Welcome to Porky Pies !!!

Important: This page explains how the game works. All the other pages are part of the game, so no peeking! (You may need to look at one other page to help you understand the rules).

What to do now:

Take a moment to read this page, print off a few pages and that’s it! You’re all set to enjoy this great new trivia bluffing game!

Getting Ready:

Each player will need a pen to write with.

Page 2 of this file contains the player scoring pads – you’ll need to print one copy of this page for each person playing. After page 2 there are about 90 more pages full of questions – there’s no need to print the whole file, you will only need one page of questions per player.

So for example, if you have four people playing you need to print of four copies of page 2 (the player scoring pads) and then the following four pages. This is enough to play the game once. When you want to play again, print another four copies of page 2 and four new pages of questions. A game usually lasts somewhere around 10 –15 minutes so if you want to play for longer, print off enough for more games straight away.

How to play:

Give each player their pen, scoring pad and questions (people must not see each other’s questions).

One player chooses a phrase from their question sheet and reads it aloud twice, together with the three possible explanations of the phrase. There are all kinds of phrases but most stem from the UK in the 16^th to 18^th century. The other players decide whether they think the correct answer is A, B or C and write down the answer on their score pads. When they have all done that, the correct answer is revealed (it’s the one written in italics) and everyone who guessed correctly scores a point. Then the next player asks a question and so the game continues. Be sure that each individual reads out an equal number of questions during the game – otherwise the scoring doesn’t work! The number of questions depends on how many people you have playing:

If you have 2 people playing, each person reads out 6 questions each.

If you have 3 people playing, each person reads out 4 questions each.

If you have 4 people playing, each person reads out 3 questions each.

If you have 5 people playing, each person reads out 2 questions each (and you disregard rows 11 and 12 on the scoring pads).

If you have 6 people playing, each person reads out 2 questions each.

Some of the questions are very UK oriented (this game was devised in Britain) and if that does not suit you, we suggest that you simply skip over the offending questions!

Player Scoring Pad

Use row 1 for the first question, row 2 for the second and so on. For each question, decide whether you think answer A, B or C is correct and place an “x” in that box. If you answer correctly, put a “1” in the score column.

At www.FreeBoardGames.com you’ll find lots more games like this as well as thousands of free copies of great new board games, family games and party games (real ones in boxes) that we send out to your home for a small delivery and administration fee.

Come and discover some great new ways to have fun!

"JACK STRAW"

This phrase was coined in the 16th century and has nothing whatsoever to do with the present day politician of the same name. The phrase would have been used to describe:

(A) Somebody who was widely considered to be good for nothing.

(B) Somebody who was as thin as a rake.

"BEAUTY SLEEP"

This term originates from:

(A) The story of Sleeping Beauty where a beautiful Princess slept for many years under the spell of a sorcerer.

(B) The belief that young people who stay up late into the night will not retain their looks as well as others.

(C) The belief that by keeping your daughter at home in the evenings, she was more likely to meet a suitable husband than she would if she was allowed to go out with the local girls and boys.

"AESOP'S FABLES"

Aesop's Fables are a well known collection of stories but who was Aesop?

(A) An eighth century Norwegian scholar and seal hunter.

(B) A deformed slave who lived in the sixth century B.C.

"MAID OF HONOUR"

As well as it's usual meaning, this phrase also describes a type of:-

(A) Beetle

(B) Cheesecake

Come and discover some great new ways to have fun!

"LIKE A CAT ON HOT BRICKS"

This phrase would refer to somebody who:-

(A) Was moving very fast indeed

(B) Was feeling uncomfortable in a certain situation

"APPLE OF THE EYE"

This phrase meaning something or someone that is much loved or sought after, originally referred to:

(A) The Serpent's apple in the Garden of Eden.

(B) A much prized golden apple that Greek gods raced to win.

"THE BACK END"

This is a phrase used in parts of Northern England to mean:

(A) Scotland

(B) Autumn

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"A BOOBY PRIZE"

Is a gift for the loser of a game. It originates from:

(A) The booby bird which was the victim of an early American army ritual. A booby was set loose in a garrison courtyard and the last five soldiers to pluck a feather from it would have to undertake the menial cleaning chores for the following month.

(B) The booby who was the pupil that came lowest in a school class or competition. They would be awarded a prize to make them feel better which was called the booby prize.

(C) The term booby trap meaning an unexpected event. As there was no reason to expect a prize for losing, any such prize became known as a booby.

Come and discover some great new ways to have fun!

"THAT RINGS A BELL"

This phrase is thought to originate from:

(A) A fairground attraction where by thumping a knob with a mallet, you could send a device up a column towards a bell.

(B) The Houses of Parliament where the chimes of Big Ben dictated the daily routine of the members.

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"GET OUT OF BED ON THE WRONG SIDE"

This phrase, now meaning grumpy, originates from:

(A) A Roman superstition that it was unlucky to put one's left foot on the ground first when getting out of bed.

(B) A Victorian habit of storing the chamber pot within close proximity to the bed. Getting out on the wrong side had highly unpleasant connotations.

(C) The British trenches in the First World War. Soldiers on night watch duty were exhausted the next day but had to work on regardless. The fatigue was eventually recognised as leading to fatality rates that were much higher than usual.

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"ASSASSINS"

This word meaning killers, stems from:

(A) A group formed in the eleventh century, made up of Moslem extremists who were reputed to get high on drugs before their lethal attacks.

