"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
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".
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
Fantastic idea for a quiz though!
Number of Google search results for "third time's the charm" (in quotes): 478,000
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_ain%27t_no_such_thing_as_a_free_lunch
It's still a weirdly worded question though
"Take home the bacon" and
"Taking home the bacon"
Anyone else heard it that way? Or just me