How Long Is a Piece of String? Quiz

Answer: An additional skill, asset or option available to use

This idiom implies being adaptable in difficult situations due to the availability of alternative skills, plans or resources. Its origins lie in archery, as archers had the habit of carrying one or more spare bowstrings to replace their main one in case it broke - which was not unusual, especially in the heat of battle.

According to some sources, the phrase was first recorded in English in the mid-15th century and became popular from the 16th century on. In some authors' works it is used to suggest having another lover waiting in the wings in case things do not work out with the primary one. A similar, though not identical idiom is "an ace up one's sleeve" - which, however, generally involves an element of surprise.

Answer: Completely dependent on another person

Like other idioms containing the word string, this idiom has its origins in everyday life. An apron is a garment meant to be worn in the kitchen or when doing other household tasks, which in the past was primarily worn by women. The phrase usually refers to an adult man who is controlled by or overly attached to his mother or wife/partner.

According to various sources, this idiom dates from the late 18th or early 19th century and probably refers to a 17th-century law - called "apron-string tenure" - which allowed a husband to control his wife's property only for the duration of her lifetime. When she died, the property would revert to her family or heirs. As ownership was temporary and hinged on the wife's being alive, the husband was left dependent on his wife for his livelihood.

Answer: Dwell upon one topic persistently

As a noun, string denotes items related to different areas of knowledge: the one that appears in this idiom comes from the musical world. The phrase's origin lies in the practice of playing the harp, an instrument played by plucking the strings. If only one string is plucked, the result will be a sound as dreary and monotonous as a person constantly talking about the same subject.

The phrase (which is often shortened to harp on) was first attested in writing in the early 16th century; variations of it were used by William Shakespeare in his work. The idiom "beat a dead horse" is similar in meaning, though it implies that the point repeated ad nauseam is also a lost cause.

Answer: Without any special conditions or expectations

There are several theories regarding the origin of this idiom and its opposite form, with strings attached. The most obvious is the one related to puppetry, in which strings symbolize control and manipulation: therefore, something with no strings attached is free from outside influence. However, the most widely accepted theory has to do with a common custom in 18th-century textile trade, when pieces of string attached to a bolt of cloth signaled the presence of a defect. A roll of cloth with no strings attached was perfect and could be used for the finest tailoring work.

It has also been suggested that the phrase may have originated in the use of binding legal documents with strings: if a document was delivered without any binding, it meant it was free from unexpected restrictions or binding clauses. According to the "OED", the idiom in its current meaning was first recorded in writing in 1887, but was popularized in the 1940s-1950s.

Answer: Feel confident that everything is going for the best

This idiom conveys a very confident and optimistic attitude about one's situation. Though very similar to another string-themed idiom, to have (or keep) someone on a string, this phrase does not have the somewhat sinister connotation of having another person completely under one's control. Here no manipulation is implied, but rather the carefree feeling of being in control of one's own life. This idiom has a similar meaning to "the world is my oyster", which is a quote from Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor".

While the concept of having someone on a string dates from the 16th century, this phrase was popularized in the 1930s by the jazz song "I've Got the World on a String" by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler. The song was first recorded by Cab Calloway in 1932 and then by Bing Crosby in 1933, but became a worldwide hit in the version recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1953. Sinatra's inimitably cool attitude reinforced the song's message of happiness and success.

Answer: Secretly control or influence a situation

The origin of this very common idiom lies in the ancient art of puppetry, in which a wooden figure on a stage is manipulated by a person behind the scenes by pulling the strings attached to its limbs. This real-life situation has become a metaphor for any hidden agency that influences or controls events.

The figurative meaning of this phrase became common in English in the 19th century, particularly in social and political contexts, to describe the secret machinations of people in power. Some of the earliest uses of the idiom in print date from the 1860s and refer to political factions being controlled by foreign powers.

A variant of this idiom, pull strings, has the less sinister meaning of using one's influence with powerful people to obtain something for oneself or somebody else.

Answer: With very limited resources

A shoestring is a long, thin lace used to fasten a shoe; the word is also used to describe something long and narrow, such as very thinly cut fried potatoes. In the past, shoestrings and other small items were sold by itinerant peddlers at very cheap prices - which (along with the object's flimsy appearance) explains the connection between the word shoestring and a negligible amount of money.

In modern English, the phrase on a shoestring - or even shoestring used as an adjective as in "a shoestring budget" - denotes a very limited amount of money or capital, barely sufficient to operate a business. This idiom, which originated in the US in the late 19th century, can also have a more positive connotation of frugality rather than plain lack of funds.

Answer: Deceive someone by pretending interest

This is the only idiom in this quiz where string is used as a verb rather than a noun. While string along simply means to accompany or follow, string someone along has the more unpleasant connotation of keeping someone waiting indefinitely by making false promises. Not surprisingly, this phrase is often used in reference to someone keeping another person in a state of uncertainty by pretending to be romantically interested in them - as if dragging an animal along on a rope.

First recorded in English in the early 20th century, this idiom is similar in meaning to "lead someone on". According to some sources, the use of string to mean deceive appears in some British dialects starting from the early 19th century, though the phrase is believed to have its origins in the tuning of a musical instrument.

Answer: Stir deep feelings or emotions

Though this idiom might suggest a musical connection, it is mainly rooted in late medieval understanding of human anatomy, in which the heart was seen as anchored to the chest cavity by string-like ligaments - a function performed by the pericardium. As anatomical knowledge became more advanced and accurate, the concept of those vital connections between the heart and the rest of the body shifted from literal to figurative. The heart was regarded as the seat of feelings and emotions, which could be evoked by straining those ligaments as if they were the strings of a musical instrument. This idiom is generally used in reference to feelings of affection, compassion, or sadness.

A well-known instance of the use of heartstrings as a metaphor for deep feelings occurs in Act 3 of William Shakespeare's "Othello". In modern usage, tug is frequently replaced by its synonym pull.

Answer: Be in charge of financial matters

This idiom - a very effective, concrete metaphor for controlling expenditure - goes back to the times when money was kept in pouches secured with drawstrings. Those who oversaw financial matters loosened those drawstrings to allow access to funds, while they tightened them when it was necessary to restrict spending.

According to the "Merriam-Webster Dictionary",, the phrase purse strings to mean financial resources was first recorded in English in the 1530s, though it is believed to have originated earlier. However, the idiom was popularized in 1787 by Founding Father Elbridge Gerry (after whom gerrymandering is named) when advocating for the US House of Representatives to have sole authority on government spending: "it is a maxim that the people ought to hold the purse-strings".