Weather Idioms
. ($100) This never strikes twice.
Answer: What is lightning? Tell that to the Empire State Building, which gets struck around 25 times a year.
($100) These large, spooky birds typically hoot.
Answer: What are owls? Some owls make other sounds, such as bloodcurdling shrieks, cackles, hoots, caws, and gurgles.
($100) This comedy duo gave us “Who’s on First?”
Answer: Who are Abbott and Costello? They began working together in New York’s Eltinge Theater, and they were one of radio’s most popular acts.
($100) This vegetable’s name sounds like it would be a hen’s contribution to the meal.
Answer: What is eggplant? Small eggplants look like large, egg-shaped produce. Botanically, the eggplant is a fruit.
($100) This is the number of petals on a shamrock.
Answer: What is three? It’s the national flower of Ireland, and you’ll see it everywhere on St. Patrick’s Day because everyone is Irish on March 17.
. ($200) To go after a seemingly impossible dream is to chase one of these.
Answer: What is a rainbow? The chance of catching a literal rainbow on any given day approaches zero. Successful entrepreneurs, such as Fred Smith of FedEx fame, often chase metaphorical rainbows. His company is the result of a paper at Yale University, which earned him a C. He later gambled the last $5,000 in the company coffers to buy fuel for the company’s airplanes.
. ($200) Mayors sometimes honor dignitaries with this symbolic gift
Answer: What is the key to the city? During ancient times, the key to the city opened a gate in the wall surrounding the city. Today, it’s symbolic.
($200) His Christmas specials and USO tours brought comic relief to the U.S. military in war zones.
Answer: Who is Bob Hope? He also performed on radio’s The Pepsodent Show as well as on TV and film.
($200) These French pastries are oblong and filled with a cream or custard filling.
Answer: What are éclairs? Sometimes they’re topped with chocolate fondant.
. ($200) The element CO2 , known by this name, is blamed for causing climate change.
Answer: What is carbon dioxide? Plants don’t “breathe” the same way we do, but they do exchange the gases carbon dioxide and oxygen with the atmosphere
($400) When feeling sick, we might say we’re under this
Answer: What is the weather? This idiom’s origins may be traced to sailors who felt seasick. They were sent below deck, out of the way of—or under—the weather.
($400) This extends beneath the ear.
Answer: What is the earlobe? The earlobe helps maintain balance and provides warmth to the ear.
($400) This jazz musician was also known as “Satchmo” and “Pops.”
Answer: Who is Louis Armstrong? His greatest hits include “What a Wonderful World” and “Hello, Dolly!”
($400) This is the name for pottery made of clay.
Answer: What is earthenware? The clay is hardened by firing it in a kiln between 900–1,110°F. Stoneware and porcelain are fired at higher temperatures.
. ($400) This is the main ingredient in household dust.
Answer: What are dead skin cells? Researchers have found that people shed around 200 million dead skin cells every hour.
($600) When people go through an unsuccessful period, they go through this kind of spell.
Answer: What is dry? A dry spell might be caused by a drought of ideas.
($600) He was Mary Todd’s famous husband.
Answer: Who is President Abraham Lincoln? Mary Todd Lincoln was a tragic figure. Her mother passed away when she was a young child. Her husband was assassinated, and she lost three of her four children.
($600) The Adventures of [this detective] series was based on a real-life detective, and the character was first created for The Maltese Falcon.
Answer: Who is Sam Spade? The show was The Adventures of Sam Spade, and it aired from 1946–1951.
($600) When a person flees his country to live in another country, he is said to live in this state.
Answer: What is exile? It’s a common occurrence among heads of state who are considered enemies by their political opponents and fear for their lives.
. ($600) The Rubik’s Cube has this number of sides.
Answer: What is six? The world record for solving the Rubik’s Cube is 3.13 seconds.
($800) When people are extremely angry, they can have a face like this
Answer: What is thunder? The phrase “a face like thunder” is thought to date to the late 18th century.
. ($800) This airline booked reservations for the first flight to the moon.
Answer: What is Pan Am? They booked 90,000 reservations, but the flight never happened. Today, SpaceX and others are pioneering space tourism travel.
($800) This president’s fireside chats were a series of nighttime radio speeches.
Answer: Who is President Franklin D. Roosevelt? Roosevelt was the first president to use radio instead of newspaper for mass communication with the American people. FDR was a brilliant communicator who used the fireside chats to persuade his audience.
($800) This title of British nobility is the equivalent of a French count.
Answer: What is earl? It’s the oldest British title of nobility.
($800) Before Alaska joined the Union, the United States had this number of states.
Answer: What is 48? Alaska gained statehood on January 3, 1959. Hawaii was the 50th state, admitted to the Union seven months later, on August 21, 1959.