DOUBLE THREES
Credit: GAMES Magazine
August, 1986
Edward Dermon

Replace the asterisks in each word below with two identical sets of three letters to form an eight-letter word.  For example, the answer to number 1 is BACKPACK.

1. B***P***
2. T***L***
3. M***T***
4. D***T***
5. C***B***
6. W***D***
7. P***S***
8. T***I***
9. S***I***

HINTS:
2. Sensation felt when your foot "falls asleep"
3. Keep things in good repair
4. City center, for example
5. Found on most kitchen shelves
6. Lively, unrestrained event
7. Random criticisms or attacks
8. Most irritable and peevish
9. Conscious, capable of feeling

Answers:

2. TINGLING
3. MAINTAIN
4. DOWNTOWN
5. COOKBOOK
6. WINGDING
7. POTSHOTS
8. TESTIEST
9. SENTIENT

NOTE:  See also BACKPACK WORDS - posted Nov. 22, 2011

LIMERICK

Can you complete the last line to this limerick?

In a way that seems strange to repeat,
Fifty engineers and a centipede meet,
To reveal what shared trait
That can make them relate?
Each one...............................................

Answer:

has one hundred feet.

TWO JOKES

1. Why did the shepherd get a ticket?

2. A smuggler's boat was sighted by the Coast Guard. The smugglers dumped all their marijuana overboard, and it washed up onto an island populated by terns. What was the result?

Answers:

1. He made a ewe turn. 
2. There was no tern unstoned.

1. What do the following words have in common?

PAL
PAN
WIN
TAPES

2. What do the following words have in common?

SPIES
SILL
PEAS
SEPTIC

HINTS:
1. The same three letters will change each word into a new one.
2. The same letter will change each word into a new one.

Answers:

1. Each word can be changed into a new one by adding the letters TRY at the end:

PALTRY
PANTRY
WINTRY
TAPESTRY

2. Inserting the letter K into each word will change it into a new one:

SPIKES
SKILL
PEAKS
SKEPTIC

Credit:
Both puzzles: LA Times Crossword
Sylvia Bursztyn and Barry Tunick
#1: GIVE IT A TRY
#2: K TOO

MIND YOUR P'S AND Q'S
Credit: GAMES Magazine - July, 1986
Percival Quigley

For some reason, many words starting with the letter P seem to have synonyms (or near synonyms) starting with the letter Q. For example,

PROMPT - QUICK
PLUME - QUILL
PRETTY - QUITE


Can you find a synonym beginning with the letter Q for each of the "P" words below?

1. PUN
2. PREY
3. PENTAD
4. PURSUIT
5. PARTRIDGE
6. PEACEFUL
7. PONYTAIL
8. PATCHWORK
9. PECULIAR
10. PREDICAMENT
11. PROBLEMATIC
12. PUGNACIOUS

Answers:

1. QUIP
2. QUARRY
3. QUINTET
4. QUEST
5. QUAIL
6. QUIET
7. QUEUE
8. QUILT
9. QUEER
10. QUANDARY
11. QUESTIONABLE 
12. QUARRELSOME

SCOT - FREE  II
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Feb. 1995
John Chaneski

The letters S-C-O-T, always in order, though not necessarily consecutively, have been removed from the words below. For example, given the clue EAAS, the restored word would be SEACOAST.

1. DIOMFR
2. UGARA
3. OIPAH
4. UBMPAC
5. VISIY
6. YPHAN
7. ARSANC
8. DIHLH
9. YNPAED
10. EESSINIS

Answers:

1. DISCOMFORT
2. SUGARCOAT
3. SOCIOPATH
4. SUBCOMPACT
5. VISCOSITY
6. SYCOPHANT
7. SACROSANCT
8. DISHCLOTH
9. SYNCOPATED
10. SECESSIONIST  

BRUCE

I was assigned to meet three strangers at the airport, one American, one Australian, and one South African. I knew one of them was named Bruce. When I saw them all at the airport, I immediately knew which one was Bruce. How did I know?

Answer:

The other two were women.

RIDDLE IN THE MIDDLE

Start with a group, a number, a bunch 
Of animals who like to stand still and munch.

Now heed these instructions - a new word to create
That sounds like the first one - for that is its fate.

