Shiny Objects
Mother, "May" I?
"F"ood
Sports and Recreation Metaphors
Happy Birthday, May Baby
It Happened One May
200
You can hang this on a Christmas tree strand by strand, or you can throw handfuls onto the tree.
What is tinsel (or icicles)?
This tradition originated in Germany in the 1600s, and real silver strands were originally used.
200
This is short for mayonnaise.
What is mayo?
200
When you order Chinese food, you’ll get this cookie at the end of a meal.
What is fortune?
No one knows the origin of fortune cookies, but they didn’t originate in China. That flavor you can’t quite put your finger on comes from vanilla and sesame oil.
200
To get behind schedule is to get behind this ball.
What is eight?
This idiom originally came from the world of pool (or billiards). In certain variations of the game, getting stuck behind the 8-ball can make your next shot tricky, hence the phrase’s leap from the pool hall to everyday language.
200
Born May 24, 1819, this Queen ruled over England for longer than any of her predecessors.
Who is Queen Victoria?
She ruled for 63 years and seven months, the longest until Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled for 70 years and 214 days.
200
On May 27, 1937, this landmark bridge that connects San Francisco to Marin County opened.
What is the Golden Gate Bridge?
At the time of its opening in 1937, it was both the longest and the tallest suspension bridge in the world, titles it held until 1964 and 1998 respectively.
400
“[Repeated word] on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?”
What is mirror?
It’s “Mirror, mirror, on the wall” in the original Brothers Grimm tale, but Disney changed it to “Magic mirror, on the wall.”
400
A trader’s axiom is “Sell in May and [two words].”
What is “go away”?
The saying originated because stocks traditionally showed poorer results during the summer months. It’s important to note that past performance is not an indicator of future results.
400
It is bread dipped in eggs, fried on a griddle or in a pan, and served with syrup.
What is French toast?
Some authors consider the recipe for Aliter Dulcia (translated as 'Another sweet dish') included in the Apicius, a 1st-century CE Ancient Roman cuisine cookbook, "not very different" from modern French toast, although it does not involve eggs.
400
In business, when you’re waiting on your counterpart to come back with a counteroffer, you might say “the ball’s in” this place.
What is in your court?
“The ball is in your court” is a tennis reference.
400
Born May 23, 1933, she played the role of Alexis Carrington on Dynasty.
Who is Joan Collins?
Her sister Jackie Collins was a prolific novelist.
400
On May 7, 1847, this medical professional society was established.
What is the AMA (American Medical Association)?
The organization was founded with the goal to raise the standards of medicine in the 19th century primarily through gaining control of education and licensing. In the 20th century, the AMA has frequently lobbied to restrict the supply of physicians, contributing to a doctor shortage in the United States. The organization has also lobbied against allowing physician assistants and other health care providers to perform basic forms of health care.
600
This type of leather used to be worn only from Easter to Labor Day.
What is patent?
Patent leather is now worn throughout the year. Real patent leather starts with a leather base.
600
Finish the saying: “Gather ye rosebuds…”
What is “while ye may”?
It’s another way of telling us to do things while there’s still time. It’s the first line of a poem by Robert Herrick, entitled "to the Virgins, to Make Much of Time"
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.
Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
You may forever tarry.
600
Eggs, butter, and this ingredient are the foundation of cookie dough.
What is flour?
It is possible to make vegan and/or gluten-free cookies by using substitutes for the three foundational ingredients.
600
When a writer submits something just before a deadline, it’s submitted down to this.
What is the wire?
“Down to the wire” or “under the wire” is a horseracing reference. The phrase entered the general lexicon in America and Australia during the 19th century.
600
Born May 6, 1856, this Austrian neurologist founded the discipline of psychoanalysis.
Who is Sigmund Freud?
After the Nazis seized his money and property, he sought asylum in London, although he lamented losing his home country.
600
On May 19, 1910, this comet came as close to Earth as it ever has.
What is Halley's Comet?
Halley's comet has an orbital period of about 76 years - the last time it appeared was in 1986. The next will be 2061.
