Free phrases and words trivia questions and answers.
Language, phrase, and word trivia questions and answers.
What do the lowercase initials U.S. stand for in England?
A: Useless. The initials, originally used in the army, are derived
from the word unserviceable.
What does the word yoga mean in Sanskirt?
A: Union.
In postal circles, ZIP is an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan.
What do the same letters mean to psychologists? How about
bankers?
A: To psychologists, ZIP means Zero Intelligence Potential--or a
person of low intelligence; to bankers, Zero Interest Payment.
What is the English translation of the Olympic motto,
Citius--Altlius--Fortius?
A: Faster--Higher--Stronger.
What is pogonology the study of?
A: Beards.
What is a nightjar?
A: A nocturnal bird common to Europe and Asia. It's also known as a
goatsucker.
What does the acronym LION stand for at the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA)?
A: Lunar International Observer Network.
What is a Nilometer?
A: A gauge devised by the ancient Egyptians to measure the water
level of the Nile during flood time.
On what part of the body would a man wear a gibus?
A: On his head-- it's a collapsible opera hat named for its
inventor, Antoine Gibus, a nineteenth-centruy Parisian hat-maker.
What is a callithump?
A: A noisy, boisterous serenade or parade.
In the days when last names were linked to a person's trade, what
was the occupation of someone named Travers?
A: Toll bridge collector.
What is philematology?
A: The science of kissing.
What is the definition of the word manumission?
A: The liberation of a slave from bondage; emancipation.
What would you do if you found a sign written in Latin that said
"Cave Canem"?
A: You would "beware of the dog."
How did Christmas become Xmas?
A: X is the Greek letter chi, the first letter of Christ's name
written in Greek. It has been a symbol for Christ since the Middle
Ages.
Where did the word vamp--meaning seductress--originate?
A: With Theda Bara's arousing performance in the film The Vampire.
In political slang, what does it mean if you call a candidate
drab?
A: Doesn't rock any boats.
How did the phrase "cold shoulder" come to mean a polite snub?
A: In medieval France a guest who had overstayed his welcome was
served a cold shoulder of beef or mutton rather than a hot meal.
What is garbo slang for in Australia?
A: "Garbageman"
What do the initials o.g. man to a stamp collector?
A: "Original gum"--which indicates that the gum that was on the back
of a stamp when it was first issued is still there.
What is the literal meaning of the word Eskimo?
A: "Eaters of raw flesh." It's an Algonquin word, one the Eskimos
themselves don't use. They call themselves Inuit, which means "The
People."
What is a pulicologist's area of expertise?
A: Fleas.
How many letters are there in the Hawaiian alphabet?
A: 12---A, E, I, O, U, H, K, L, M, N, P and W.
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