Just stick one more letter right in the middle,
And voila! you'll have it -  the answer to this riddle.

HERD / HEARD

SPIDER'S WEB II
Credit: GAMES Magazine
Oct/Nov, 1989
Will Shortz

Each clue to this puzzle has had the letters to the answer removed in order. For example, given the clue

_ _ I _ TEEN   L _ SS   T _ N , the answer would be THREE , as in

THiRteen  lEss  tEn

Replace the letters to discover - and define - the answers to the clues below:

1.  RE _ UCED - CALOR _ _   EA _ _ _
2.  T _ INKLY   M _ GICIA _ ' S   RO _ _
3.  _ _ ENCHES ; GR _ _ _ _
4.  _ _ IRE  / _OZAM _ _ QUE   _ BUTMENT
5.  _ _ _ UTY ' _    COUN _ ERPART
6.  TRO _ _ LE   F _ R    _LLIED  FREIGH _ ERS
7.  REME _ I _ S   _ AD  COMP_ TER  PRO_ RAM _

Answers:

1. DIETER
2. WANDS
3. CLASPS
4. ZAMBIA
5. BEAST
6. UBOAT
7. DEBUGS 

MINIGRAMS
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Feb/Mar 1989
Fraser Simpson

A minigram is a sort of minimal anagram. It is the result of anagramming the letters of the word after all duplicate letters have been eliminated. For example, a minigram for the word MISSISSIPPI would be IMPS. This is found by eliminating the duplicate letters in MISSISSIPPI, leaving, in order, MISP - which can be anagrammed into IMPS.

In the clues below, find a minigram for one of the words, such that the other word is its synonym. Continuing the example above, MISSISSIPPI could have been paired with RASCALS, because RASCALS is a synonym for the minigram IMPS. Either of the two words could be the minigram.

1. GODLESS, CABINS
2. BASEBALL, PACKAGES
3. REGRETTING, GUNRUNNING
4. CAVALRYMAN, CLEARANCE
5. INSIGNIFICANT, HIGHLIGHTS
6. STARTED, BEANBAG
7. SIGNALS, SUCCESSES
8. REVERENTIAL, LONESOMENESS

Answers:

1. LODGES
2. BALES
3. RUING
4. LANCER
5. SLIGHT
6. BEGAN
7. CUES
8. SOLEMN 

NOTE:  See also LETTER BANKS

BEGIN AND END VI

FRONT AND BACK
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Feb/Mar 1989
N.M. Meyer

Complete each nine-letter word below by adding the same pair of letters at the front and back.

For example, given the clue   _ _ ELAND _ _ , the answer would be ICELANDIC.

1. _ _ ELLFI _ _
2. _ _ ARTAC _ _
3. _ _ CHORM _ _
4. _ _ RMINA _ _
5. _ _ RICAL _ _
6. _ _ RISCO _ _
7. _ _ CALAT _ _
8. _ _ TRONO _ _
9. _ _ IRTIE _ _
10. _ _ EADFA _ _
11. _ _ CTARI _ _

Answers:

1. SHELLFISH
2. HEARTACHE
3. ANCHORMAN
4. TERMINATE
5. LYRICALLY
6. PERISCOPE
7. ESCALATES
8. METRONOME
9. THIRTIETH
10. STEADFAST
11. NECTARINE

 SPOONERISMS - FAMILIAR PHRASES

Each pair of clues below suggests two words that, when spoonerized (that is, when their initial consonant sounds are exchanged), yield a pair of words which form a familiar phrase.

For example, the clues HIT SUDDENLY and PESTILENCE would lead to the words WHACK and BLIGHT - a spoonerism of BLACK and WHITE.

1. ARMY BED  -  GRASP
2. TAKES TO COURT  -  STUNS
3. HORN SOUND  -  BREATHY SOUND
4. LOCK OPENER  -  HARD, CHEWY CANDY
5. SHEPHERD'S STAFF  -  AU PAIR
6. PICKLE TYPE  -  ICY RAIN
7. HABEAS CORPUS, e.g.  -  ATTILA FOLLOWER
8. COAL CONTAINER  -  TEA-TIME ROLLS
9. FOOTBALL KICK - "WHAT THE  _____ DO I CARE?"