(B) A medieval band of Celtic mercenaries, known for their vicious savagery and who were hired by the English in an attempt to quash Scottish uprisings.

(C) An elite squad of French soldiers who fled the country during the French revolution but subsequently returned to form the Foreign Legion.

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"THE MAFIA"

This phrase has come to refer to a group of gangsters. Originally it was an Arabic phrase that meant:

(A) Freedom Fighters.

(B) Family Strength.

"COAT OF ARMS"

A coat of arms was originally:-

(A) A symbolic coat presented to the British monarch after a major battle.

(B) A coat made of thin material worn by a knight over his armour.

_____________________________________________________________________________

"ABOVE BOARD"

This phrase meaning proper and correct is believed to come from:-

(A) Card players who may be suspected of cheating if they place their cards below the table and out of sight. Therefore playing with cards in full view above the table (or board) was generally thought to be proper.

(B) Sailing crews who were allowed to be more relaxed when below decks but always had to behave well when on the main deck where they might be seen by senior officers.

(C) The Corporation of London whose administrative board were caught in a trading scandal in 1908. Eight gentlemen of integrity were selected by Parliament and given powers to act "above the board" to resolve the ensuing crisis.

"A BAKER'S DOZEN"

This means thirteen because in olden times:

(A) Bakers would throw in an extra loaf to ensure that they were not ripping off their clients. Heavy fines existed for bakers who failed to conform with the regulations.

(B) Bakers would give their favoured clients an extra loaf of bread for free as an incentive for repeat business.

(C) Bakers were amongst the least well educated people and were the butt of many jokes. A baker's dozen was one of these jokes, implying that bakers could not count well enough to know the difference between twelve and thirteen.

"BACK TO SQUARE ONE"

(A) The game of hopscotch where squares are marked on the ground and children must hop into them in order. If one is missed out, the child must start again at the first square.

(B) A puzzle set by the Italian mathematician Fibonacci. The object was to make a fiendishly complex series of logical deductions in order to arrive at the solution. These deductions were depicted graphically as squares. However if you made a false assumption at any point, you would be forced to go right back to the first square to work out what it was.

(C) Early radio broadcasts where drawings of the pitch were used by listeners to help them to follow the progress of the game. The drawing was divided into squares and so 'going back to square one' came to mean going back to the beginning.

"SPLICING THE MAINBRACE"

This is a nautical term that refers to:-

(A) Issuing an extra ration of rum to sailors

(B) Being becalmed in the doldrums where the trade winds meet

"OLD BENDY"

This phrase is another name for:

(A) Winston Churchill

(B) Scotch Whisky

"HOKEY-POKEY PENNY A LUMP"

(A) This was a phrase used by gamblers to set the stakes in a game of cards. Early games used stones as gambling chips and each stone would worth one penny.

(B) Hokey-Pokey was an early type of ice cream which would be sold in lumps by street traders. Typically each lump cost a penny, hence the phrase which was used for selling purposes.

(C) Hokey-Pokey was a cheap form of highly sulphurous coal that was sold to paupers by the lump every week - the only way that they could afford to keep their homes warm in winter.

"TO DRIVE YOUR HOG TO MARKET"

The meaning of this phrase is:

(A) To snore in an unusually loud way.

(B) To cash in on something that you have been working very hard to achieve.

Come and discover some great new ways to have fun!

"A KIPPER"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who is prone to taking short sleeps during the day to keep themselves refreshed and alert.

(B) Somebody who shovels coals into a fire to keep a process going (for example, to keep a steam train running).

"A JAPANESE KNIFE TRICK"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who commits suicide using a knife.

(B) A street mugging where there is violence or the threat of violence.

"KILLING THE CANARY"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Being desperate for food, literally so hungry that you are thinking about killing the pet canary and eating what little meat it might offer.

(B) Taking extra long tea-breaks at work and generally indulging in other activities that mean you do less work.

"A CUFUFFLE"

This phrase would have been used in earlier times to describe:

(A) A commotion.

(B) A flowery cravat.

Come and discover some great new ways to have fun!

"BLACK DOG"

This was an 18th century term that referred to:

(A) A highwayman

(B) A forged shilling

"AN ALLELUIA LASS"

This phrase refers to:

(A) A Salvation Army Girl.

(B) A priggish young girl.

"BARBER"

As well as cutting people's hair, in centuries past barbers also used to:

(A) Make and mend clothes.

(B) Act as dentists and surgeons.

"TAKING MEAT FROM THE GRAVES"

This phrase from bygone times means:-

(A) Being so poor that you need to stoop to stealing church offerings to feed yourself or your family.

(B) Making a killing in a business venture, the implication being that you are doing so well that there won't be anything left for anybody else.

(C) Saying something about a deceased person which is controversial and which cannot be disputed because of the inability of the dead person to talk back.

Come and discover some great new ways to have fun!

"ONE'S LONG HOME"

(A) This phrase was used to refer to the grave, the place where everybody would be spending the longest amount of time.

(B) This phrase was used by gentlefolk to describe a holiday retreat, deemed to be a long way from their usual residence although perhaps as little as five miles away.

(C) This phrase was used by early immigrants to describe their country of birth, as opposed to their country of residence.

"HIPPOCRAS"

Hippocras is or was:-

(A) An ancient Greek surgeon who is said to be the father of medicine and after whom the Hippocratic oath is named.

(B) A contest of strength between two or more male hippopotamus that results in the winner being able to mate with the female of his choice.

