Obfuscations of Popular Cliches #1

Translate these long-winded phrases into the popular cliches that have the same meaning.

Quiz idea: CtG526

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Last updated: November 17, 2020

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First submitted	February 24, 2013
Times taken	50,300
Average score	57.1%
Rating	4.37

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Obfuscation

Saying

Precipitation composed of canine and feline organisms

Raining cats and dogs

Place your monetary possessions in the same locality as your oral cavity

Put your money where your mouth is

Pulchritude is dependent on the ocular organ of that who appraises it

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Discharging firearms upon ichthyoid creatures in a cylindrical container

Shooting fish in a barrel

Simian's parent's male sibling

Monkey's uncle

Amorous emotions are incapable of perceiving electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum

Love is blind

Lucre causes the rotation of the celestial body upon which we reside

Money makes the world go round

Transport cured porcine abdomen to one's domicile

Bring home the bacon

The portion of an ocean-bound unit of solid dihydrogen monoxide that is not submerged

Tip of the iceberg

A tertiary attempt will yield a propitious outcome

Third time's a charm

Don't allow even a solitary small mineral aggregate to remain in a non-inverted position

Leave no stone unturned

Wallop an equid whose biological functions have permanently ceased

Beat a dead horse

The set of all possible outcomes does not include a midday repast devoid of monetary remuneration

There's no such thing as a free lunch

Desiccated as a piece of mineralized osseous tissue

Dry as a bone

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111 Comments

+45

Level 66

Mar 11, 2013

The proper phrase is "Third time's the charm."

+13

Level 76

Apr 10, 2013

I concur.

+13

Level ∞

Apr 10, 2013

"A charm" is definitely the most common version. Since there's no official standards body for this, I can't imagine there is a proper version. Nevertheless, the quiz will now accept "the charm" as well.

Level 65

Jan 10, 2026

Thought it was try's vs time

Looks like both are used

Lots of room in the Anglosphere, eh?

Level 74

Sep 23, 2015

I agree with quizmaster on this one.

Level 73

Sep 24, 2015

I always heard it as simply, "Third time's charm."

+46

Level 80

Oct 6, 2017

I disagree with Quizmaster--I NEVER heard "a charm".

+24

Level 83

Dec 3, 2020

The original phrase appears to be "Third time's the charm." It has been a phrase according to Google Ngram viewer since the early 1800s. "Third time's a charm" only sprang up in 1920 and has been used less consistently the last 100 years. "Third time lucky" became more popular than both in the 1920s and has been more popular since. Quizmaster was definitely wrong on this one. My worldview has collapsed.

+12

Level 62

Apr 10, 2013

Can you accept "third time lucky" for this as well please?

Level 7

Apr 10, 2013

Seconding this. I've heard "Third time lucky" thousands of times, but have never in my life come across "third time's a charm". Americanism, I guess.

Fantastic idea for a quiz though!

Level 81

Apr 11, 2013

Thirded (see my comment below).

Level ∞

Apr 12, 2013

Okay, that will work now.

Level 65

May 21, 2013

I disagree.

Level 30

Nov 6, 2013

I've never heard "the charm" except on American TV. From what I've gathered, the charm version is American.

Level 66

Jan 4, 2014

I've always heard "third try's the charm". And "try" seems to fit better with your substitution of "attempt" than "time" would.

Level 66

Apr 1, 2014

My thoughts exactly.

Level 60

Oct 7, 2017

Agreed. I've never once heard "a charm."

+16

Level 73

Oct 23, 2020

I know this is from 2014, but I like how you came back to agree with yourself after 3 months.

Level 80

Oct 7, 2017

I've only ever heard it as "three time's a charm".

Level 80

Mar 1, 2021

But to be fair, if you say both versions quickly - especially "three time's the charm" - you won't be able to hear the difference anyway. Maybe I only heard "a charm" because I never saw it written.

