Mother Knows Best: What Do These Old-Fashioned Sayings Actually Mean?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Say Something Is A Piece Of Cake?

Question 1

What Are You Doing If You Break A Leg?

Question 1

If You Are Under The Weather How Do You Feel?

Question 1

What Is Happening When It Is Raining Cats And Dogs?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Hit The Sack?

Question 1

If Something Costs An Arm And A Leg What Is Its Price?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Let The Cat Out Of The Bag?

Question 1

What Are You Doing When You Piece Together A Story?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Bite The Bullet?

Question 1

If Someone Tells You To Break The Ice What Should You Do?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Bark Up The Wrong Tree?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of Better Late Than Never?

Question 1

What Are You Doing If You Pull Someone's Leg?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Hit The Nail On The Head?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of When Pigs Fly?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Keep Your Chin Up?

Question 1

What Happens If You Spill The Beans?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Be All Ears?

Question 1

What Are You Doing When You Cut Corners?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Be In The Same Boat?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of Out Of The Blue?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To See Eye To Eye?

Question 1

What Are You Doing If You Blow Off Steam?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of A Piece Of Cake?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Go The Extra Mile?

Question 1

What Are You Doing When You Hold Your Horses?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Bite Off More Than You Can Chew?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of The Best Of Both Worlds?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Beat Around The Bush?

Question 1

What Are You Doing When You Call It A Day?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Mind Your P's And Q's?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Throw The Baby Out With The Bathwater?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of A Stitch In Time Saves Nine?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Be On The Ball?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of Curiosity Killed The Cat?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Burn The Midnight Oil?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Be Caught Between A Rock And A Hard Place?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Cry Wolf?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Give Someone The Cold Shoulder?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of Ignorance Is Bliss?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To It Takes Two To Tango?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Get Your Act Together?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of Hang In There?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Let Someone Off The Hook?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Make A Long Story Short?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of Miss The Boat?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Be On The Ball?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Pull Yourself Together?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of Speak Of The Devil?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Be The Last Straw?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Go Through Thick And Thin?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of Under The Radar?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Wrap Your Head Around Something?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of Your Guess Is As Good As Mine?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Have A Penny For Your Thoughts?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Keep Someone At Arm's Length?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of A Blessing In Disguise?

Question 1

What Does It Mean To Burn Bridges?

1

The Task Involves Baking A Dessert

2

The Task Requires Many Different Ingredients

3

The Task Is Extremely Easy To Accomplish

4

The Task Is Very Difficult To Finish

This Phrase Is Used To Describe An Activity Or Task That Is Very Simple For Someone To Complete Successfully.

1

Running A Race Very Quickly

2

Wishing Someone Good Luck Before A Performance

3

Actually Injuring Yourself During An Accident

4

Dancing Until You Are Completely Exhausted

This Common Expression Is A Superstitious Way To Wish Performers Success Without Actually Saying The Words Good Luck.

1

You Are Feeling Sick Or Not Well

2

You Are Feeling Very Happy And Excited

3

You Are Hiding From A Thunderstorm

4

You Are Standing In The Rain

This Phrase Is Commonly Used To Describe Someone Who Is Feeling Ill Or Not At Their Usual Level Of Health.

1

The Weather Is Clear And Sunny

2

It Is Raining Very Heavily Outside

3

It Is Starting To Snow Lightly

4

Animals Are Falling From The Sky

This Old Saying Describes A Heavy Downpour Of Rain That Makes A Lot Of Noise On The Roof Above.

1

It Means That You Are Going To Bed

2

You Are Packing Your Bags For Travel

3

You Are Punching A Bag Of Flour

4

You Are Going To The Grocery Store

This Casual Expression Simply Means That A Person Is Tired And Is Heading To Sleep For The Night.

1

The Item Costs Only One Dollar

2

The Item Is Free Of Charge

3

The Item Is Very Expensive

4

The Item Is Sold At A Discount

People Use This Phrase To Describe Something That Is Overpriced Or Requires A Large Amount Of Money To Purchase.

1

You Are Releasing A Pet Outdoors

2

You Have Accidentally Revealed A Secret

3

You Are Cleaning Up A Messy Room

4

You Are Going Shopping For New Clothes

This Saying Refers To Someone Sharing Confidential Information Or A Secret That Was Supposed To Stay Hidden From Others.