"A GERMAN DUCK"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A sausage.

(B) A bed bug.

"F SHARP"

This phrase would be used to mean:

(A) "Do it quickly"

(B) Something that grates with you or annoys you.

Come and discover some great new ways to have fun!

"KITCHEN MIDDENS"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) An early type of oven glove.

(B) A disease that causes violent and involuntary muscular spasms.

"GET YOUR EYES CHALKED!"

This phrase would be used to mean:

(A) Covering something up (i.e. to pretend that you have not done something). If for example, you wanted to pretend that you didn't have a black eyes, you might put chalk over the bruise to try to disguise it.

(B) "Get your eyes tested".

"BIILIES AND CHARLIES"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Types of goats.

(B) Fake metal plaques that deceive people into thinking a place is of special interest.

"EEL SKINS"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Trousers that are very tight fitting.

(B) Sheets of sandpaper.

Come and discover some great new ways to have fun!

"ENGLISH PLUCK"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who is very brave.

(B) Rain.

"DEVIL'S SMILES"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Lies that are told with a laugh and smile.

(B) Weather that changes between scattered showers and patches of sunshine.

"DEW DRINK"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) An early morning drink.

(B) A glass of water.

"DOCTOR JERK"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A vet.

(B) An uneducated but highly opinionated person.

"THE JUMPING CAT SCHOOL"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) People who are very fickle.

(B) People who take a long time to make up their minds.

"EGG SATURDAY"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) The last Saturday before Lent.

(B) The first Saturday after Christmas.

"AN ELBOW SHAKER"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A pneumatic drill, so called because of the forceful vibrations emitted by the drill.

(B) A gambler, so called because of the action of throwing dice.

“AN EGYPTIAN DAY"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A very hot day.

(B) A day that your horoscope tells you will be an unlucky one.

"THE MOSAIC ECONOMY"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Capitalism. The implication is that the system thrives by countless individuals all endeavouring to do the best for themselves and thereby working together to form a mosaic pattern.

(B) The Old Testament. The phrase refers to the instructions that were given by God to Moses which outlined how religion was to be treated.

(C) The Internet. Mosaic is a name given to some of the software used to access the Internet and the phrase alludes to the future social revolution that will be caused by the Information Superhighway.

"TO JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON"

This phrase comes from:

(A) The Gold Rush era when some Americans were selling up everything they owned, buying a wagon and joining the frenzied rush to the west to seek their fortunes.

(B) American elections of yesteryear when candidates would ride the streets in wagons and local dignitaries would ride on the wagon of their favoured candidate to show support.

(C) The American army who, when ambushed by Red Indians, would head to the nearest wagon and use the ammunition it carried to form a defensive position.

"BITES AND BAMS"

This odd sounding phrase means:

(A) Cuts and bruises

(B) Fish and chips (especially cod)

(C) Nonsense and tomfoolery

"A BAPTISM OF FIRE"

This phrase was coined by Napoleon to mean:

(A) A man's initiation into battle

(B) Ambushing the enemy fleet by catapulting red hot coal onto their ships to burn and sink them.

"A BAD HAT"

This is an American term that means:

(A) A corrupt policeman, especially one with Mafia links.

(B) An unhappy outcome to an event (i.e. that put a bad hat on it)

(C) A stage actor who is no good at performing

Come and discover some great new ways to have fun!

"BIRD WALKING WEATHER"

This is a flying phrase that means:

(A) The weather is so perfect that birds could walk down the wings of the aircraft.

(B) There is so much wind that even the birds are not flying.

"A BLACK DOG FOR A WHITE MONKEY"

This phrase means:

(A) A trade or barter that seemed like a bargain at the time but which looks pretty foolish with the benefit of hindsight.

(B) A good deal which both parties think is fairly balanced.

"ROARING MEG"

A Roaring Meg is an old fashioned term that refers to:-

(A) A very hot summer

(B) A low flying aircraft that could not be heard until it was virtually overhead. It gained notoriety because people were continually jumping out of their skins when it suddenly appeared out of nowhere and roared overhead.

"RED BIDDY"

This phrase refers to:

(A) An Irish maid who decided to kill her cruel employer to gain her freedom. However she mistook her lover for her employer and killed him instead. She was so distraught that she then committed suicide. A 'red biddy' now refers to any case of mistaken identity.

(B) An old lady of Russian extraction.

(C) A mixture of meths and red wine that is drunk by tramps.

Come and discover some great new ways to have fun!

"BILLY WILLIAMS'S CABBAGE PATCH"

This phrase refers to:

(A) The England Rugby ground at Twickenham. Billy William's found the site which had formerly been used as a market for fruit and vegetables, hence the cabbage patch.

(B) The England Football ground at Wembley. The site got it's nickname after its maiden international when Billy Williams, the England Captain, scored five goals against Scotland. Press reports mockingly described the Scottish defenders as being "as quick as growing cabbages."

(C) The England cricket ground at Lords. A groundsman called Billy Williams was fired by the MCC when it was discovered that he was using an area at the side of the pitch to grow winter vegetables.

"THE IDLE BIBLE"

This was:

(A) An Edwardian book detailing socially acceptable pastimes suitable for people who were wealthy enough that they did not need to work.

(B) An edition of the bible containing an error that refers to the 'idle shepherd' instead of the 'idol shepherd'

"A BENDER"

This is another name for:

(A) An eel

(B) A cricket bat made for a left-handed person

(C) An old sixpence

"MAKING DEAD MEN CHEW"

This phrase means:-

(A) False accounting by naval officers whereby money is drawn illegally to pay sailors that have died or jumped ship.

