. If you take 'up' or 'down' and add to a 4-letter word for a bullet that has been fired, you'll find a word meaning the final outcome of something.

Answer: (Remember - add up or down to the clue)

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Add 'up' or 'down' to a 5-letter word that is something you might do to hair, and find a word meaning to scold or reproach someone. What is it?

Answer: (Remember - add up or down to the clue)

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Add 'up' or 'down' to a 4-letter word meaning a season to make a word meaning ruin (hint: think North America rather than Europe for this one).

Answer: (Remember - add up or down to the clue)

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Add 'up' or 'down' to a 5-letter word meaning correct to make a word meaning utterly and completely.

Answer: (Careful - both prefixes work here but only one gives the correct definition!)

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Add 'up' or 'down' to a 4-letter word meaning a loud noise, often from an animal. The resulting word means a commotion or outcry.

Answer: (Remember - add up or down to the clue)

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Add 'up' or 'down' to a 4-letter word meaning musical pulse, you'll end up with a word meaning pessimistic.

Answer: (Careful - both prefixes work but only one gives the correct definition!)

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Add 'up' or 'down' to a 7-letter word meaning a gun holder, and you'll end up with which verb meaning to cover furniture?

Answer: (Remember - add up or down to the clue)

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Add 'up' or 'down' to a 5-letter word meaning commencement to make a word meaning a brash or arrogant newcomer.

Answer: (Remember - add up or down to the clue)

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Add a 4-letter word meaning a castle's central tower to either up or down to result in a word meaning the cost of maintaining something.

Answer: (Remember - add up or down to the clue)

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. We're on the final stretch here - find the 4-letter word meaning a small mountain goes with 'up' or 'down' to make a word meaning deteriorate or worsen, or in another sense to become easier?

Answer: (Careful - both prefixes work but only one gives the correct definition!)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. If you take 'up' or 'down' and add to a 4-letter word for a bullet that has been fired, you'll find a word meaning the final outcome of something.

Answer: Upshot

Upshot originally meant the final shot, or arrow, in an archery match, which was the one that decided the final result - hence how it came to mean conclusion or outcome.

2. Add 'up' or 'down' to a 5-letter word that is something you might do to hair, and find a word meaning to scold or reproach someone. What is it?

Answer: upbraid

Although the words seem unrelated, the two words share the same root, 'bregdan' from Middle English, meaning to pull, weave or twist. 'Up' added to 'bregdan' was used to mean censure or scold in the sense of 'pulling someone up'.

3. Add 'up' or 'down' to a 4-letter word meaning a season to make a word meaning ruin (hint: think North America rather than Europe for this one).

Answer: downfall

Downfall originally described a literal fall from a height, emphasizing the greater distance of the fall, and is also used for a heavy fall of rain or snow. Today it's most common meaning is ruin, collapse, or the thing that causes it, as in "pride was his downfall."

4. Add 'up' or 'down' to a 5-letter word meaning correct to make a word meaning utterly and completely.

Answer: downright

The original sense of 'downright' was 'straight downwards' or 'directly'. Over time, directly came to mean 'plainly' and then 'completely', and this is the sense it's now used in, in phrases such as 'downright dishonest'.

5. Add 'up' or 'down' to a 4-letter word meaning a loud noise, often from an animal. The resulting word means a commotion or outcry.

Answer: uproar

I'd always assumed that 'uproar' was a simple derivation from 'roar' (an increased roar?), but not at all! Apparently it comes from the Dutch 'oproer', meaning revolt or insurrection. This became linked to roar, and the meaning gradually shifted from the more specific rebellion to a more general noisy disturbance or commotion.

6. Add 'up' or 'down' to a 4-letter word meaning musical pulse, you'll end up with a word meaning pessimistic.

Answer: downbeat

In music the downbeat is the first beat of a bar, and is named after the downward stroke of the conductor's baton. This word has gradually become to mean pessimistic. Maybe I will use the opposite word later on in the quiz...or will I?

7. Add 'up' or 'down' to a 7-letter word meaning a gun holder, and you'll end up with which verb meaning to cover furniture?

Answer: upholster

Upholster derives from the Middle English upholden, meaning to keep or repair, and craftsmen who maintained and fixed items, including furniture, were known as upholderers. This has now evolved to become upholster-er with a more specific meaning of covering and padding furniture.

8. Add 'up' or 'down' to a 5-letter word meaning commencement to make a word meaning a brash or arrogant newcomer.

Answer: upstart

The word upstart has been used since the 1500s for new arrivals who climbed quickly in society or business - like the phrase 'nouveau riche' today, it was used somewhat derisively.

The young William Shakespeare was referred to as an "Upstart Crow" - which was then used as the title for Ben Elton's sitcom about the life of Shakespeare, starring David Mitchell.

9. Add a 4-letter word meaning a castle's central tower to either up or down to result in a word meaning the cost of maintaining something.

Answer: upkeep

In this instance the word keep means the same. A castle's central tower was called a keep because it was the central stronghold, to maintain, protect and preserve. Upkeep formed from the phrase 'to keep up' as in maintain something in good order.

Are you keeping up with me?

10. We're on the final stretch here - find the 4-letter word meaning a small mountain goes with 'up' or 'down' to make a word meaning deteriorate or worsen, or in another sense to become easier?

Answer: downhill

This could mean that things are getting worse 'it's all going downhill' but could also mean that things are getting easier 'it's all downhill from here'! Either way, a nice simple one to finish with as you reach the end of the road!

Source: Author Honggui

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Fifiona81 before going online.
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