1

You Are Figuring Out The Whole Truth

2

You Are Writing A Letter To Someone

3

You Are Cutting Paper Into Small Shapes

4

You Are Reading A Book Out Loud

This Expression Means Connecting Different Bits Of Information To Understand The Full Situation Or What Really Happened In Reality.

1

Accepting Something Difficult Or Unpleasant

2

Going To The Dentist For Surgery

3

Eating Something That Is Very Hard

4

Cleaning A Rusty Metal Object

This Phrase Means Enduring A Painful Or Unpleasant Situation That Is Unavoidable And Must Be Faced With Great Courage.

1

Put Ice Cubes Into A Drink

2

Start A Conversation To Relieve Tension

3

Chip Away At A Frozen Lake

4

Go Skating With A Group Of Friends

Breaking The Ice Means Starting A Friendly Interaction To Help People Feel More Comfortable In A New Social Setting.

1

You Are Chasing A Squirrel Outside

2

You Are Painting A Wooden Fence

3

You Are Looking In The Wrong Place

4

You Are Shouting At A Large Plant

This Saying Means That Your Line Of Thought Or Course Of Action Is Mistaken And Will Not Lead Anywhere.

1

You Should Always Be Exactly On Time

2

Doing Something Late Is Better Than Not Doing It

3

Time Does Not Matter In Any Situation

4

Arriving Early Is The Most Important Goal

This Phrase Suggests That Completing A Task Or Arriving Somewhere Eventually Is Always Preferable To Failing To Do So.

1

You Are Helping Them Stand Up Straighter

2

You Are Teasing Them Or Joking Around

3

You Are Tripping Them While They Walk

4

You Are Stretching Their Muscles For Them

This Idiom Is Used When Someone Is Lightly Teasing Another Person By Telling Them Something That Is Not True.

1

To Get A Headache From Working Hard

2

To Win A Game Of Skill Easily

3

To Use A Hammer On A Piece Of Wood

4

To Describe Exactly What Is Causing A Situation

This Expression Describes When Someone Says Something That Is Exactly Correct Or Identifies The True Heart Of A Matter.

1

A Farm Animal Learning To Glide

2

A Great Achievement For A Farmer

3

Something That Will Never Ever Happen

4

A Very Unusual Sight In The Sky

This Humorous Phrase Is Used To Describe A Situation Or Event That Is Completely Impossible And Will Never Occur.

1

Balance An Object On Your Face

2

Try To Act Much Taller Than Normal

3

Stay Positive During A Difficult Situation

4

Lift Your Head To See The Ceiling

This Encouraging Saying Is Often Used To Tell Someone To Remain Optimistic And Brave Despite Facing Very Tough Challenges.

1

You Are Planting Seeds In A Garden

2

You Give Away A Secret Prematurely

3

You Drop Your Dinner On The Floor

4

You Are Cooking A Large Pot Of Soup

This Phrase Refers To Accidentally Or Intentionally Sharing Private Information That Was Supposed To Be Kept Quiet And Secret.

1

You Are Not Paying Any Attention At All

2

You Are Listening Very Closely To Someone

3

You Are Wearing Multiple Pairs Of Earrings

4

You Have Very Large Physical Ears

When Someone Says They Are All Ears They Mean They Are Giving Their Full Attention To What Is Being Said.

1

Turning A Vehicle Very Sharply On The Road

2

Trimming The Edges Of A Grass Lawn

3

Using Scissors To Shape A Piece Of Paper

4

Doing Something Poorly To Save Time Or Money

This Expression Refers To Performing A Task In The Cheapest Or Fastest Way Rather Than The Best Way Possible.

1

Wearing The Same Type Of Clothing

2

Being In The Same Unpleasant Situation Together

3

Traveling On A Ship Across The Ocean

4

Living In The Same Neighborhood Or Town

This Saying Means That Two Or More People Are Facing The Same Difficult Circumstances And Must Deal With Them.

1

Something That Is Painted A Bright Color

2

Something That Happens Suddenly And Unexpectedly

3

Falling From The Clear Sunny Sky

4

Feeling Very Sad For No Reason

This Idiom Describes An Event That Occurs Without Any Warning And Is Completely Surprising To Everyone Involved In It.