(B) Putting prisoners to work, often in appalling conditions, constructing roads or railroads

(C) Obeying traditional superstition and laying a fourteenth place at the dinner table despite having only thirteen people expected at dinner. Thus one avoids setting 13 places which is considered unlucky.

"IF IT WAS A BEAR IT WOULD BITE YOU"

This phrase means:

(A) What you are looking for is bang in front of you.

(B) You are using something that the rightful owner would not want you to use.

"TO HOLD THE BELT"

This phrase means:

(A) To be the champion, like a boxer for example.

(B) To keep somebody under control or restrain them.

"HOLY WATER SPRINKLER"

A holy water sprinkler was:

(A) A largely ineffective hosepipe invented by Henry VIII's courtiers at Hampton Court to ensure even the furthest areas of garden did not become parched in summer. The inventor was beheaded when the plants wilted and withered away.

(B) A spiked medieval club used in battle and which caused its victims to suffer profuse bleeding, like holy water spilling over the battlefield.

(C) A technique used by NASA to ensure that fuel spilled from rockets during launch is harmlessly dispersed into the atmosphere.

"BARON OF BEEF"

This phrase means:

(A) A prize bull

(B) A large cut of beef

Come and discover some great new ways to have fun!

"TO NOT KNOW B FROM A BULL'S FOOT"

This phrase means:

(A) To not know when somebody is telling you a lie.

(B) To be illiterate.

"BALE FIRES"

These are:

(A) Fires started deliberately by farmers to burn the stubble from the fields after harvest.

(B) Serious mechanical or electrical failures on aircraft that force the pilot has to abandon the plane and eject.

"MARKED WITH B.C."

This phrase refers to:

(A) An archaeological method of dating artefacts by use of Bio-Carbons.

(B) A soldier who has been caught breaking the rules. B.C. was an abbreviation of Bad Conduct and his record would be marked with those letters.

(C) Bomb targets. A map would be marked with black crosses to help brief pilots and navigators before take off. 'Marked with BC' entered RAF parlance as a general term indicating trouble ahead.

"A FRENCH PIGEON"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A French person who lived in Paris. Parisians were supposed to be more flighty than the rest of their compatriots.

(B) A rocking chair.

"A FOUL WEATHER JACK"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) An umbrella.

(B) Somebody who is thought to bring bad luck to a ship.

"A DOG TRICK"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A dirty trick or a double cross.

(B) A prank that is meant in good humour but is taken badly by the victim.

"A CUNNING SHAVER"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who grew a beard.

(B) A barber.

"DRAFT ON ALDGATE PUMP"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Tap water. London's main water processing plant was at Aldgate.

(B) A howling wind.

"EATING A SWORD"

This phrase would be used to mean:

(A) "Whatever will he do next?"

(B) Putting yourself into a dangerous situation.

"KICKING UP THE DEVIL'S DELIGHT"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Making a lot of loud noise.

(B) Committing a sin.

"DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who was sleeping.

(B) Somebody who was dead.

"A GARDEN RAKE"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who is extremely thin.

(B) A fruit tree that fails to bear any fruit.

"DEVIL'S BONES"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Arrows.

(B) Dice.

"A DOG IN A BLANKET"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Something that is very cosy and comfortable.

(B) A roly-poly pudding.

"THE GENTLEMAN IN BLACK"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A highwayman.

(B) A clergyman.

"DEVIL'S COLOURS"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Black and Yellow.

(B) Purple and Red.

“A DIPPING BLOKE"

This slang phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A pickpocket.

(B) A fisherman.

"A GEE GEE DODGE"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Running away to get married at G.G. (which is short for Gretna Green).

(B) A butcher who sells horse flesh pretending that is really beef.

(C) Any horse competition that involves a combination of skills (as opposed to pure speed). For example, dressage and show jumping are Gee Gee Dodges.

Come and discover some great new ways to have fun!

"AN ETERNITY BOX"

This is a slang phrase that would be used to describe:

(A) A pulpit.

(B) A coffin.

"A DUMP FENCER"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who builds stone walls.

(B) Somebody who resells goods that have been stolen.

"DRAIN PIPES"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Chips served in newspaper with the hardened scraps of batter scattered on top.

(B) Cannons.

"AN EGG BOX"

What would you keep in an egg box? (The answer is not eggs!):

(A) Table Napkins.

(B) Earrings, bracelets and necklaces.

"DOCK WALLOPING"

This 19th century phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Unloading cargo from a ship.

(B) Jumping ship (i.e. leaving a ship before it has completed its journey).

"GADDING THE HOOF"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who was playing the fool.

(B) Somebody who was not wearing shoes.

"FICKLE JOHNNY CROW"

This Caribbean phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who keeps changing their mind about things.

(B) An employer who treats his workers badly.

"HAVING DUST IN YOUR EYES"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who is suffering from hayfever.

(B) Somebody who is short-sighted or even blind.

"DINING WITH DUKE HUMPHREY"

This is a 17th century phrase which would have been used to describe:

(A) Going without your dinner.

(B) Having a very sumptuous dinner.

"A FLESH BAG"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A body bag that is used to move dead soldiers from the battlefield.

(B) Somebody who is fat.

"EARTH STOPPERS"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Coffins.

(B) Harbours.

"FISH FOSH"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Tosh or baloney.

