Word Sandwiches 5 Trivia Quiz

Answer: silver

Quicksilver is an historic name for the element mercury. Mercury is the only metal which is liquid at room temperature. It was called quicksilver because it is a very shiny silver in colour and moves quickly when spilled.

Silverfish are small wingless insects that are usually light silvery grey in colour and covered in tiny scales. They were named because of their fish-like shape and metallic colouring.

Answer: gold

Fool's gold is the common name for iron pyrite, a shiny gold-coloured mineral. It can resemble real gold but it is not that difficult to tell the difference between them. Sometimes iron pyrite can contain traces of real gold. It earned its nickname because historically it used to fool some inexperienced miners.

A gold mine can literally mean a mine where gold is extracted or, figuratively, it can indicate a rich source of something valuable, like resources, information or ideas. If a business is described as a gold mine, it is means it is highly successful and profitable.

Answer: red

Code red is a universally recognised emergency code. It usually indicates fire or smoke within a building, but can also indicate other serious situations such as massive bleeding, an active shooter, or a hostage situation. In Australia it indicates a severe risk of bushfire.

Red eye can have a variety of meanings. It can literally refer to red or bloodshot eyes, as well as a photographic effect caused by light reflecting off the blood vessels of the retina at the back of the eyeball. It is slang for cheap crude alcohol ("moonshine"), a hangover cure (beer and tomato juice) or an overnight flight that leaves late at night and arrives early the next morning.

Pink is also an acceptable answer although it is not a universal code. As a hospital code, it is mostly only used in the U.S. and Canada and its meaning can vary - it can mean infant or child abduction, a child in cardiac arrest, a child whose condition has suddenly deteriorated, or an obstetric emergency. Code Pink is also a U.S. feminist, anti-war organisation founded in 2002.

Pink eye, as noted in another question in this quiz, is the common name for conjunctivitis, an infection or inflammation of the membrane lining the eyelids and covering the whites of the eyes, giving a pink or red appearance to the eyes.

Answer: blue

Feeling blue is an idiom which indicates a person is low in spirit or a little gloomy. It usually implies there is no specific cause for such a mood. Although we don't know the origin of this expression or precisely why the colour blue was chosen, it does date back several centuries. As early as the 1300s, Geoffrey Chaucer used the word "blue" to indicate sadness.

The blue jay is a songbird native to North America. It is easily recognised by its bright blue and white plumage, a noticeable head crest, and a black stripe around its throat which resembles a chin-strap or necklace.

Answer: pink

Hunting pink refers to the bright red jackets worn by selected members of a fox hunting party. To refer to red jackets as "pink" might seem a bit odd but there are two theories as to its origin. The most likely theory is that they are named after a well-known 18th-century London tailor named Mr Pink, who specialized in making these specific hunting jackets. An alternative theory is that the jackets eventually faded to a pink colour as a result of exposure to the weather.

Pink eye is the common name for conjunctivitis, an infection or inflammation of the membrane lining the eyelids and covering the whites of the eyes. It has a variety of causes and makes the eyes look pink or red.

Answer: green

Botanically speaking, evergreen refers to plants that stay green all year round and do not shed their leaves in a specific season. The most well-known evergreens are the conifers, such as cedar, pine, fir, and spruce trees. As an idiom, evergreen describes something that is timeless; i.e. something that is always fresh and retains its value as time passes.

Greenpeace is a global organisation consisting of people who are dedicated to protecting our planet and to helping it become "green" and "peaceful". They are involved in political campaigns to protect our wildlife and our environment.

Answer: black

Lamp black is a powdery black soot, a residue made by burning fats, oils, waxes or resins. It is used as a pigment in many items, including inks, paints, cosmetics, and shoe polish, because it is almost pure carbon and creates a rich dark black colour.

Blackout can have many meanings. It can refer to a sudden loss of consciousness (fainting), memory loss, an electrical power outage, or a media ban on certain types of broadcasts (usually sporting events). During wartime, blackouts were instituted at night so that the enemy would not be able to see towns or targets by the presence of lights.

Answer: cream

Ice cream is a frozen dessert made mainly of sugar, cream or a mixture of milk and cream, and frozen while being churned in order to whip in air and keep the ice crystals small. Sugar and dairy are the main ingredients but flavourings such as vanilla, chocolate, fruit and nuts may be added.

A cream puff is a pastry shaped like a little round ball. It has a slightly crispy outside, and the inside is hollow. This space is usually filled with whipped cream or custard. The cream puff is believed to have been invented in the 16th century by an Italian chef who was brought to France by Catherine de Medici, wife of King Henry II and Queen of France.

Answer: rose

Primrose and rosemary are both flowering plants and the names are also used as girls' names, although they are considered somewhat old-fashioned nowadays.

Primroses belong to the genus Primula. The "prim" part of both the common and biological name comes from the Latin "primus", meaning first, because primroses are one of the first flowers to bloom in spring.

Rosemary is an evergreen flowering shrub and a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae. Its leaves are popular as a herb used in cooking.

Answer: brown

A hash brown is made of shredded potato and usually comes in the form of a patty, which is fried or baked in the oven and typically eaten as a breakfast food to accompany other foods such as bacon, eggs, and sausages.

"Brownshirt" was a nickname given to Nazi storm troopers. They were members of the Sturmabteilung (which translates as "storm department"), the paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party, and wore distinctive brown uniforms.