1

To Wear Glasses To Improve Vision

2

To Agree Fully With Another Person

3

To Look Directly Into Someone's Pupils

4

To Stand At The Exact Same Height

When People See Eye To Eye It Means They Share The Same Opinion Or Viewpoint On A Particular Topic.

1

Doing Something To Relieve Stress Or Anger

2

Cleaning A Machine That Uses Vapor

3

Standing Outside On A Very Cold Day

4

Cooking With A Very Large Whistling Kettle

This Phrase Means Releasing Pent Up Emotions Or Energy Through Physical Activity Or By Talking About Your Internal Feelings.

1

An Activity That Is Very Simple To Do

2

A Task That Is Impossible To Complete

3

A Slice Of Food Served At Parties

4

Something That Requires A Great Deal Of Effort

This Common Phrase Describes Any Task That Is Extremely Easy And Can Be Done Without Any Difficulty Or Trouble.

1

Walking One More Mile For Exercise

2

Running Faster Than Other People In Races

3

Putting In More Effort Than Is Expected

4

Driving A Very Long Distance On Vacation

Going The Extra Mile Means Doing More Than Your Duty To Ensure That A Project Or Person Is Successful.

1

You Are Gripping The Reins Of An Animal

2

You Are Owning A Large Number Of Equines

3

You Are Waiting Or Slowing Down

4

You Are Building A Fence For A Pasture

This Old Fashioned Command Means That Someone Needs To Be Patient Or Slow Down Before They Make A Big Mistake.

1

Buying Too Many Items At The Store

2

Eating Too Much Food At One Time

3

Taking On A Task That Is Too Big

4

Talking While You Are Still Eating Dinner

This Saying Describes Trying To Do Something That Is Far Beyond Your Current Capability Or Your Available Amount Of Time.

1

Having Two Very Different Jobs To Do

2

Living On Two Different Planets In Space

3

Benefiting From Two Different Situations At Once

4

Traveling To Every Continent On The Earth

This Phrase Describes A Situation Where You Can Enjoy All The Advantages Of Two Different Options At The Same Time.

1

Chasing A Small Animal Into The Brush

2

Avoiding The Main Topic Or Not Being Direct

3

Looking For Something Lost In The Woods

4

Trimming The Hedges In Your Garden

Someone Who Beats Around The Bush Avoids Speaking Directly About A Difficult Subject Or Getting Straight To The Main Point.

1

Shouting Out Loud In The Morning

2

Deciding To Stop Working On Something

3

Giving A Name To A Specific Date

4

Writing In Your Personal Daily Journal

This Expression Is Used When Someone Decides That They Have Done Enough Work For One Day And Should Stop.

1

To Mind Your Own Business And Be Quiet

2

To Count The Number Of Letters In Words

3

To Be On Your Best Behavior And Polite

4

To Check Your Spelling In A Letter

This Traditional Saying Encourages People To Maintain Good Manners And Behave Appropriately In Both Social And Professional Formal Situations.

1

Giving A Small Child A Bath In Sink

2

Discarding Something Valuable While Getting Rid Of Trash

3

Changing The Water In A Fish Tank

4

Emptying A Small Tub Of Water Outside

This Saying Warns Against Losing Essential Or Valuable Things When You Are Trying To Clean Up Or Make Improvements.

1

Working Faster To Get More Things Done

2

Fixing A Small Problem Now Prevents Bigger Ones

3

Sewing A Pattern Onto A Piece Of Fabric

4

Counting The Seconds On A Grandfather Clock

This Proverb Means That Taking Quick Action To Fix A Small Error Now Will Save A Lot Of Work.

1

To Be Very Alert And Doing A Good Job

2

To Play A Sport Like Soccer Or Baseball

3

To Stand In The Middle Of A Large Room

4

To Balance On Top Of A Round Object

Being On The Ball Means That A Person Is Quick To Understand Situations And Is Reacting Very Efficiently To Challenges.

1

Being Too Inquisitive Can Lead To Trouble

2

Animals Should Be Kept Inside The House

3

Cats Are Very Dangerous Animals To Keep

4

Asking Questions Is Always A Good Thing

This Warning Suggests That Investigating Or Prying Into Affairs That Do Not Concern You Can Sometimes Lead To Unpleasant Results.

