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Warding off bad luck Trivia Quiz

Being superstitious can paralyze you. Here are some ways to ward off all that bad luck.

A multiple-choice quiz by tee-hee-me. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
tee-hee-me

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
91,897

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
6258

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 77 (6/10), Guest 151 (0/10), Guest 138 (4/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. OK, we will start with an easy one. If you spill salt it is considered bad luck. What do you do to turn the bad luck into good luck? Hint

Throw a pinch of the spilled salt with your right hand over your left shoulder

Throw a pinch of the spilled salt with your right hand over your right shoulder

Throw a pinch of the spilled salt with your left hand over your right shoulder

Throw a pinch of the spilled salt with your left hand over your left shoulder

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. One of the most well known superstitions is that breaking a mirror brings you 7 years bad luck. What can you do to reverse this? Hint

glue the mirror

throw the mirror into the northern side of a lake

hide the pieces in an east facing cupboard

wash broken pieces in a south running river

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. If you believe that a black cat crossing your path will bring bad luck, what do you do when one does? Hint

kick it

take 12 steps back

count to 100 while sitting

count seven backwards

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Which nails, if made into a ring, will ward off bad luck? Hint

toe nails

nine inch nails

carpentry nails

horseshoe nails

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. One possible origin for this common superstition is thought to have come from the ancient Celts, who worshipped trees. The superstition is considered to prevent bad luck. Hint

collecting old leaves

breaking branches

knocking wood

scraping the trunk

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. What action has a universal power of exorcism and purification, warding off evil influences? Hint

rattling seedpods

ringing bells

clapping hands

stamping feet

7. Now for a theatre superstition. The word Macbeth is believed to have a curse on it and if someone says it in a theatre bad luck will befall them. Which of these is a way to ward off the bad luck if you say the cursed word? Hint

search the theatre, find a green room and whistle in it

leave the theatre, turn around three times, spit and ask for permission to re-enter

buy fresh flowers and place them on the stage

kneel on the floor and pray for forgiveness in the middle of the theatre

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Let's leave the theatre and go to the countryside. An owl's hoot is associated with bad luck. How can you counter the bad luck? Hint

kill the owl and eat it

build a campfire

find another night bird and listen to its song

take off your clothes and turn them inside out

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. This superstition is to prevent bad luck for the year ahead. What do you have to do before the 12th night after Christmas? Hint

break 3 Christmas decorations

eat 12 mince pies

pack away Christmas decorations and Xmas tree

put the holly and mistletoe in a garden

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. When you get out of bed on the wrong side i.e. the left side, what should you do to counter the bad luck? Hint

make the bed quickly

get back in and get out on the right side

put your right sock and shoe on first

stand on your left foot for 30 seconds

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 11 2024 : Guest 77: 6/10
Apr 09 2024 : Guest 151: 0/10
Apr 08 2024 : Guest 138: 4/10
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 152: 7/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 73: 3/10
Mar 20 2024 : gibbysgab: 4/10
Mar 13 2024 : Guest 24: 1/10
Mar 12 2024 : Guest 174: 2/10
Mar 11 2024 : Guest 52: 4/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. OK, we will start with an easy one. If you spill salt it is considered bad luck. What do you do to turn the bad luck into good luck?

Answer: Throw a pinch of the spilled salt with your right hand over your left shoulder

I remember making a horrible mess on the floor by throwing too much salt over my left shoulder! I was reminded that it was a PINCH of salt not a bowl of salt.

2. One of the most well known superstitions is that breaking a mirror brings you 7 years bad luck. What can you do to reverse this?

Answer: wash broken pieces in a south running river

Washing the broken pieces of the mirror in a south running river is said to wash away the bad luck. You can also bury the pieces in the earth. But you should definitely take it out of the house and not gaze into it (I suppose covering it would prevent you from staring at it!)

3. If you believe that a black cat crossing your path will bring bad luck, what do you do when one does?

Answer: take 12 steps back

When taking 12 steps back don't fall down the cliff behind you!
In Britain black cats are a symbol of good luck. In the USA black cats are generally considered unlucky but white ones are lucky. Tortoiseshell cats are lucky in Japan, while in China the older and uglier a cat is the luckier it is.

4. Which nails, if made into a ring, will ward off bad luck?

Answer: horseshoe nails

Rubbing two horseshoes together brings good luck. If you are hanging a horseshoe hang it open end up to hold the good luck in the U bend.

5. One possible origin for this common superstition is thought to have come from the ancient Celts, who worshipped trees. The superstition is considered to prevent bad luck.

Answer: knocking wood

People knock wood three times to ward off punishment for bragging. It is said that evil spirits are afraid of the sound of three knocks on wood. Some people simply touch wood.

6. What action has a universal power of exorcism and purification, warding off evil influences?

Answer: ringing bells

Ringing bells are also said to protect against faeries. In Medieval Europe bells were thought to make witches crash when riding a broomstick.
Clapping hands in the wings of a theatre is considered unlucky.

Answer: leave the theatre, turn around three times, spit and ask for permission to re-enter

Macbeth is refered to as "the Scottish play" or "the bards play".
There are many other ways to dispel the Macbeth curse. E.g. Spitting and walking round the theatre counterclockwise three times. Or, turning three times and reciting from the "Merchant of Venice" : "Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you".
Green rooms, whistling and fresh flowers on the stage are all considered bad luck in a theatre.

8. Let's leave the theatre and go to the countryside. An owl's hoot is associated with bad luck. How can you counter the bad luck?

Answer: take off your clothes and turn them inside out

Taking off your clothes isn't a very practical way of countering this superstition, especially if there happen to be other people around at the time! You can also put irons in your fire or throw salt, hot peppers or vinegar into the fire. This is said to give the owl a sore tongue which would stop him from hooting.
The Irish believe that if an owl flies into a house it should be killed to prevent the owl taking the luck out of the house.

9. This superstition is to prevent bad luck for the year ahead. What do you have to do before the 12th night after Christmas?

Answer: pack away Christmas decorations and Xmas tree

I have heard that if you eat 12 mince pies during Advent you have good luck (and will help you gain weight too!)

10. When you get out of bed on the wrong side i.e. the left side, what should you do to counter the bad luck?

Answer: put your right sock and shoe on first

I get out of the left side of my bed every morning. Some say you must simply get out of bed the same side you get in, so relax!

Source: Author tee-hee-me

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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