Tag Archive for trivia

Are You “Head Over Heels”?

July 10, 2020 Comments Off on Are You “Head Over Heels”?

I’m in that mood again: where the heck did that phrase come from?  Please indulge me.  It gives me a break from serious thinking.

Of course, you know what it means–super excited, hyper-interested, like, wow! that’s unbelievably fantastic!  And most people associate it with being in love.

Originally, though, it just meant being upside down, topsy-turvy.  The romantic soul who tied it into love for the first time did so in his autobiography in 1834.  That was none other than Davey Crockett.

How’s that for a bit of trivia that you can’t work into any conversation?

Uncategorized , , , ,

Where Did “Head Over Heels” Come From?

May 15, 2020 Comments Off on Where Did “Head Over Heels” Come From?

I’m in that mood again: where the heck did that phrase come from?  Please indulge me.  It gives me a break from serious thinking.

Of course, you know what it means–super excited, hyper-interested, like, wow! that’s unbelievably fantastic!  And most people associate it with being in love.

Originally, though, it just meant being upside down, topsy-turvy.  The romantic soul who tied it into love for the first time did so in his autobiography in 1834.  That was none other than Davey Crockett.

How’s that for a bit of trivia that you can’t work into any conversation?

Uncategorized , , , ,

Did You Know This About Our Previous Presidents?

February 19, 2018 Comments Off on Did You Know This About Our Previous Presidents?

In honor of Presidents’ Day, I offer you some fun facts about a bunch of Presidents.  Maybe you can work some of them into cocktail-party conversation.  These are a few of the ones you’ll find at Presidents Day Trivia: Facts About The 45 US Presidents.  I just thought we needed to lighten up for a day on the men who have occupied that esteemed Oval Office.

  • Warren G. Harding had feet sized 14.
  • Martin Van Buren is the one who popularized the use of the term “OK.”
  • Lincoln’s national historical park has a building with 56 steps, one meant for each year he lived before being assassinated.
  • During the Civil War, Rutherford B. Hayes was wounded four times in battle.
  • James Buchanan is the only president to not have a wife while in office. Grover Cleveland started at the White House single but later got married in office.

Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

Put Your Heart into this Valentine Trivia

February 13, 2018 Comments Off on Put Your Heart into this Valentine Trivia

I don’t feel like being serious today, so how about a little Valentine Trivia to get you in the mood for tomorrow? (Answers are at the bottom.)

1–It is said that St. Valentine fell in love with whom? a) his jailer’s daughter, b) his neighbor’s daughter, c) his teacher

2–During the Roaring 20s, what were valentines shaped like?  a)violets, b) musical notes, c) apples, d) tomatoes

3–How many Valentine cards are exchanged each year?  a) million, b) 1 5 million, c) 1 billion, d) 2 billion

4–Who created the first heart-shaped box of Valentine chocolates?  a) Richard Cadbury, b) Rudolph Lindt, c) Mary See

5–Who buys the most flowers on Valentines Day?  a) teens, b) men, c) women, d) bosses

6–How many people buy their pets a gift on Valentine’s Day?  a) 3 million, b) 5 million, c) 7 million, d) 9 million

7–After cards, what is the most popular Valentine’s Day gift?  a) flowers, b) candy, c) jewelry, d) romantic dinner

8–What was the first company to manufacturer valentines?  a) Hallmark, b) Norcross, c) Greenway, d) American Greetings

9–What does the word “valentine” mean?  a) love, b) romance, c) strong, d) betrothal

10–Who brought the first valentine to America?  a) the Puritans, b) the Quakers, c) the French, d) the Pilgrims

ANSWERS: 1 A – 2 D – 3 C – 4 A – 5 B – 6 D – 7 A – 8 C – 9 C – 10  A

❤  Happy Valentine’s Day anyway!  ❤

 

Uncategorized , , , , ,

Minding your Ps and Qs in a Bar

May 15, 2017 6 comments

My regular readers know that I like to pass on some American trivia from time to time, especially as it relates to language.  Today is one of those days.

We older people still use this expression, and younger people have heard it: “Mind your Ps and Qs.”  Fact is, it all started in a bar.

In the olden days, a barmaid was supposed to remember what size ale her patrons normally drank, either Pints or Quarts.  In other words, she had to pay close attention to–mind–her Ps and Qs.

Now there’s a bit of American trivia you can work into any conversation…if you’re in a bar.

Image result for mug of beer picture

Uncategorized , , , , ,

Tuesday Trivia

December 6, 2016 Comments Off on Tuesday Trivia

Let’s lighten up a bit today.  Here’s a bit of trivia that you can work into, well, almost no conversation.  It might be useful in a bar…or not.  I found it interesting, though.  Here you are:

Politicians have been with us since the beginning of time, but not phones, TVs, radios, social media, or ways to take polls.  However, they needed to know which way the public wind was blowing so they could form and adjust their campaigns (and policies?  Naw…they wouldn’t do that!).  Their answer was to send supporters to the local bars, taverns, and pubs, telling them to “go sip some ale and find out what people are thinking.”  These supporters were sent out to different locations at different times.  They were instructed to “go sip here” and “go sip there.”  Eventually, the first two words became combined when discussing local opinion.  And now we have the word “gossip.”

Uncategorized , , , , ,

Some Trivia: Bee’s Wax, Cracking a Smile, and Losing Face

October 21, 2015 Comments Off on Some Trivia: Bee’s Wax, Cracking a Smile, and Losing Face

How about a little trivia about a few old American sayings? 

In the early days of our fine country, personal hygiene was far from what’s expected today.  Consequently, people often developed acne, which then left scars.  Men took it in stride, but women—ever concerned about their appearance—found a solution in bee’s wax, applying it to their faces to give them smoother complexions.  Naturally, beauty-conscious women would check each other out.  If they got caught, they were told to “mind your own bee’s wax!”  There were practical concerns with the wax, too.  For example, if a woman sat too close to the fire she’d find her face melting (therefore, they would “lose face”).  And they didn’t dare respond to anything that would make them smile, because their face would crack (they would “crack a smile”).

Side Note:  As I look at some movie stars and models (and some people I meet), I can’t help wondering if they’ve been using bee’s wax.

Uncategorized , , , , ,

American Trivia: Getting Around a Tax

November 3, 2014 Comments Off on American Trivia: Getting Around a Tax

To begin this otherwise serious political week, here’s a bit of American historical trivia you might enjoy.  See if you are playing with a full deck.

Card games have always been an American pastime.  ‘Way back, some politicians decided that cards should be taxed—but only (politician logic here) the ace of spades. Of course, people can always find a way around paying taxes, as they did in this situation: they bought decks with only 51 cards (no ace of spades).  Trouble is, how many games can be played with only 51?  Not many.  True card-players thought this was absurd, that the people pulling this tax ploy were stupid or dumb—because they weren’t “playing with a full deck.”

Like the politicians who dreamed up that tax in the first place….????

Uncategorized , , , , , , , ,