1

To Work Or Study Very Late Into The Night

2

To Waste Fuel In An Old Engine Room

3

To Cook A Meal After The Sun Sets

4

To Light A Lamp During An Evening Party

This Idiom Refers To The Old Practice Of Using Oil Lamps To Work Deep Into The Night Or Early Morning.

1

Walking On A Path Made Of Sharp Rocks

2

Getting Stuck Inside A Narrow Canyon Pass

3

Standing Underneath A Very Large Stone Wall

4

Facing A Choice Between Two Equally Difficult Options

This Phrase Describes A Dilemma Where Every Possible Choice Available To You Seems To Have A Negative Or Unpleasant Outcome.

1

To Give A False Alarm Too Many Times

2

To Make A Sound Like A Howling Dog

3

To Tell A Scary Story To Young Children

4

To Scream When You See A Wild Animal

Crying Wolf Means Claiming There Is A Crisis When There Is Not Which Leads People To Ignore Future Actual Emergencies.

1

Always Keep Track Of Every Animal You Own

2

Do Not Plan On Success Before It Actually Happens

3

Wait Until The Morning To Check On Eggs

4

Make Sure You Buy Plenty Of Bird Feed

This Wise Saying Advises People Not To Make Plans Based On Good Things That Might Happen But Have Not Yet.

1

To Intentionally Ignore Or Be Unfriendly To Someone

2

To Place An Ice Pack On A Person's Body

3

To Carry A Heavy Load On Your Back

4

To Wear A Shirt That Has No Sleeves

Giving The Cold Shoulder Is A Way Of Showing Someone That You Are Angry Or Unhappy By Refusing To Speak.

1

Learning New Things Is Always Very Exciting

2

Sometimes You Are Happier If You Do Not Know

3

People Who Are Wise Are Always Very Happy

4

It Is Important To Know Everything At Once

This Expression Suggests That Not Knowing About Problems Or Unpleasant Truths Can Sometimes Be A Way To Remain Mentally Peaceful.

1

Dancing Requires Two Partners On The Floor

2

Learning A New Dance Takes A Long Time

3

Both People Are Responsible For A Certain Situation

4

Music Is Better With Two Different Instruments

This Saying Emphasizes That For Many Conflicts Or Activities To Occur It Requires The Participation Of More Than One Person.

1

Clouds In The Sky Can Look Like Metal

2

Storms Are Very Beautiful To Look At Daily

3

There Is Something Good In Every Bad Situation

4

It Will Always Rain When Clouds Are Grey

This Optimistic Phrase Encourages People To Find The Positive Side Or Advantage That Can Be Found Even In Difficult Times.

1

To Pack Your Bags For A Long Journey

2

To Join A Local Theater Group For Fun

3

To Organize Your Life And Start Performing Well

4

To Memorize Lines For A New Stage Play

When Someone Tells You To Get Your Act Together They Mean You Should Organize Yourself And Improve Your Overall Performance.

1

To Suspend An Object From A High Hook

2

To Wait For A Phone Call To Finish

3

Do Not Give Up Despite Facing Many Difficulties

4

To Go Outside And Play On The Swings

This Phrase Is Used To Encourage Someone To Remain Patient And Determined During A Period Of Hardship Or Great Stress.

1

To Hang Up A Telephone Call Very Quickly

2

To Not Hold Someone Responsible For Their Actions

3

To Remove A Fish From A Sharp Metal Point

4

To Help Someone Take Off A Heavy Coat

When You Let Someone Off The Hook You Allow Them To Avoid Punishment Or Responsibility For A Mistake They Made.

1

To Cut Pages Out Of A Library Book

2

To Write A Book That Is Very Small

3

To Briefly Summarize What Happened Without All Details

4

To Talk Very Fast While Telling A Secret

This Common Phrase Is Used Before Someone Summarizes A Complex Tale Into Just A Few Necessary Words To Save Time.

1

To Fail A Swimming Test In The Ocean

2

To Be Too Late To Benefit From Something

3

To Arrive At The Harbor After Ship Left

4

To Forget Your Ticket For A Summer Cruise

Missing The Boat Means That You Were Too Slow To Take Action And Have Lost An Opportunity That Was Available.

1

To Be Participating In A Major Tennis Match

2

To Stand On A Large Rubber Sports Ball

3

To Be Moving Very Quickly Down A Hill

4

To Be Very Efficient And Understand Situations Quickly

A Person Who Is On The Ball Is Alert And Ready To React Correct To Whatever Happens In Their Life.