Answers:

1. COT and HOLD - - HOT and COLD
2. SUES and SHOCKS - - SHOES and SOCKS
3. TOOT and SIGH - - SUIT and TIE
4. KEY and TOFFEE - - TEA and COFFEE 
5. CROOK and NANNY - - NOOK and CRANNY
6. DILL and HAIL - - HILL and DALE
7. WRIT and  HUN - - HIT and RUN
8. BIN and SCONES - - SKIN and BONES 
9. PUNT  and  HECK - HUNT and PECK

Each set of  blanks in the clues below can be filled in with words which have something in common.

1. GR _ _ _ _ _ D
2. DOG _ _ _ HT
3. UNS _ _ _ KABLE
4. _ _ _ _ NERSTONE
5. S _ _ _ _ MINT
6. MIL _ _ _ _ TER
7. _ _ _ _ BER
8. BO _ _ _ _ CK

HINT:
Don't you just want to eat this puzzle up?

Answers:

The blanks can be filled in with the name of a common fruit or vegetable.

1. grAPPLEd
2. dogFIGht
3. unsPEAkable
4. CORNerstone
5. sPEARmint
6. milLIMEter
7. PLUMber
8. boOKRAck



 

What do the following phrases have in common?

COMMANDING OFFICER
DEFENSIVE END
PUBLIC ADDRESS
NAUTICAL MILE
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS
OPERATING ROOM
MIDDLE ENGLISH

HINTS:
#1: It has to do with geography.
#2: It has to do with US geography.
#3: It has to do with initial letters.

Answer:

The initial letters of the two words in each phrase form the postal code of a US state:

CO - Colorado
DE - Delaware
PA - Pennsylvania
NM - New Mexico
GA - Georgia
OR - Oregon
ME - Maine

Credit: LA Times Crossword
Sylvia Bursztyn and Barry Tunick
GOING NON-POSTAL

MORNING ADDITION
Credit: LA Times Crossword
Sylvia Bursztyn and Barry Tunick

The answers to the clues below will be familiar phrases - but with a twist.

1. Chaucer's favorite Mexican dish
2. Decision on Star Trek
3. Unprincipled past
4. Secret information about a US President

HINT:
The answer involves two letters as suggested by the title.

Answer:

Each answer is a familiar phrase - with the addition of AM:

1. CANTERBURY TAMALES
2. TO BEAM OR NOT TO BEAM
3. AMORAL HISTORY
4. CLASSIFIED ADAMS

FOUR SCORE
Credit: GAMES Magazine
March, 1988
E. J. Ulrich

The seven words below have something in common, (other than being four letters each,) that has nothing to do with their meanings. Can you determine their noteworthy characteristic?

BEET
CHOP
HAND
VIVA
RAVE
MEND
SCAR

HINT:
The title and the word "noteworthy" above are clues.

Answer:

Each of the seven words is the beginning of the name of a famous composer:

BEEThoven
CHOPin
HANDel
VIVAldi
RAVEl
MENDelssohn
SCARlatti

 

Make the same change to each word below, then re-arrange the letters, to create four new, related words.

HATRED
RAID
FRIED
WARTED

Answer:

Dropping the D from each word and anagramming the remaining letters gives the four classic elements - EARTH, AIR, FIRE, and WATER.

Credit: GAMES Magazine - Dec. 1986
R. L. 
ALL AROUND US

 1. What do the following words have in common?

RENT
FLOOD
CRUISE
THOUGHT

 2. Can you determine what the ten words below have in common?

AIL
ARIA
ATE
AWN
AURA
EARL
ERA
ERN
LICE
PAL

Answers:

1. Each word is commonly followed by CONTROL.

2. Each word can be preceded by a single letter to form a woman's name:

GAIL
MARIA
KATE
DAWN
LAURA
PEARL
VERA
FERN
ALICE
OPAL

Credit: #1: LA Times Crossword
Sylvia Bursztyn and Barry Tunick
LOSING CONTROL  (adapted)

Credit: #2: Idea - John Chaneski 

1. The same change can be made to each of the words below to form completely different words. Can you determine what it is?