(B) A frying pan.

"FIGHT DOG, FIGHT BEAR"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who would take on any challenge that was issued to them.

(B) A fight that continues until one person is exhausted.

“EAGLE HAWKING"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Hunting for rabbits using birds of prey.

(B) Illegally selling counterfeit goods on street corners and at markets.

"A DEAD BIRD"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Something that is very heavy.

(B) Something that is not worth pursuing.

"ARCHIES"

This was a nickname given to:

(A) Street children in Dickensian times who lived is disused railway arches.

(B) Special forces soldiers who were trained in the use of crossbows. Certain styles of covert operations could be jeopardised by the noise of a gunfire. The crossbow offered a silent and effective alternative.

"BUBBLE AND SQUEAK"

This dish of re-heated potatoes and greens is called bubble and squeak because:

(A) It was named after two comic strip characters who gained special powers from eating the mixture.

(B) The potatoes bubbled in the saucepan when originally cooked and then squeaked when later fried.

(C) The upper classes viewed it as a delicacy and often served it with champagne at 'Bubbly squeak' parties. The peasants discovered that the dish was a useful way to re-serve leftover food and the name stuck in it's present format.

"A MADGE HOWLET"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A mad old woman.

(B) An owl.

"MALLEY'S COW"

This Australian phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody or something that disappears without trace.

(B) Somebody who is either physically or mentally slow.

"A LOCKSMITH'S DAUGHTER"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A key.

(B) A girl who is kept at home by her parents.

"FOIE GRAS"

The literal translation of this French delicacy is:

(A) Goose liver

(B) Fatty Liver

"A LOBLOLLY BOY"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A steward on an ocean going liner.

(B) A uniformed boy who works in hotels carrying luggage and doing other similarly menial tasks.

(C) A large employer in a rural area. The employer is literally the person who 'lobs the lolly' which is a slang term for 'issuing pay-packets'.

"THE LOYAL TOAST"

The Loyal Toast takes place at formal British functions and consists of drinking the health of the King or Queen. In the British Royal Navy, the Loyal Toast is:

(A) Drunk sitting down whereas normally it is drunk standing up.

(B) Only ever drunk with rum.

"ARGENTINA"

This South American country was given the name 'Argentina' because:

(A) It was discovered and claimed by the Spanish explorer Manuel Jose Argentina.

(B) It was believed that there was an enormous amount of silver there and Argentina literally means the country of 'Silver'.

"St. ANTHONY'S FIRE"

This is:

(A) A fast moving and highly dangerous desert whirlwind.

(B) A fire started by a lightning strike.

"HAVING AN EYE ON THE FISH AND THE LOAVES"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who was wistfully hoping for a miracle to get them out of a certain predicament.

(B) Somebody who makes it obvious at the beginning of a meal that they would like to have a large helping.

"A LOVE APPLE"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A tomato.

(B) A peach.

"AMAZON"

This word comes from Greek and originally meant:

(A) A fertile area of land with luscious vegetation.

(B) A female warrior.

Come and discover some great new ways to have fun!

"HORSESHOE"

Horseshoes are believed to be lucky because:

(A) The horse was a symbol of strength. Having a horseshoe pinned to a wall was believed to bring strength in times of adversity.

(B) Saturn, the God of Witches, could be kept at bay by the God Mars. Mars was identified with iron and therefore an iron horseshoe would keep the witches away.

(C) Their magnetic qualities were believed to draw in the good spirits and repel evil ones. Not all horseshoes had a magnetic charge and those that did were prized possessions.

"ACID TEST"

This phrase meaning a decisive test derives from:

(A) Wine merchants who would decide what grade to give each vineyard according to the levels of acid present in their wine. Once the grade was issued, it could not be changed until the following year's crop of grapes had been harvested.

(B) A particular form of acid that was used to show that a piece of gold was genuine. When mixed with real gold, the acid would cause a reaction which was considered to be the necessary proof.

(C) Torture chambers where a small amount of sulphuric acid would be poured onto the forearm of the victim. This was so painful that victims were considered to be unable to hold out against it.

"PUTTING ON THE LUGS"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Acting above your station in life.

(B) Dressing up coldly for cold winter weather.

"A LIFE LINE"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A diagram of evolution which shows the various stages that man went through between the times of Neanderthal man and the current Homo Sapiens.

(B) A line that runs across your hand and which certain people claim foretells the length and happiness of your life.

"HOT CROSS BUNS"

Hot cross buns are marked with a cross because:

(A) Being associated with Good Friday, they were originally made as an offering to the Christian God and so were given the sign of the cross.

(B) They were supposed to last for twelve months before going off and the cross allowed people to differentiate between these and other buns.

(C) Bakers started marking them in the 19th century to allow them to sell the hot cross buns at a higher price than ordinary buns.

"THE BIRD OF WASHINGTON"

The bird of Washington is:

(A) America's first lady, the President's wife.

(B) The starling. Popular folklore has it that the starlings will fly from Washington when the USA falls to an enemy power. To beat the superstition, a dozen starlings are kept in a cage at the White House.

"ASCENSION DAY"

Is the day that Christians remember the ascent of Jesus Christ to heaven. It falls:

(A) Forty days after Easter

(B) Three days after Easter

"WET THE DEAL"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Toasting a deal when it has been agreed.

(B) Increasing the value of a bid for something.

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"SHOWING THE WHITE FEATHER"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Showing your true colours.

(B) Not having any clothes on.

