Malapropisms Quiz

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Instructions: Identify the misused word in humorous malapropisms where similar-sounding words are confused

1.
Someone says: 'For all intensive purposes, we should proceed.' Which word is the malapropism?
A
Intensive (should be intents and)
B
All (should be our)
C
Proceed (should be precede)
D
Purposes (should be porpoises)
2.
'He's a wolf in cheap clothing.' What word is misused?
A
In (should be with)
B
Clothing (should be cloth)
C
Wolf (should be fox)
D
Cheap (should be sheep's)
3.
'I could care less about the outcome.' What should the phrase actually be?
A
I couldn't care less
B
I should care less
C
I would care less
D
I could care more
4.
'She's the pineapple of politeness.' Which word is the malapropism?
A
Pineapple (should be pinnacle)
B
Politeness (should be politics)
C
The (should be a)
D
She's (should be he's)
5.
'It's a doggy-dog world out there.' What is the correct expression?
A
A dog-eat-dog world
B
A foggy-fog world
C
A soggy-dog world
D
A doggy-log world
6.
'He passed away from prostrate cancer.' Which word is misused?
A
Cancer (should be disease)
B
Passed (should be perished)
C
Away (should be on)
D
Prostrate (should be prostate)
7.
'I need to pacifically tell you something.' What should the word be?
A
Prolifically
B
Magnificently
C
Specifically
D
Practically
8.
'Texas has a lot of electrical votes.' Which word is the malapropism?
A
Electrical (should be electoral)
B
Texas (should be taxes)
C
Votes (should be volts)
D
Lot (should be lack)
9.
'She made a real Pacific Ocean of herself.' What was the intended phrase?
A
A real pacification of herself
B
A real specification of herself
C
A real participle of herself
D
A real spectacle of herself
10.
'The doctor said I have very close veins.' What is the correct medical term?
A
Closed veins
B
Verbose veins
C
Varicose veins
D
Viscose veins
11.
'He's a very escape goat in this situation.' What should the phrase be?
A
Escape boat
B
Escape route
C
Escaped goat
D
Scapegoat
12.
'I take it for granite that things will work out.' Which word is misused?
A
Take (should be make)
B
Granite (should be granted)
C
Things (should be thinks)
D
Work (should be turn)
13.
'She has a photogenic memory.' What should the word be?
A
Photographic
B
Pathogenic
C
Phonetic
D
Phylogenic
14.
'We need to nip it in the butt.' What is the correct expression?
A
Rip it in the butt
B
Clip it in the butt
C
Nip it in the gut
D
Nip it in the bud
15.
'He's suffering from Old Timer's disease.' What is the correct term?
A
Old-timers disorder
B
Altimeter's disease
C
Alzheimer's disease
D
Old-fashioned disease

Answer Key

Question 1

A. Intensive (should be intents and)

Question 2

D. Cheap (should be sheep's)

Question 3

A. I couldn't care less

Question 4

A. Pineapple (should be pinnacle)

Question 5

A. A dog-eat-dog world

Question 6

D. Prostrate (should be prostate)

Question 7

C. Specifically

Question 8

A. Electrical (should be electoral)

Question 9

D. A real spectacle of herself

Question 10

C. Varicose veins

Question 11

D. Scapegoat

Question 12

B. Granite (should be granted)

Question 13

A. Photographic

Question 14

D. Nip it in the bud

Question 15

C. Alzheimer's disease

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