CANE
COED
COMBED
CONTENT
SISTER
VILLAS

2. The same change can be made to each of the following words, changing them into new ones.

RISK
LIGHT
ELICIT
LATTER

Answers:

1. The letters (word) IN can be inserted into each word to change it into a new one:

CANINE
COINED
COMBINED
CONTINENT
SINISTER
VILLAINS 

2. The letters F and Y can be added to each word, the F at the front and the Y at the end, to create new words:

FRISKY
FLIGHTY
FELICITY
FLATTERY

Credit: #2: LA Times Crossword
Sylvia Bursztyn and Barry Tunick
F - Y UPON IT

DOUBLETAKES
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Oct. 1986
Gary Disch

By changing one letter in each word of each equation below, you should be able to come up with a new statement with the same sort of verbal equality.

1. JIVE SINGERS  =  BAND
2. TAP HARD  =  THUMP
3. GOOD MIND  =  HEALTH

Answers:

1. FIVE FINGERS  =  HAND
2. TOP CARD  =  TRUMP
3. GOLD MINE  =  WEALTH

DYNAMIC DUOS II
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Aug. 1994
Stephen Sniderman

The same two consecutive letters can be inserted somewhere within each word in the pairs below to form two new words. For example, given the two clue pairs

FIGHT    CASE
LYNX     BROW,

the consecutive letters RE could be added to FIGHT and CASE, forming FREIGHT and CREASE. Likewise, the consecutive letters AR could be added to LYNX and BROW to form LARYNX and BARROW. The duos are never added at the beginning or end of words.

As a solving aid, each letter duo shares one missing letter with the duo from the preceding pair of words and the other missing letter with the next duo. In the example above, the letter R from the first pair is used in the second pair. The letter A in the second pair will be used in the third pair, and so on. This holds true for the first and last words in each set, which also share a letter. This allows you to solve from the bottom up as well as from the top down. For example, the duo from the last pair in Set I, RIVAL and RELATION, must contain either an R or an E.

Set I
FIGHT           CASE
LYNX            BROW
DECENT       RENEGE
RELENT       ARABLE
INNATE        DETAIL
RIVAL           RELATION

Set II
BURL          DRIES
MICE          TENT
SINCE         CHAT
AMITY       REVUE
AHEM        DEIST
MOVE        CAPON

Set III
BEAN               AUNT
COMMODE     BOUGH
SPIT                 GAFFE
OBVIOUS        REGION
WARES            SUET
COINED          BOAST

Answers:

Set I
FREIGHT         CREASE
LARYNX          BARROW
DECADENT    RENEGADE
REDOLENT    ADORABLE
INNOVATE      DOVETAIL
REVIVAL         REVELATION

Set II
BURIAL          DIARIES 
MALICE         TALENT
SILENCE        CHALET
AMENITY      REVENUE
ANTHEM       DENTIST 
MOTIVE        CAPTION 

Set III
BEMOAN               AMOUNT
COMMODORE     BOROUGH
SPIRIT                    GIRAFFE
OBLIVIOUS           RELIGION
WARBLES              SUBLET
COMBINED           BOMBAST

 

The same three letters, in the same order, will fill each pair of blanks below to complete an eleven-letter word.

Example:  RHI _ _ _ TO _ _ _
Answer:    RHINESTONES

1. STOM _ _ _ _ _ _ E

2. _ _ _ ERGRO _ _ _

3. MUDSL _ _ _ _ _ _

4. _ _ _ HE _ _ _ ICS

5. SEV _ _ _ E _ _ _ H

Answers:

1. STOMACHACHE
2. UNDERGROUND
3. MUDSLINGING
4. MATHEMATICS
5. SEVENTEENTH

Credit: GAMES Magazine - Mar. 1990
Will Shortz

STUMPERS XLIII
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Mar. 1990
Will Shortz

The first syllable in the name of a common salad ingredient sounds like one of the letters of the alphabet. Change that syllable to the sound of a different letter and you get a new word meaning "burden" or "weigh down." Both words contain three syllables and eight letters. What are they?

HINT:
The first syllable of the salad ingredient sounds like the letter Q.

Answer:

CUCUMBER and ENCUMBER

Scramble the name of each country with the accompanying letters to form the name of another country.