Level 89

Jul 5, 2018

Number of Google search results for "third time's a charm" (in quotes): 437,000

Number of Google search results for "third time's the charm" (in quotes): 478,000

Level 70

Apr 11, 2020

About 733,000 results for "third time lucky" when I tried it.

Level 63

Dec 5, 2022

I've never heard that....

Level 63

Dec 5, 2022

Time that *didn't* use lucky: 915,000

Level 92

Dec 4, 2020

The number of type-ins jammed into the answer boxes making this quiz must be mind boggling.

Level 73

Dec 8, 2020

I'm amazed at the powers of recollection in the people who can categorically state that they've "never" heard the expression one way or "always" have heard it another way. Personally, "a charm" seems to flow off my tongue a little easier, so that's probably how I've heard and said it most of the time.

Level 65

Apr 10, 2013

Fun! More of these please!

Level 77

Apr 10, 2013

Good quiz!

Level 68

Apr 10, 2013

Got all of them except "tip of the iceberg." Finally, after 14 years, I have found a use for studying Latin in high school!

Level 43

Apr 10, 2013

Could you accept just the words "no free lunch?"

Level 30

Nov 6, 2013

Well that's just lazy

Level 73

Sep 24, 2015

I sometimes hear it as, "There's no free lunch." People misquote or modernize cliches all the time to the point that sometimes it's difficult to know what the original phrase might have been. I don't see that as being lazy.

Level ∞

Apr 5, 2017

No free lunch will work now

+13

Level 62

Oct 6, 2017

What about TANSTAAFL...

Level 80

Aug 18, 2022

I agree, I also tried TANSTAAFL. It's an acronym for the phase popularized by author Robert Heinlein and it was my first impulse to write that acronym instead of the whole phrase.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_ain%27t_no_such_thing_as_a_free_lunch

Level 87

Jul 20, 2024

I also tried TANSTAAFL. I learned it from Monty Python's Flying Circus. As mentioned by the article Marcell linked to, it's a common acronym for this phrase.

Level 58

Apr 10, 2013

Love this! I kept trying "Love makes the world go round." Guess I'm not cynical enough LOL

Level 43

Mar 23, 2018

I kept trying _____ makes the world spin around .. sigh

Level 63

Jun 6, 2018

YoU sPiN mE rIgHt RoUnD lIkE a ReCoRd BaBy

Level 94

Apr 10, 2013

Gah, got caught on third try instead of third time.

Level 44

Apr 10, 2013

Very fun. Finished with 3:45 remaining.

Level 74

Apr 10, 2013

So difficult! I tried every version of "don't leave any rock unturned" that I could think of, but didn't manage to get it right.

Level 37

Apr 10, 2013

I kept trying to put "in the eye of the beholder." I think that should be an acceptable answer. :/

Level 30

Nov 6, 2013

No it shouldn't. This quiz is supposed to catch you out with the vague words you've never heard of. If it was accepted without beauty you miss out on the fun of the quiz.

Level 81

Apr 11, 2013

I love this quiz. Just one comment. In Britain we say 'Third time lucky', so perhaps you could allow this as an answer. I've never heard 'Third time's a charm'.

Level 36

Apr 12, 2013

Tried "don't leave a stone unturned" - Is that close enough?

Level 22

Apr 12, 2013

Epicly hard quiz o.o! Interesting though at the same time.

Level 16

Apr 16, 2013

Equally confused on these... I got 1/14.

Level 79

Sep 23, 2015

It's so easy... just think about what the words mean.

Level 32

Apr 24, 2013

beauty is in the eyes of the beholder should be accepted. not just eye

Level 63

Dec 5, 2022

Classic anti-cyclops JetPunk user....You must consider the cyclops when making answers.

Level 9

Apr 24, 2013

Best quiz I've taken yet. Make more!

Level 32

Feb 20, 2014

can you accept "third time is the charm"

Level 80

Sep 30, 2014

This might be my favorite quiz on here. The Jospeh Ducreux meme is fantastic.

