Are you word perfect? Take our quiz to find out!

Lexicographer extraordinaire and queen of Countdown's Dictionary Corner, Susie Dent, is the author of Word Perfect: Etymological Entertainment For Every Day of the Year. From why 'May Day' became a distress call to 'snaccident' (unintentionally eating a whole packet of biscuits), Word Perfect is a year of wonder through the English language. 

Susie's joined us in Caboodlers' Corner to test your knowledge of the English language – how word perfect are you? Take the quiz to find out! 


Susie Dent

"Word Perfect offers a word, phrase, or etymology for every day of the year. Many are attached to specific events – the first reading of the Riot Act, for example, or the theatrical brouhaha from the eighteenth century where one production company stole a sound-effect machine from another, giving us the phrase ‘stealing someone’s thunder’. Others simply chime with the time of year: what better word for dark wintry mornings than ‘hurkle-durkling’, old Scots dialect for lounging around long after it’s time to get moving? I’d love to see whether you can match some of my favourite words to their perfect meaning."

 

 

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