Example:
LAOS + AIM  =  SOMALIA

1. SPAIN + AKT =              __________
2. INDIA + ENOS  =            __________
3. MALTA + AEGU  =         __________
4. OMAN + GILO  =            __________
5. IRAN + DEL  =                __________
6. SUDAN + HOR  =          __________
7. MONACO + ER  =          __________
8. MALI + BCOO  =           __________
9. NIGHER + AANT =       __________
10. ISRAEL + DNTWZ =   __________

Answers:

1. PAKISTAN
2. INDONESIA
3. GUATEMALA
4. MONGOLIA
5. IRELAND
6. HONDURAS
7. CAMEROON
8. COLOMBIA
9. ARGENTINA
10. SWITZERLAND 

Credit: GAMES Magazine - Mar. 1990
Will Shortz 

OPPORTUNITY COMES KNOCKING
Credit: NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
Will Shortz - Nov. 6, 2010  (adapted)

Each clue word below can be paired with a longer word that begins the last letter of the clue, and ends with the first letter of the clue - forming a common phrase.

For example, given the clue OP, the answer would be PHOTO OP - a phrase beginning with P and ending with O.

1. EGG
2. DOG
3. CUP or CAP
4. LAP
5. DAYS
6. CHARGE
7. REGION
8. COURT

Answers:

1. GOOSE EGG
2. GUARD DOG
3. PLASTIC CUP or CAP
4. LAP POOL
5. SALAD DAYS
6. ELECTRIC CHARGE
7. NETHER REGION
8. TRAFFIC COURT

NICHOLAS NAMES II
Credit: GAMES Magazine - June, 1994
Stephen Sniderman

Many first names become nicknames simply by dropping one or more of their last letters. Below are the castoff letters for 12 names. Can you determine the nicknames? For example, given the clue UA, the answer would be JOSH, a common nickname for JOSHUA. Likewise, LIAN would lead to LILLIAN.

1. _______ AN
2. _______ ERT
3. _______ RENCE
4. _______ ARA
5. _______ IS
6. _______ OTHY
7. _______ BERT
8. _______ WARD
9. _______ ELA
10. _______ N
11. _______ R
12. _______ ERIE

Answers:

1. NORM
2. HERB/ROB
3. FLO
4. BARB
5. LOU
6. TIM
7. GIL
8. ED
9. PAM
10. STEVE
11. PETE
12. VAL

What do the following words have in common?

BEAT
HOLD
KEEP
RIGHT
ROOT
SCALE
STAGE

Answer:

Each word can be preceded by UP to form a new word.

Credit: LA Times Crossword
Sylviz Bursztyn and Barry Tunick
FOLLOWING UP

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT XIII

Did you hear about..........................

1. The scandal involving Noah?
2. The scandal involving Magellan?
3. The scandal involving Silicon Valley?
4. The scandal involving San Francisco?
5. The scandal involving small plots of land?
6. The scandal involving a commencement?

Answers:

1. Floodgate
2. Circumnavigate
3. Electronic gate
4. Golden Gate
5. Garden gate 
6. Starting gate

Credit: LA Times Crossword
Sylvia Bursztyn and Barry Tunick
END OF A SCANDAL

IN OTHER WORDS IV
Credit: GAMES Magazine - April, 1994
Stephen Sniderman

The five words in each set below are derived from an answer word that's made up of at least nine letters, none of which are repeated. The letters of each clue word appear in the answer word in left-to-right order, though not necessarily consecutively.

For example, given the clue words ACE, AIRY, CHIN, MANY, MINER, the answer word would be MACHINERY - which contains all the clue words in left-to-right order, though not consecutively. Every letter of the answer word appears at least once in the clue words, and one clue word in each set appears in the answer word intact (CHIN in the above example).

1. AIM, JAM, ORAL, OURS, URN
2. BASE, HEM, LASH, LAY, SPY
3. DOTE, DREAM, OWNS, STEM, TRAM
4. CRY, DOUR, ENTRY, OMEN, TAR
5. FIND, FISH, RAN, SAND, THAN
6. HAS, PIE, RODE, SIZE, SOD
7. ACT, ARM, BRIM, BUM, TERM
8. DROP, HONE, ROAN, ROLE, YON
9. BAD, ITCH, SIT, THE, WILD

HINTS:
The clue words appearing intact in the answer words are:
1. URN
2. HEM
3. OWNS
4. TAR
5. THAN
6. SOD
7. ACT
8. DROP
9. ITCH

Answers:

1. JOURNALISM
2. BLASPHEMY
3. DOWNSTREAM
4. DOCUMENTARY
5. FIRSTHAND
6. RHAPSODIZE
7. BACTERIUM
8. HYDROPLANE
9. SWITCHBLADE 

MANHUNT II
Credit: Idea - Henry E. Leabo
in GAMES Magazine

Some letters are missing from the words in the list below. Replace each set of asterisks with a man's first name to form a complete word.