Level 79

Sep 23, 2015

Elementary.

Level 38

Sep 23, 2015

Nice quiz. Fun and makes you think. Got most of them too!

Level 56

Sep 23, 2015

Where's #2, please?

Level ∞

Apr 5, 2017

http://www.jetpunk.com/quizzes/obfuscations-of-popular-cliches-2

Level 76

Sep 23, 2015

Can you accept beat the dead horse?

Level 80

Mar 1, 2021

And there I thought it was referring to "Drop the dead donkey". :]

Level 65

Sep 23, 2015

Thanks so much for this quiz, it's so fun!!! I got them all with 2:09 to spare! These made me laugh quite a bit.

Level 67

Sep 24, 2015

bloody hell bit more challenging than most here, good to see. thanks for the thought that went into it

Level 70

Sep 24, 2015

This was brilliant - actually made me think, unlike so many others. Off to try quiz #2, but can't wait for more like this.

Level 44

Sep 24, 2015

"Third time is a charm" Please don't mandate contractions.

Level 50

Jun 8, 2016

Could you accept "don't leave a stone unturned"?

Level 64

Aug 29, 2017

Agree, the exact version I am familiar with is: "don't leave any stone unturned", but this also was not accepted. Please accept more versions of this saying as acceptable variations exist.

Level ∞

Nov 17, 2020

That one will work now

Level 90

Aug 7, 2016

Hmm...never heard of a monkey's uncle.

Level 70

Oct 6, 2017

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle!

Level 70

Apr 11, 2020

Me neither. Do Americans (or non-Brits) use "Dutch Uncle" at all? Not that I am suggesting that the Dutch are simian.

Level 52

Dec 6, 2020

I am Australian and I don't think I've ever heard of "Dutch uncle". Looking it up though, I think I might have a Dutch uncle or two..

Level 80

Mar 1, 2021

Never heard that one before either, but managed to translate the clue correctly.

Level 66

Mar 7, 2017

I was happily amazed when it accepted "Third time lucky", but then I was sadly amazed when it didn't accept "Kick a dead horse"

Level 70

Oct 6, 2017

I agree, I tried at least four versions of hitting, kicking, whipping the poor old horse, but didn't get it.

Level 86

May 12, 2019

"Kick a dead horse" really can't be accepted?

Level 62

Oct 6, 2017

6 minutes seems awfully long for 14 questions

Level 79

Oct 6, 2017

Allow 'Beauty is int he EYES of the beholder' (plural)?

Level ∞

Nov 17, 2020

That will work now

Level 61

Oct 6, 2017

Another cliche is "blind as a bat"

Level 49

Oct 6, 2017

This was an excellent quiz. The only one I had trouble with the phrasing was 'Bring home the bacon' as I first tried 'Take home the bacon'. Thanks!

Level 67

Oct 7, 2017

Surely bring the bacon home should be permissable?

Level 80

Oct 7, 2017

That's what I tried too. I think a little more leniency should be expected with the exact phrasing. For instance, it took me quite a while to get the first one: "It rains cats and dogs" - not accepted (although that's what most people would say in the context). "Rains cats and dogs" - not accepted. Just "cats and dogs" perhaps? Who are you kidding? No it absolutely has to be "rainING..." - even if nothing in the clue hinted at that. And like klo7 said, the literal translation would be "rain of dogs and cats"; so the order in the clue is wrong too, as you'd never say "dogs and cats".

Level ∞

Oct 8, 2017

Your assumption that we require exact phrasing is incorrect. We accept many different phrases for each question. We will accept "rains cats and dogs" now too.

Level 51

Oct 15, 2017

haha for some reason my brain insisted it was 'shooting rats in a barrel'

Level 55

Dec 7, 2017

This was a fun one!

Level 72

Oct 24, 2018

This was fantastic. 3:06.

