Quizzy Lizzie

Answer: Elizabeth (Liz) Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011) was born in London, England, and was that rare item - a child star who was also successful in the business as an adult. Her unusual violet eyes won many hearts, as did her talent for performing. Her personal life was more chaotic, in that she married eight times, including twice to Richard Burton (hence "Liz and Dick").

She was Oscar-nominated five times, all as Best Actress, winning twice.

Answer: The Lizard

Before anyone comments that "Lizard" isn't a girl's name, let me say that I agree. As an Elizabeth, I can assure you, however, that some people (usually boys) delight in calling girls of that name Lizard! We don't like it! Allowing those people to see that we don't like it can result in their calling us that with even more frequency and glee, so being non-reactive is advised.

Let's get back to the Lizard in Cornwall, now, shall we? The peninsula so-named is in southern Cornwall, and Lizard Point is the southernmost point of mainland Britain. Visitors need not worry about encountering large reptiles, however, as the name is believed to derive from Cornish dialect words meaning either "headland" or "high court".

Answer: Busy Lizzie

These pretty flowers, native to eastern Africa, but grown even in temperate climates, go by many names, with Busy Lizzie being favoured in the United Kingdom. In North America one is likely to hear it called impatiens, with balsam and sultana also used in some places.

It is a perennial plant with flowers in a variety of colours, described as a popular bedding plant all over the world. The sobriquet Busy Lizzie comes from its constant production of new blooms throughout the summer months.

Answer: Dizzy Miss Lizzy

Written and recorded by Larry Williams in 1958, "Dizzy, Miss Lizzy" was released as a single in that year, with minor success. The Beatles recorded it (as "Dizzy Miss Lizzy") in London in 1965, and it was included on their "Help!" album in the UK, and "Beatles VI" in the US. John Lennon recorded it again in Toronto in 1969 with the Plastic Ono Band.

The gist of the lyrics is that Miss Lizzy makes the singer, who wants to marry her, dizzy and feverish.

Answer: Thin Lizzy

Rock band Thin Lizzy was formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1969 and has had a number of members since then, though none seem to have been named Lizzy, or been female even. The original lineup consisted of Phil Lynott (bass guitar, vocals and songwriting), Brian Downey (drums), Eric Bell (guitar) and Eric Wrixon (organ). Well-known singles by the group include "Whiskey in the Jar" and "The Boys Are Back in Town". Guitarist and singer Scott Gorham, who joined the group in 1974, was associated with a touring version of the band into the 2020s.

Answer: Tin Lizzie

The Model T Ford, famously available in "any colour as long as it's black", was sold in North America between 1908 and 1927. It was initially available in a variety of colours (black NOT being one of them), but by 1913 black was not only available, but it was indeed the only choice.

The nickname Tin Lizzie (or Lizzy) appeared as early as 1915, referring to its light metal construction combined with a popular name for workhorses of the era. The moniker was popularized when a Model T named "Old Liz" won a championship race in 1922, gaining fame for both car and nickname.

In later years the term came to refer to any lightweight, small, cheap vehicle.

Answer: Liz McColgan

Born Elizabeth Lynch, in Dundee, Scotland in 1964, McColgan was her married name between 1987 and 2013, the height of her athletic career. As Liz McColgan, she won a silver medal in the 10000 metres race in the Olympic Games held in Seoul, South Korea in 1988, representing Great Britain.

She participated in the Olympics in 1992 and 1996 with less success. She won gold medals in the same event, representing Scotland, at the Commonwealth Games of 1986 and 1990. She won marathons in New York, Tokyo and London in the 1990s.

She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1992. Remarried in 2014, she became known as Elizabeth Nuttall.

Answer: Liz Lemon

Liz Lemon is Tina Fey's character on the TV show "30 Rock" (2006-2013), and is the producer and show runner of a sketch comedy show not unlike "Saturday Night Live", called "The Girlie Show". The acclaimed (real life) show also starred Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan, and won 16 Emmy Awards over the years. Tina Fey was born in Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, in 1970.

She has won multiple Emmys, for writing and acting, including several for "30 Rock".

Answer: Big Lizzie

Designed by inventor Frank Bottrill and constructed between 1915 and 1916, Big Lizzie laid claim to the title of "biggest tractor in the world" at that time. Used for various jobs in Australia's Victoria state, including clearing land for new settlements, she was rather unwieldy and broke at least one bridge trying to cross it.

By the late 1920s she was sitting in a field and soon after her engine was sold to do other work. Fast forward forty odd years, and a historian comes along to rescue Big Lizzie, restore her and put her on display in Red Cliffs, Victoria, one of the towns for which Big Lizzie helped clear the land. Just why she's called Big Lizzie isn't known, though newspaper accounts from her prime were already using the name.

Answer: Liz Truss

Mary Elizabeth Truss, known as Liz, was born in Oxford, England in 1975 and educated at Oxford University. She was associated with the Liberal Democratic party at university, but later joined the Conservative party. She was Member of Parliament (MP) for South West Norfolk from 2010 until 2024. Having won the leadership of the party in September 2022, Truss was appointed prime minister by Queen Elizabeth II just days before the monarch's death.

Not much more than a month later, amid criticism of her leadership and policies, Truss resigned as leader of the Conservative party, effectively ending her time as prime minister.