In Other Words

Let's have a little fun today with an activity my students enjoyed on snowy days when buses were delayed.

The following is a list of well-known phrases and sayings camouflaged with flowery wording.

Pelham Lake
September 2012

Example: Compounds of hydrogen and oxygen in the proportion of two-to-one that are without visible movement invariably tend to flow with profundity.  Answer: Still water runs deep.

Ready? See how many you can identify.

1.  A body of persons abiding in a domicile of silica combined with metallic oxide should not carelessly project small geologic specimens.

2.  Do not utter loud or passionate vocal expressions because of the accidental overturning of a receptacle containing a whitish opaque and nutritive fluid.

3.  A superfluity of culinary experts has a tendency to disarrange the beef extract.

4.  Each mass of vapors collection suspended in the firmament has an interior decoration of metallic hue.

5.  A short vocal utterance directed toward the individual possessing a high degree of knowledge meets adequately all the needs of the occasion.

6.  Variation from the ordinary or common routine of experience is that which gives rest of men's cycle of existence.

7.  He who locks himself into the arms of Morpheus promptly at eventide and starts the day before it is officially announced by the rising sun excels in physical fitness, increases in economic assets and celebrates with remarkable efficiency.

8.  The harmonious responses circumgyrate and emanate at this point.

9.  Equine quadrupeds may indubitably be induced at approach that well-known standard of specific gravity, but not necessarily be induced to imbibe thereof.

10.  It hath been deemed unwise to calculate upon the quantity of junior poultry prior to completion of proper incubation.

How many did you solve? Which one(s) were the most difficult?

Here are the answers: don't look if you want to try to solve them by yourself. 

1. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
2. Don’t cry over spilled milk.
3. Too many cooks spoil the broth/soup.
4. Every cloud has a silver lining.
5. A word to the wise is sufficient.
6. Variety is the spice of life.
7. Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
8. The more things change the more they stay the same.
9. You can lead a horse to water but can’t make him drink.
10. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.