1

To Wear Clothes That Match Each Other Well

2

To Hug Someone Else Who Is Feeling Sad

3

To Regain Your Calm And Your Self Control

4

To Pick Up All Your Items From Floor

This Phrase Is Often Used To Tell Someone To Stop Being Emotional And Start Acting Rationally In A Stressful Situation.

1

The Person You Just Discussed Has Just Arrived

2

To Talk About Scary Stories Near A Fire

3

To Hear A Sound From Behind A Closed Door

4

To Be Afraid Of Someone Who Is Mean

This Expression Is Used When Someone You Were Just Talking About Suddenly Appears Or Makes Themselves Known To The Group.

1

The Final Problem That Makes A Situation Unbearable

2

The Very Last Piece Of Hay In Barn

3

A Small Item Used For Counting Things Out

4

A Small Tube Used To Drink Water Fast

This Saying Refers To A Small Final Addition To A Burden That Makes The Entire Situation Finally Collapse Or Fail.

1

To Stay Together Through Both Good And Bad Times

2

To Travel Through Different Types Of Deep Mud

3

To Lose Weight After Being Very Heavy Before

4

To Walk Through A Forest Of Many Trees

This Expression Describes Loyalty And Commitment To A Person Or Cause Regardless Of What Kind Of Challenges Are Faced Together.

1

To Hide Underneath A Very Large Metal Dish

2

To Fly A Plane Below A Tracking Screen

3

To Do Something Without Being Noticed Or Detected

4

To Be Extremely Quiet In A Very Loud Room

Doing Something Under The Radar Means Avoiding Public Attention By Staying Very Low Key Or Subtle To Remain Hidden.

1

To Think Only About One Specific Subject Daily

2

To Finally Understand A Complex Or Difficult Concept

3

To Wear A Scarf During The Cold Winter

4

To Put A Bandage Around Your Forehead Area

This Phrase Describes The Mental Effort Required To Grasp And Fully Understand A Very Complicated Piece Of New Information.

1

You Are Very Good At Playing Guessing Games

2

We Both Have The Same Favorite Number Choice

3

I Have No Idea What The Answer Is Either

4

I Think You Are Completely Wrong About This

This Saying Is Used To Indicate That You Are Just As Uninformed About A Particular Fact As The Other Person.

1

You Are Asking What Someone Else Is Thinking

2

You Are Trying To Sell An Idea Cheaply

3

You Are Giving Someone A Small Copper Coin

4

You Are Counting Your Money Very Carefully Now

This Gentle Saying Is Used To Ask Someone Who Has Been Quiet For A While What Is On Their Mind.

1

To Measure The Distance To A Person Nearby

2

To Stretch Your Arms Out Toward Someone Else

3

To Avoid Becoming Too Friendly Or Close With Someone

4

To Hold Someone Back From Entering A Door

Keeping Someone At Arm's Length Means Maintaining A Social Distance To Avoid Allowing A Relationship To Become Very Personal.

1

Finding Money Inside An Old Pair Of Shoes

2

Something That Seems Bad At First But Is Good

3

A Person Wearing A Costume At A Party

4

A Rainy Day That Ruins All Your Plans

This Idiom Refers To An Unfortunate Event That Eventually Results In A Positive Outcome That Was Not Originally Expected.

1

To Paint A Wooden Bridge A Bright Red

2

To Build A New Road To Another City

3

To Set Fire To A Structure Over Water

4

To Destroy Relationships Or Paths To Returning Somewhere

Burning Bridges Means Taking Actions That Make It Impossible For You To Return To A Previous Situation Or Personal Relationship.

1 / 60

Players who played this quiz:

+

Faster than you:

Wow! You're faster than % of players

Smarter than you:

Amazing! You're smarter than % of players

How well do you remember the wise words and funny expressions your mother used to say? Test your knowledge with this fun quiz about classic old-fashioned sayings that have been passed down through generations of families everywhere!

About us

At VWVortex, we offer an engaging and interactive way to challenge your knowledge across pop culture, entertainment, history, sports, and more. Our trivia quizzes are crafted to entertain and educate, providing a fun learning experience that's accessible from anywhere. With a diverse selection of topics, you're bound to discover something that sparks your interest.