QUIZ: Figure out these old English sayings!

Answer these questions and find out just how many archaic English expressions you can interpret accurately! Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

'Don't cast your pearls before swine.'

'Doubt is the beginning, not the end of wisdom.'

'Let not the sun go down on your wrath.'

Do you know the meanings of these old English sayings?

In the following pages, we bring you a few more -- select the correct meaning of each to determine just how strong your command over the language is.

Answers are provided upon submission of results on each page and you can draw your own conclusions about your performance!

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
A cat in gloves catches no mice.
1) You can't achieve your goals if you're always restrained and cautious
2) Don't groom yourself so carefully that you can do nothing useful
3) If you're lazy and soft, nothing will become of you

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
1) If you're so vain as to wear a crown to bed, it's bound to poke you
2) Those in positions of power are usually liars
3) With power and prestige comes a lot of worry too

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
Let the man who seeks revenge remember to dig two graves.
1) Be willing to die in order to achieve your goals
2) When you try to harm someone else, you harm yourself as well
3) Don't let anyone stop you from avenging yourself

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
A hard beginning maketh a good ending.
1) The more effort you put in now, the more benefits you reap later on
2) Hard work strengthens your character
3) People like watching the tragic endings of others

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
A goose quill is more dangerous than a lion's claw.
1) You may be small in stature but still lethal in persona
2) The written word is more powerful than brute strength
3) Use your brains and not your brawn

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
A miss is as good as a mile.
1) A small goal is as valid as a big one
2) If you fail, even by the smallest margin, it is still a failure
3) It's better to keep trying than give up

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
All roads lead to Rome.
1) All paths lead to the same goal
2) You can't steer the direction in which life takes you
3) Everyone is treading the same path

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
1) Look deeper into things to discover their true value
2) Just as different flowers are all alike, so are people
3) The name of something does not affect its true character

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
The devil can cite scripture for his purpose.
2) An evil individual will masquerade as a good man to get what he wants
3) Nothing comes of mindless reading, even if it's a positive book

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
A watched pot never boils.
1) The more you rely on something, the more it's likely to let you down
2) Some things happen on their own time, so it's better to be patient
3) Time is of the utmost relevance

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
Cowards die many times before their deaths.
1) Fear is as bad as death; each time you give in to it, you lose a slice of life
2) The fearful avoid death by running away constantly
3) Don't shy away from anything, including death

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
All is grist that comes to the mill.
1) All things are a potential source of profit or advantage
2) All negative things are ultimately ground to dust
3) Focus on what comes your way

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
1) Be slow and steady instead of impatient and in a rush
2) Those who don't listen to the counsel of the wise are sinners
3) The rash or inexperienced often foolishly attempt things the wiser have reservations about

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
1) Don't pick fights with the gentle-natured
2) Don't criticise good things that come your way
3) Always try and stay focused on the bigger picture

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
The world's mine oyster..
1) The world is a small place if you want it to be
2) All the pleasures and opportunities of life are open to me
3) Don't be intimidated by the big things in life

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
A fault confessed is half redressed.
1) Confessing to a wrong works a great way towards rectifying it
2) Judge yourself instead of allowing others to judge you
3) Whatever mistake you make should be taken care of at the earliest

What is the meaning of this old English saying?
Don't keep a dog and bark yourself.