Idioms
This phrase rooted in aviation means to go what is beyond possible or expected.
What is "push the envelope"?
Despite completing many death-defying stunts, this magician died on Halloween at 52 from complications related to appendicitis, likely exacerbated by being punched in the abdomen as part of a stunt less than two weeks earlier.
Who is Harry Houdini?
Prior to the popularity of Netflix's Monster series, Wisconsin became the focal point of this true crime documentary series on Netflix.
What is Making a Murderer?
After years away, a man that leaves a quiet wellness center to go for a trick-or-treat stroll in his hometown, determined to show his favorite babysitter his custom Star Trek mask.
What is Halloween?
Forrest Gump, Captain Phillips, Woody
Who is Tom Hanks?
Forrest Gump, Captain Phillips, Toy Story
This battlefield phrase originally referred to enduring pain without anesthesia, now commonly used to describe perseverance.
What is "bite the bullet"?
As a cost-effective and more reliable alternative to this modern machine, workers in industrial British towns hired "knocker-uppers," often equipped with batons and sticks.
What is an alarm clock?
While often disputed, this famous film's world premier is said to have been hosted in Wisconsin in Oconomowoc... or Green Bay... Or maybe it was actually in Los Angeles...
What is Wizard of Oz?
After a tragic incident at a camp, an overzealous safety watchman patrols the site, keeping counselors on their toes with surprise visits and bizarre pranks.
What is Friday the 13th?
Elle Woods, June Carter Cash, Nicole Walker
Who is Reese Witherspoon?
Legally Blonde, Walk the Line, Fear
This taunt originated from fairground games where cigars were once prizes.
What is "close but no cigar"?
A different kind of flood in the city of Boston occurred in 1919, when a large storage tank of this sticky substance burst.
What is molasses?
Before he was telling terrorists "get off my plane", this actor attended Ripon College in Fond Du Lac county, Wisconsin.
Who is Harrison Ford?
A quirky preschool groundskeeper with a flair for fashion and finger puppets makes it his mission to keep kids punctual, tickling them awake before they snooze through story time.
What is Nightmare on Elm Street?
Det. William Somerset, Red, God
Who is Morgan Freeman?
Se7en, Shawshank Redemption, Bruce Almighty
This phrase, now synonymous with revealing a secret, is believed to originate from a bait-and-switch scam used in the sale of livestock.
What is "let the cat out of the bag"?
You might think its consumption would be more closely associated with a cause than the cure, but this food was briefly used in the 1830's to treat ailments like indigestion, diarrhea, and jaundice.
What is ketchup?
This tech company, once a staple in every web browser, was co-founded in 1994 by a Milwaukeean and was later led by a President & CEO from Wausau.
What is Yahoo!?
Small-town residents are thrust into pop quiz movie trivia played by phone where the host often puts on a mask and surprises contestants at home, school, or work.
What is Scream?
Alonzo Harris, Coach Herman Boone, Rubin Carter
Who is Denzel Washington?
Training Day, Remember the Titans, The Hurricane
Once referring to the reading of a British law to disperse a crowd, this phrase is now used to describe giving someone a stern warning.
What is "read the riot act"?
In 1518, citizens of Strasbourg were struck by a bizarre "plague" that caused this uncontrollable action, often to the point of exhaustion.
What is dance?
Don Gorske of Fond du Lac is known as the ultimate fan of this branded food product, having eaten over 34,000 in his lifetime as of 2024.
What is a Big Mac?
Five close friends visiting a family gravesite stumble into a decaying rural town in the south where they encounter a local wanderer and meet a family of eccentric creatives looking for others to participate in their art installations.
What is Texas Chainsaw Massacre?
Evey Hammond, Padmé Amidala, Nina Sayers
Who is Natalie Portman?
V for Vendetta, Star Wars: Episode I, Black Swan