Level 65

Dec 23, 2019

I love this one, I couldn't figure out the bacon one for the life of me. I was trying "bringing a pig's stomach to my house" and stupid things like that

Level 80

Dec 1, 2020

4 up from 2 from many years ago. This is truly a benchmark test for your English skills if you're a foreigner.

Level 41

Dec 1, 2020

Impressive. I'd get 0 in my second language (Spanish)

Level 56

Dec 2, 2020

What has mineralised got to do with it? Osseous tissue means bone. Mineralized means it is petrified in some way - a total red herring. Or a forage fish in large schools in the North Atlantic emitting longer length waves in the visible spectrum.

Level 76

Dec 7, 2020

I agree I was thinking of phrases with fossil

Level 64

Dec 5, 2022

Mineralized mainly refers to how the outer part bones are generally hard (I guess not to be confused with bone marrow?)

It's still a weirdly worded question though

Level 35

Dec 2, 2020

The Earth goes round, uncle, love can't see the light. Anyway, I think dogs and cats should be accepted regardless, as I never heard of the saying before but kept guessing variations of "raining dogs and cats" in accordance with the relevant clue. Also I think the two instances of "your" in the money/mouth example should not be required, as it can easily be replaced with "one's" or "the" and still remain correct. Indeed, I guessed the answer without any of those words, as in "put money where mouth is" at first, due to the variously multiple options and possibilities for it. Furthermore, I believe you should definitely allow "no such thing as a free lunch" to function in addition to "no free lunch". And just my personal opinion, I've away head "third time's the charm" rather than "a" but I suppose that has already been extensively relitigated on here as with elsewhere. Thanks for all the fun!

Level 68

Dec 2, 2020

I don't think "put one's money where one's mouth is" works though, because the phrase is always used as a direct challenge. Someone makes a claim that you think is wrong, and you respond "put your money where your mouth is." That's the phrase. I can't imagine anyone using "one's" or "his" or "her" or any other construction given the way the phrase is used.

Level 59

Mar 2, 2021

Never heard of the free lunch one before

Level 68

Dec 5, 2022

That was a lot of fun, thanks.

Level 67

Dec 5, 2022

Very good QM. More please! Thank you,

Level 70

Dec 5, 2022

I put in

"Take home the bacon" and

"Taking home the bacon"

Anyone else heard it that way? Or just me

Level 61

Dec 5, 2022

I kept trying "kick a dead horse." I don't know why. Beating is the proper word. Oh well.

Level 84

Dec 6, 2022

It would be awesome if you accept "TANSTAAFL"

Level 67

Dec 7, 2022

I wrote beauty LIES in the eyes of the beholder. I'm quite sure that's how I've heard it.

Level 19

Jul 20, 2024

I had a stroke reading Obfuscations💀

Level 71

Jul 20, 2024

I really enjoyed this, as something a bit different, and thought it was a good idea well executed. Having completed it, I then read a load of them to my wife, who enjoyed solving them too. Thank you.

Level 72

Jul 20, 2024

My favorite was "carry the ham home"

Level 66

Jul 22, 2024

Some of these are hilarious! Definitely one of the most interesting quizzes I've played.

One thing, though, is I'd expect "bone-dry" to work as a substitute for "dry as a bone," since I've never heard of the second but hear the first all the time, they have pretty much the same meaning, and google ngram viewer says that "bone-dry" is twice as common.

Level 54

Jul 23, 2024

had to look half of the answers up just for phrasing

Level 60

Oct 18, 2024

I said monkey uncle I think that should be accepted

Level 60

Oct 20, 2024

I read porcupine for porcine. Needless to say I missed that one.

Level 26

Oct 20, 2024

Love the quiz, would like more!

Level 58

Dec 23, 2025

Can you accept "kicking a dead horse" for "beating a dead horse"? That's how I've always heard it said.

Level 68

Dec 31, 2025

This was super fun! Would love it if there were more!

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