Origins of phrases (Quiz #1,029)

A. It is a reference to the Mr Punch character in Punch and Judy shows

B. It is a reference to punch, i.e. a fruit based alcoholic beverage

C. It is a reference to Punch, the satirical magazine founded in the 19th century 

A. It is a reference to the basket used to catch the heads of those executed on the guillotine

B. It is a reference to 18th century basket-makers, who became affected by the mercury in their glues

C. It is a reference to US Army slang for a soldier who has lost all his limbs, and has to be carried in a basket

A. It comes from "soft as a brush" ("soft" being Northern dialect for "stupid", and a "brush" being a fox's tail)

B. It is a reference to the brushes used by chimney sweeps, who supposedly sometimes fell down chimneys and landed on their heads

C. It comes from the Devon dialect phrase "mazed as a brish" (where "mazed" means "confused", and "brish" means "brush")