Several spacecraft successfully made the journey to the comet. This fleet of spaceships is sometimes dubbed the "Halley Armada." Two joint Soviet/French probes (Vega 1 and 2), The European Space Agency's Giotto craft, Japan sent two probes of its own, and NASA's International Cometary Explorer (already in orbit since 1978) also captured pictures of Halley, snapping its shots from 17.3 million miles (28 million km) away.
The astronauts aboard Challenger's STS-51L mission were also scheduled to look at the comet. But, sadly, they never got the chance.
800
These little, round embellishments on clothing serve no function but are used to add sparkle to garments.
What are sequins?
800
In this 1964 film starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, the military plots a coup against the sitting president.
What is Seven Days in May?
It was nominated for two Academy Awards and won a Golden Globe.
800
This white flatfish has a mild taste.
What is flounder?
As flounder develop, one of their eyes slowly switches from one side of their face to join the other. Flounder lay flat on the ocean floor to wait for prey, and two eyes are better than one! They can also change their skin color to match the ocean!
Northeastern flounder is also called fluke. Flounder, the fish in The Little Mermaid, is actually a "Sergeant Major" fish.
800
When you’re losing ground but before you’re “down and out,” you’re down for this.
What is for the count?
“Down for the count” refers to a boxer who is knocked down and cannot get up again before 10 seconds has elapsed.
800
Born May 2, 1885, this actress was best known as a syndicated gossip columnist whose arch-rival was Louella Parsons.
Who is Hedda Hopper?
Can you guess why she changed her published birthdate to June 2, 1890? She wanted to conceal her true age.
800
On May 26, 1998, the U.S. Supreme Court changed the address of Ellis Island because it said it resides mostly in this state, not in New York.
What is New Jersey?
They determined, 6-3, that 83% of Ellis Island is in New Jersey rather than New York. While the ruling changed little in practice (Ellis Island is federal land), it did affect the allocation of sales tax revenue and future development plans for the island.
1000
It is a child’s toy that propels itself down the stairs after a little nudge.
What is Slinky?
Richard James was designing a device that the Navy could use to secure equipment and shipments on ships while they rocked at sea. As the story goes, he dropped the coiled wires he was tinkering with on the ground and watched them tumble end-over-end across the floor.
After dropping the coil, he could have gotten up, frustrated, and chased after it without a second thought. But he—as inventors often do—had a second thought: perhaps this would make a good toy.
His wife Betty James found the name in a dictionary and together they borrowed $500 ($9000 today) to start producing the first slinkies.
It hit the Christmas market in 1945, and has earned a spot in the National Museum of Play.
1000
It is a phrase describing a casual or carefree attitude, particularly in the face of danger or consequences.
What is “devil may care”?
1000
This white bulb tastes of anise with wispy fronds that resemble dill.
What is fennel?
This crunchy vegetable can be served raw in salads or roasted. The fronds can be used as garnish.
1000
When you throw everything you have at a situation, you are said to engage in this kind of press.
What is full-court?
“Full-court press” comes from basketball and involves an aggressive defense strategy from the moment the ball is in play.
1000
On May 31, 1909, this actor and all-around showman became famous after his starring role in the 1939 film The Story of Alexander Graham Bell.
Who is Don Ameche?
After playing in college shows, repertory theatre, and vaudeville, he became a major radio star in the early 1930s, which led to the offer of a movie contract from 20th Century Fox in 1935.
He returned to films after thirteen years with Trading Places (1983), where he was cast when director John Landis had someone in mind from the 1930s and 1940s who had not played many villainous roles and came upon Ameche (after Ray Milland was passed over due to not being able to pass the insurance physical). At first someone told him Ameche was dead, but a receptionist mentioned she thought she'd seen him taking walks in Santa Monica. Landis had to track him down by finding his name in the phone book, and Ameche eventually agreed to the role.
1000
On May 14, 1796, British physician Edward Jenner, also known as the “Father of Immunology,” first vaccinated a patient against this disease.
What is Smallpox?
In 1796, British physician Edward Jenner demonstrated that an infection with the relatively mild cowpox virus conferred immunity against the deadly smallpox virus. Cowpox served as a natural vaccine until the modern smallpox vaccine emerged in the 20th century. Smallpox was determined to completely eradicated in 1980, the only human disease eradicated to date.