"OVER THE FENCE"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who is getting old. It means the same as "over the hill".

(B) Somebody who is self-oriented and thoughtless.

"A DEATH HUNTER"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who is depressed to the point of feeling suicidal.

(B) Somebody who writes obituaries for newspapers.

"FIMBLE FAMBLE"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Waffle or insignificant conversation.

(B) The harness that is used to control two or more horses when they are pulling a carriage.

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"FAKE PIE"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A pie which is inedible but looks good. Butchers use varnished fake pies for their window displays.

(B) Going along with something that you don't fully agree with.

"A DAMSON PIE"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A javelin.

(B) A stream of abuse.

"A FLANDERS FORTUNE"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A fortune that is small.

(B) A large amount of money made overseas, especially in exploration.

"FIGGY DOWDY"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A dessert made from stewed fruit.

(B) Not going to church except at Christmas and Easter.

"FIT AS A PUDDING"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Something that is very appropriate.

(B) Somebody who is overweight and unhealthy in appearance.

"FEELING YOUR COLLAR"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Getting too hot.

(B) Having a feeling that there is somebody right behind you when in fact there is nobody there.

"A GALLERY NYMPH"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A young girl who frequents classical concerts, art exhibitions and similar occasions.

(B) An ice cream vendor at a theatre.

"A FLY TRAP"

This slang phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A mouth.

(B) A window.

"FLAG OF DISTRESS"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A shirt tail that has not been properly tucked in.

(B) The sign outside a pawn brokers' shop (which typically consists of several balls mounted upon each other).

"A GANDER MONTH"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) April, the month in which migrating geese arrive in England.

(B) The month after your have had a baby.

"FLUTTER THE RIBBONS"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Getting dressed up in your best clothes.

(B) Getting so nervous that you being to tremble.

"THE FOOLERIES"

This is a nickname that would have been used in the nineteenth century to describe:

(A) The universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

(B) April Fool's day pranks.

"A GALLEY NIPPER"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A boy who carries out menial chores on behalf of a ship's skipper.

(B) A big midge or mosquito.

"FLY DISPERSER SOUP"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A soup made of oxtail.

(B) A heavy thunderstorm that clears the air after a period of still humid summer weather.

"A GANDER PARTY"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A party which revolved around a goose being roasted on a spit.

(B) A stag party.

"A FOUR LEGGED FORTUNE"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A couple who had poor backgrounds but made a lot of money in their own right.

(B) A race horse or greyhound that won a lot of races.

"A FORTNUM AND MASON"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A picnic hamper full of tasty food.

(B) A member of the upper class.

"BY GEORGE"

This is an exclamation of surprise. Who was George?

(A) Lloyd George.

(B) Saint George.

"A DAISY KICKER"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who is dead and has been buried.

(B) A lawn mower.

"A FRIDAY FACE"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Somebody who was looking down in the dumps. This has its origins in Friday being a day for fasting, consequently nobody liked Fridays very much.

(B) Somebody who was looking happy. Pay packets were issued on Friday and inevitably there would be a binge in the evening, consequently every was happy on Fridays.

"A FUNKSTER"

In the schoolboy slang of yesteryear, this phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A prankster.

(B) A coward.

"TAKING YOUR DANIEL"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Leaving somewhere.

(B) Always keeping your bible close to you.

"A GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION"

This phrase would have been used to describe:

(A) The Holy Bible.

(B) A lady.

"FROG'S WINE"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Cheap French wine that did not taste very pleasant.

(B) Gin.

"BUFFALO BILL"

Buffalo Bill got given the 'buffalo' part of his name because:

(A) He was the most notorious gangster in his home town of Buffalo in New York State.

(B) He accidentally invented a popular variety of mozzarella cheese made from buffalo milk.

"A BELCHER"

This unattractive word means:

(A) A piece of cloth worn around the neck

(B) A cowherder

"ENOUGH TO MAKE A CAT LAUGH"

This phrase would refer to:-

(A) An incredibly lucky occurrence. The suggestion is that even a cat, which reputedly has nine lives, would be laughing at the amount of luck involved.

(B) A room that is very spacious. Perhaps this is associated with the phrase 'having enough room to swing a cat.' If so, then the cat would be laughing because it could be swung without fear of hitting any hard objects.

(C) Something that is daft. The idea here is that cats don't normally laugh so it would have to be something that was really very daft indeed to make a cat laugh.

"HONKY-TONK"

(A) One of the first plastic children's toys, the Honky-Tonk was a truck with a siren that emitted a fearsome noise. The Honky-Tonk craze swept through British schools nation-wide and a well-known toy company was founded as a result.

(B) A free-spirited movement that began in San Francisco in the late fifties. The Honky-Tonk men and women are widely believed to be the original hippies and the foundering fathers of the more widespread hippie phenomenon of the 1960's.

(C) A seedy night club, possibly named after a harsh style of piano music with a rhythm that that was considered raunchy at the time.

"BEGGAR'S BULLETS"

These are:

(A) The discarded crusty ends of bread loaves.

(B) Small pebbles

"A BOBBY DAZZLER"

This late 19th century phrase refers to:

(A) A criminal who flashes very bright lights at policemen thereby temporarily blinding the police and enabling the criminal to escape into the darkness of night.

(B) A person who is dazzling and impressive.

"BY HOOK OR BY CROOK"

This well known phrase is thought to originate from:

(A) The Billingsgate fish market. Merchants would attempt to buy direct from the boats to secure the freshest fish. When the boats had poor catches, the merchants had to deal with unscrupulous brokers whose fish was several days old.

