Literature
What Does it Mean?
Movies and TV
Songs
Random!
100

If someone were to say, "it's been raining for forty days and forty night!," they really mean that it has been raining for a long time. 

Where does this allusion come from?

The Bible 

This allusion specifically comes from the story of Noah's ark in Genesis. 

100
If someone were to refer to a student in AP Chemistry as an "Einstein," what do they really mean?

The student is really smart. 

This is an allusion to Albert Einstein, a real-life genius! 

100

The symbol is walking with a fist in the air, like in the picture, is a reference to which 1985 film?

The Breakfast Club

100

The song titled, "Heads Will Roll" features the lyrics, "off with their heads / off with their heads." Which Disney classic is this a reference to?

Alice in Wonderland

100

Elon Musk created a car company and named it after a famous inventor. What is the name of the company or inventor?

Tesla


Tesla Motors is named after Nikola Tesla. 

200

Warm Bodies is a movie about a zombie named R who falls in love with a girl. Unfortunately they live in a world where the girl's father is against their relationship. 

What play is this a reference to?

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

200

What does it mean if someone said, "You are such a Mother Teresa." 

You are a very giving, selfless person. You are quite literally a saint. 


Mother Teresa was a person who lived in India and served humanity throughout her life. 

200

If someone were to say, "that is so fetch!" Which 2004 movie are they referencing?

Mean Girls 

200

In Taylor Swift's song, "So High School," she references who is said to be the first scientist in the lyrics: "You know how to ball, I know ____." 

Artistotle - Taylor Swift is referencing Travis Kelce's football skills and her knowledge of the art of using words. 

200

Fill in the blanks in the following song lyrics by Bastille with one word that is a reference to Greek mythology. 

"_____ is flying too close to the sun / And _____ life, it has only just begun / It's just begun..."

Icarus 

300

Which children's book is being referenced in the following lyrics?

"So goodnight moon and goodnight you

When you're all that I think about

All that I dream about

How'd I ever breathe without

A goodnight kiss from goodnight you?

The kind of hope they all talk about

The kind of feeling we sing about

Sit in our bedroom and read aloud

Like a passage from Goodnight Moon"

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

300

When someone refers to a situation as a "catch-22," what do they really mean?

A catch-22 means that something is a no-win or lose-lose situation.

This is a reference to Joseph Heller's novel, Catch-22.

300

If someone where to say, "Swiper, no swiping" as you were about to steal the zipper pulls from their backpack, which children's TV show are they alluding to?

Dora the Explorer

300

In the song "Thank You, Next," the lyrics are, "Wish I could say 'thank you' to Malcolm,/ 'Cause he was an angel."

Who is Ariana Grande referencing?

Mac Miller

Real name: Malcolm James McCormick

300

Your friend texts you at the end of the school day and says, "Meet me by the buses." The friend also includes the following two emojis. Which popular meme are they referencing AND what does the meme refer mean?

The Kermit the Frog sipping tea meme means that your friend has a secret or gossip to tell you. 

400

In Taylor Swift's song "Getaway Car," the lyrics "It was the best of times, the worst of crimes" is a reference to which classic novel by Charles Dickens?

A Tale of Two Cities 

400

Benedict Arnold was a general during the American War. He later switched sides. 

What does it mean if someone were to call you a Benedict Arnold?

You are a traitor or you easily switch sides. 

400

A very popular Disney movie is based on William Shakespeare's Hamlet. This is a play about a son whose father is a king. The king is betrayed by his own brother and then dies. The son decides to avenge the death of his father, which leads to demise of the uncle. 

The Lion King

400

Noah Kahan references a midnight rider who warns John Hancock and Samuel Adams about approaching enemies. He uses the song to make a connection about leaving his hometown. What is the title of the song that shares a name with the historical rider?

Paul Revere 

400

This car company named their brand after Cronus, who was the father of Zeus. 

Saturn 

500

If someone says, "nothing can stay gold," they are referencing a poem written by who?

Robert Frost

500

If someone were to say, "math class is my Achilles heel." What do they really mean?

Math class is my weakness. 

500

Which biblical story is being alluded to in the classic Disney movie Snow White?

The story of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit in Genesis 


500

What historical event is being alluded to in the following song lyrics?

"Ring-a-ring-a-rosies
A pocket full of posies
A tissue, a tissue
We all fall down"

The Black Plague

500

Which popular Netflix show, based on a novel by Jay Asher, is this anti-suicide poster alluding to?

13 Reasons Why

M
e
n
u