For example, given the clue AD***TAGE, the asterisks could be replaced by VAN to form the complete word ADVANTAGE.

1. BRO***
2. P***Y
3. A***IC
4. T****ERY
5. I***IC
6. ****ION
7. ANO***IA
8. ****TY
9. CON****T
10. HI****
11. ***BER
12. ***SON
13. ****RESS
14. FRA***E

Answers:

1. broKEN
2. pARTy
3. aTOMic
4. tRICKery
5. iRONic
6. BILLion
7. anoREXia
8. BEAUty
9. conSTANt
10. hiJACK
11. TIMber
12. LESson
13. MATTress
14. fraGILe

SCOT - FREE  I
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Feb. 1995
John Chaneski

The letters S-C-O-T, always in order, though not necessarily consecutively, have been removed from the words below. For example, given the clue DIUN, the restored word would be DISCOUNT.

1. MINDUC
2. PYHIC
3. HOPCH
4. HOUEA
5. APEGA
6. DIRDAN
7. ERED
8. HOLMAE
9. OER
10. EAAS

Answers:

1. MISCONDUCT
2. PSYCHOTIC
3. HOPSCOTCH
4. HOUSECOAT
5. SCAPEGOAT
6. DISCORDANT
7. ESCORTED
8. SCHOOLMATE
9. SCOOTER
10. SEACOAST

THE TROUBLE WITH TRIPLES I
Credit: GAMES Magazine
February, 1995
Stephen Sniderman  (adapted)

Each word below can be changed into two others by changing a single letter. The changed letter will be in the same position in all three words. For some of the words, more than two other words are possible.

1. CHILL
2. THESE
3. WHILE
4. FOUR
5. FOUL
6. HERE
7. DECIDE
8. DENT
9. CHORDS
10. MAYOR
11. ARISES
12. BUSY
13. SQUIRT
14. CONCEPT
15. DELUXE
16. MONSTER
17. PASTRY
18. TRIES
19. GOOD
20. PRINT
  
 (Possible) Answers:

1. CHILL - CHILD - CHILI 
2. THESE - THEME - THERE
3. WHILE - WHOLE - WHALE
4. FOUR - HOUR - TOUR 
5. FOUL - FOWL - FOIL
6. HERE - HERD - HERO
7. DECIDE - DECODE - DECADE
8. DENT - DEFT - DEBT
9. CHORDS - CHORUS - CHORES
10. MAYOR - MAJOR - MANOR
11. ARISES - IRISES - CRISES
12. BUSY - BURY - BUOY
13. SQUIRT - SQUIRM - SQUIRE
14. CONCEPT - CONCERT - CONCEIT
15. DELUXE - DELUDE - DELUGE
16. MONSTER - MOBSTER - MOISTER
17. PASTRY - PALTRY - PANTRY
18. TRIES - TRIPS - TRIOS
19. GOOD - GOAD - GOLD 
20. PRINT - POINT - PAINT

The answers to the following clues will have something in common:

1. OK, just average
2. Bean used in cosmetics
3. Certain dog breed
4. New York State prison
5. Generic laugh
6. 60's dance craze
7. Dream world
8. Breach of etiquette, perhaps
9. Early 20th century art movement

Answers:

1. SO-SO
2. JOJOBA
3. CHOW CHOW
4. SING SING
5. HA HA
6. GO-GO
7. LA LA LAND
8. NO-NO
9. DADA

Credit: LA Times Crossword
Sylvia Bursztyn and Barry Tunick
ECHOES

NOTE: See also MURMUR WORDS

THREE RIDDLES
Credit: LA Times Crossword
Sylvia Bursztyn and Barry Tunick

1. Where does Waldo stay when he's in New York City?
2. Who were the first two American explorers of the Hawaiian Islands?
3. What do you call a turtle that's more trendy than the other turtles?