(B) Estate tenants whose allowance of firewood was determined by the length of a shepherd's crook. The firewood was cut with a hooked knife. Thus firewood was obtained by a mixture of hook and crook.

(C) Mariners who would moor their boats by use of an anchor (a hook) or a loop from a dockside (a crook). Thus they would moor by hook or crook.

"MANY A MICKLE MAKES A MUCKEL"

This Scottish phrase means:-

(A) If you don't stop something going wrong at the first opportunity then the chances are that it will go even more wrong and will take more effort to correct in due course.

(B) A lot of small, insignificant things can add up to something large that's worth having.

(C) A lot of people who all have similar characteristics (such as members of the same clan all having the same surname for example) will create confusion all round.

"TO HAVE AN OAR IN EVERY BOAT"

This sixteenth century phrase means:

(A) To have a finger in every pie.

(B) To be an interfering busybody type of person.

"FLESH EATING HORSES"

(A) According to ancient Greek mythology, a rogue known as Diomedes would feed his horses with the corpses of unsuspecting strangers who happened to stray into his territory.

(B) The flesh eating horses are the horses that pull the chariots of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

(C) Flesh eating horses were chronicled during the crusades as a terrifying aspect of battle with the infidels. Even the bravest knights were reputed to have been overwhelmed by these horses. The legend endured for several centuries.

"A RUM BUBBER"

In days bygone, this phrase referred to:

(A) An accomplished thief who specialised in pinching silver tankards from pubs and selling them on elsewhere.

(B) A manager or owner of a West Indian plantation. They were so called because they would relax and drink rum in the shade during the hottest part of the day. At the same time their workers would be forced to tend the crops without protection from the sun.

(C) A handsome or particularly effective hunting hound whose puppies would generate a small but prestigious income for its owner.

"A CAMBRIDGE OAK"

This was a nickname given to:

(A) A cane used to impose discipline on schoolboys. At Eton and Winchester the phrase "getting

an oaking" meant getting a thrashing.

(B) A willow tree. Perhaps there is some connection with the willow trees that adorn the banks of the River Cam.

"TEDDY BEAR"

This soft toy for children is named after:-

(A) Theodore Roosevelt, an American President, who was nicknamed Teddy and had a passion for hunting bears.

(B) Edward Rothschild, a wealthy European trader who had the first known teddy bear made for his oldest son who was dying from influenza.

"BATMAN"

Apart from a famous superhero, a batman is:

(A) A professional baseball player's assistant. The batman organises the player's diary, training schedule and even parts of his private life.

(B) An executioner who administers the lethal injection to prisoners on America's death rows.

"A BUM FREEZER"

This refers to:-

(A) Chairlifts in ski resorts. The implication is that having been warmed by the exercise of skiing down the mountain, skiers are then obliged to sit motionless on a cold chairlift to get back up the hill again.

(B) An American fridge-freezer that automatically produces ice cubes in the shape of a half-moon.

(C) A jacket that is cut unusually short, often at the hips. It offers no protection and therefore no warmth to the lower body.

"ALL SOULS PARISH MAGAZINE"

This was a 1930's nickname for:

(A) BBC Radio current affairs programmes

(B) The Tatler magazine

"MEASURING SWORDS"

(A) Measuring Swords were pointed devices with notches on that were used by butchers to assure customers that they were getting the right amount of meat for their money.

(B) Measuring Swords is a phrase that stems from the custom of duelling. Before a duel, the swords were measured to ensure neither man had an unfair advantage. Thus it effectively means ensuring fair play.

"BLOOD AND THUNDER"

This late 19th century phrase refers to:

(A) A mixture of port and brandy. Presumably the port represents the blood whilst the brandy, or at least its consequences, represents the thunder.

(B) A time of violence whether a feud or full scale war. Presumably blood refers to injuries and thunder refers to a violent atmosphere.

(C) A wrestling bout where the winner would only be declared when the loser had given up. These tended to be particularly savage contests and sometimes both combatants would receive quite serious injuries before the bout was over.

"TO BE TAKEN ABACK"

This phrase, meaning surprised, is believed to be derived from:

(A) American saloons in the Gold Rush era where pretty young girls would lure gentlemen travellers to the back of the bar. The girls would have accomplices there who would mug the gentlemen for their money and valuables.

(B) Military encounters where one army distracts another and then sneaks around the back of them to launch a surprise attack from behind.

(C) Sailing boats where a shift in the wind would cause the sails to fill from the wrong side and blow the boat backwards.

"BLACK DIAMONDS"

This is another name for:

(A) Oil wells

(B) Truffles

"EMPTY THE BUTTER BOAT"

This phrase means:

(A) To lavish compliments upon somebody or something to such an extent that there's nothing more to be said.

(B) To turn a place upside down looking for something. A butter boat is a pot used for serving melted butter and the implication is that even this ridiculous object has been searched in the quest to find whatever is missing.

"THE BUZZ-NAPPERS ACADEMY"

The Buzz-nappers academy was an 18th century nickname for:

(A) An underworld system for training thieves and other crooks.

(B) The army. The source of the phrase derives from the army lifestyle which consisted of periods of intense activity (the buzzes) followed by periods of sitting around with nothings to do (the naps).

(C) The House of Lords. It was believed that the House of Lords was full of doddering old souls who often fell asleep during debates.

