Homophones
Idioms
Words and phrases
Peculiar words
Riddles
100
Affect x Effect
Which of these two words is used as a verb meaning to impact, change or influence?
to affect
an effect (noun) - the result of a change
100
What does "hit the hay" mean?
To go to sleep
100
What can you desribe with the word buxom?
a) someone's physical appearance
b) someone's personality
c) a way of tying one's shoes
d) a manner of dress
a) someone's physical appearance
voluptuous, full-figured, bosomy
Jane is a buxom blond.
100
What is the meaning of bumfuzzle?
confuse, perplex
"In an attempt to bumfuzzle his mother, Toby hid her keys in the microwave and pretended to know nothing about it."
100
You can't use me until you break me.
An egg
200
Naval X Navel
True or false: One of the words is related to a body part?
Navel - belly button
Naval - related to ships, navy
200
The person we were just talking about had walked in
Speak of the devil
"Speak of the devil and he doth appear"
200
Ardour
a) an area of water next to the coast, where ships and boats can shelter
b) a distinctive smell, especially an unpleasant one
c) a strong, intense feeling of love or enthusiasm for someone or something
d) the characteristic atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person, thing, or place
Ardour is a strong, intense feeling of love or enthusiasm for someone or something
"His ardour for her cooled after only a few weeks."
200
Which one of these words does NOT mean an ornament, shiny trinket?
a) gewgaw
b) nicknack
c) gimrack
d) gardyloo
Gardyloo - a warning cry, used in medieval Scotland to warn passers-by of waste about to be thrown from a window into the street below
200
What disappears as soon as you say its name?
Silence
300
Discreet X Discrete
Which of these two words means careful not to cause embarrassment or attract a lot of attention ?
Discreet
Discrete (adj.) - separate, distinct, consisting of distinct or unconnected elements
300
What does "to be in a stew" mean?
to be in a difficult situation which makes one worried or upset
"William is in a stew over his tax return."
300
by George (by Jove)
used to express:
a) excitement
b) surprise
c) fear
d) disgust
b) surprise
"By Jove, I think he's won!"
"By George, I think she's got it!"
300
Where would you end up if you went to hoosegow?
a) museum
b) court
c) prison
d) kitchen
prison
A wild night out could land you in the hoosegow for breaking the law.
300
You measure my life in hours and I serve you by expiring. I’m quick when I’m thin and slow when I’m fat. The wind is my enemy.
A candle
400
Ensure X Assure X Insure
Which of the three words means to guarantee that something will occur?
Ensure
Assure - make certain, remove doubt
Insure - arrange an insurance
400
pull someone's chestnuts out of the fire
a) to help someone only for a reward
b) to save someone from a difficult situation
c) to ask someone for a favour
d) to leave someone to their own devices
b)
"I can't believe my car broke down on this desolate road late at night. Thank you so much for picking me up—you really pulled my chestnuts out of the fire!"
It can also mean to do someone's dirty work for them.
400
droll
a) boring, dull
b) amusing, comical
c) old-fashioned, worn out
d) happy, cheerful
b) amusing
amusing in an odd way, whimsically humorous, waggish
"I always loved his droll sense of humor."
400
Which word is NOT a synonym for bagpipes?
a) doodlebag
b) cornemuse
c) tchochke
d) biniou
tchochke - trinket, ornament, nicknack
400
I have cities, but no houses. I have mountains, but no trees. I have water, but no fish. What am I?
A map
500
Appraised X Apprised
Which of the words would you put into the following sentence?
They _________ him of his rights.
They apprised him of his rights.
apprise - to tell
appraise - to estimate the value of something
I had our house appraised by a real estate professional.
500
to be on tenterhooks means:
a) to be easily fooled
b) to be very interested or enthusiastic about something
c) to be constantly scared because of previous experiences
d) to be waiting nervously for something to happen
d)
"We're on tenterhooks to discover if they will say yes. "
500
Pooh-pooh
a) to act like Winnie the Pooh
b) to be naive and slow witted
c) to dismiss something as silly or foolish
d) to respond in a slow manner
c) to dismiss something as silly or foolish
"until recently, this idea was pooh-poohed by the scientific community"
500
Wabbit means:
a) exhausted
b) rabbit
c) drunk
d) cheerful
exhausted, weary, slightly unwell.
"I'm feeling a bit wabbit."
500
What word in the English language does the following: the first two letters signify a male, the first three letters signify a female, the first four letters signify a great, while the entire world signifies a great woman. What is the word?
Heroine