"A1"

Meaning first rate, A1 entered into popular usage due to:

(A) The construction of the A1 Road which was planned to be better than any other road of its era. The print media began to term anything excellent as being of 'A1' standard.

(B) A Lloyds classification system for ships. The top mark for the body of the ship was an 'A' whilst for the rest of the boat it was a '1'. Therefore the very best rating a ship could achieve was an 'A1'.

(C) The postgraduate degree grades given at Oxford and Cambridge. The best postgraduate grade is a 'first class;merit won', commonly abbreviated to 'A1' and duly used to describe other examples of excellence.

"BESIDE THE CUSHION"

This phrase means:

(A) Something that is a side issue, not the main point.

(B) A cosy home but one that is not a primary place of residence.

"BLOWING MARLIN SPIKES"

This phrase refers to:

(A) A sword fight.

(B) A howling gale. A marlin spike is a thin cylindrical device with a pointed ended which is used by sailors to undo knots. Blowing marlin spikes therefore means a really strong biting wind.

(C) Spiteful chatter. To say that you are blowing spikes at somebody roughly equates to verbally stabbing them in the back.

"BIG BERTHA"

In American English, a big bertha is:

(A) An overweight lady.

(B) A large concrete multi-storey parking lot.

(C) A cargo ship or oil tanker which is so large that it can only dock in certain ports that have the correct facilities.

"SWALLOWING THE ANCHOR"

This phrase is used to describe:

(A) A ship sinking under the waves.

(B) A fish as it bites onto a fisherman's hook.

"ALMA MATER"

This phrase that a graduate uses to refer to his or her college, literally means:

(A) Bountiful mother.

(B) Mother tongue.

"HIP, HIP, HURRAH"

This well known phrase is thought to have originally meant:

(A) "My sweetheart has accepted my proposal of marriage"

(B) "The Queen has given birth to the future Emperor of Prussia"

(C) "Jerusalem has fallen to the Arabs and we are on the way to Heaven"

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"THE CAMBERWELL DEATH TRAP"

This unpleasant sounding phrase refers to:

(A) A dilemma that consists of a choice between two courses of action when both of them have nasty consequences.

(B) A canal in Camberwell (London) which was notorious for the number of people who drowned in it.

(C) A type of horse drawn carriage. These carriages were made in Camberwell and were prone to losing wheels whilst being driven.

"A DEAD HORSE"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A point of no return.

(B) An enormous portion of food.

"DESPERATELY MASHED"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Being badly cut and bruised.

(B) Hopelessly in love.

"DEFERRED STOCK"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A broth that has been made from cheap ingredients or left overs.

(B) A bloodline that has been erroneously traced back to nobility.

"A GENTLEMAN OF FORTUNE"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A beggar.

(B) A pirate.

"DAVY'S DUST"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Gunpowder.

(B) Sand.

"E.C. WOMEN"

This phrase was used in the early 20th century to mean:

(A) A females living within the European Community.

(B) English County Ladies. The implication was that these ladies who typically came from the home counties, were better bred than others.

(C) Ladies who lived in the EC postal district of London. This was a smart address to have and implied that your husband was earning a lot of money in the City of London.

"A DAY BUG"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A pupil who attends a public school but who is not a boarder there.

(B) A firefly or similar insect which has the ability to make itself visible in darkness.

"DYNAMITE"

This word is generally used to mean an explosive substance. However in the nineteenth century it was also used to mean something different. What?

(A) A knockdown bargain from a market stall.

(B) Popcorn.

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"DIAMOND CRACKING"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Being employed as a coal miner.

(B) Being a bank robber, especially one who enters the bank safe.

"BEATING THE DUTCH"

This eighteenth century phrase would have been used to mean:

(A) Accomplishing something that is exceptional.

(B) Giving somebody a special treat.

“A DIGBY DUCK”

A 'Digby Chicken' is a herring. What is a Digby Duck?:

(A) A basted chicken.

(B) A stuffed duck.

"TAKING THE DUBLIN PACKET"

This nineteenth century English phrase would be used to describe:

(A) Winning a bet on a horse race.

(B) Sharpening up a knife.

"A DISMAL DITTY"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A spoil sport.

(B) A nursery rhyme.

"A PAIR OF DRUMS"

This phrase would have been used in nineteenth century nautical circles to describe:

(A) A pair of trousers.

(B) A pair of drummers. Drummers are large seabirds that travel in pairs and are supposed to bring good luck.

"THE DISTRICT OF SAPPERS"

This phrase would be used to describe a part of England. Which part?

(A) Lancashire.

(B) Camberley.

"GREASE THE DUKE"

This slang phrase would have been used in the nineteenth century to describe:

(A) Paying somebody a 'backhander' to accomplish something.

(B) Washing your hands.

"DOG WALLOPING"

This phrase would have been used to describe:

(A) Remaining absolutely motionless to avoid detection.

(B) Collecting cigarette ends then rolling your own cigarettes from the leftover tobacco that was in the discarded butts.

"A JACK OF DOVER"

This phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A type of flatfish.

(B) A person from France.

"A DOODLE DOO MAN"

This slang phrase would be used to describe:

(A) A teacher at an art college.

(B) A cleaner who works in an abattoir.

"DROPPING YOUR ANCHOR IN LEVANT"

This is a phrase which emerged in the 19th century. It would be used to describe:

(A) Retiring from work.

(B) Fishing a long way out to sea where the water is too deep to drop anchor.