Answers:

1. At the Waldorf Astoria
2. Leis and Clark 
2. A hipper snapper

FOURRUNNERS
Credit: GAMES Magazine
April/May, 1989
Nick North

The same four-letter word will complete the partial words in each set. The four-letter word is different for each set.

1)
_ _ _ _ OW
S _ _ _ _ OP
LO _ _ _ _ Y
RE _ _ _ _

2)
_ _ _ _ RAL
E _ _ _ _ NT
NO _ _ _ _ E
JAS _ _ _ _

3)

P _ _ _ _ TY
PR _ _ _ _ B
REC _ _ _ _
CL _ _ _ _

4)
_ _ _ _ NNA
L _ _ _ _ RN
W _ _ _ _ D
AND _ _ _ _

5)
_ _ _ _ TIC
T _ _ _ _
US _ _ _ _ D
SP _ _ _ _

6)
_ _ _ _ AIC
M _ _ _ _ ER
ST _ _ _ _ Y
MON _ _ _ _

7)
_ _ _ _ RAL
P _ _ _ _ AU
BE _ _ _ _ D
INF _ _ _ _

8)
_ _ _ _ MIT
B _ _ _ _ TH
AL _ _ _ _ Y
RET _ _ _ _ 

Answers:

The four-letter words are:

1. CALL
2. MINE
3. OVER
4. ANTE
5. HERE 
6. ARCH
7. LATE
8. READ 

SENDING LETTERS V
Credit: GAMES Magazine - May, 2014
Stephen Sniderman

In the puzzle below, each word on the left mails two letters to its penpal on the right, creating two new words. Start by removing two letters from the word on the left, leaving a familiar word. Then add these two letters, in the same order, to the word on the right, creating another familiar word. The letters you deliver do not need to be consecutive in either word, may come from anywhere in the word on the left, and may be placed anywhere in the word on the right.

For example, given the clue
ACUITY..................................................TRIM,
the answer would be
CITY..................................................ATRIUM

1. WEALTHIER......................................POSH
2. UNRAVEL..........................................BEAU
3. MACAROON.....................................CHARTER
4. OCTAVE.............................................SPRING
5. TRAUMA...........................................GRANTEE
6. COLONY............................................MASTERY
7. RECOVERY.......................................PRECIOUS

Answers:

1. WEATHER - POLISH
2. NAVEL - BUREAU
3. MAROON - CHARACTER
4. CAVE - SPORTING
5. TRAM - GUARANTEE
6. CLOY - MONASTERY
7. REVERY - PRECOCIOUS 

SPIDER'S WEB I
Credit: GAMES Magazine
Oct/Nov, 1989
Will Shortz

Each clue to this puzzle has had the letters to the answer removed in order. For example, given the clue

_ _ EEP   _LONG   SLO _ _ Y, the answer would be CRAWL, as in

CReep   Along  sloWLy.

Replace the letters to discover - and define - the answers to the clues below:

1   _ _ DIRA  GAN _ H _ ' S   L _ ND
2.  _ EEBLE   _ ND   D _ STA _ _
3.  EXCLAMA _ _ ON  FRO _   LUM _ _ _ JACKS
4.  ST _ A _ _  HT ;  F _ XE _
5.  PRODU _ T   _ F   PLAN _ A _ I _ _ S
6.  PE _ S _ NNEL  REGI _ _ _ _
7.  _ _ URCH - G _ ING   S _ NGE _ _
8.  FA _ SIF _ _ _ _
9.  _ _ I _ TEEN   L _ SS   T _ N
10.  _ _ _ AIN ; PR _ _ _ URE
11.  U _ LY  _ ORROR   M _ VIE   REG _ _ AR
12.   _ IO _   D _ _ IGN ,  PERHAP _
13.  TRAN _ _ _ L ; SIL _ N _
14.  D _ CEA _ ED ' S   _ OT _ L   PROPER _ I _ S
15.  TRA _ ELER 'S  SM _ _ L _ SH   _UITCAS _

Answers:

1. INDIA
2. FAINT
3. TIMBER
4. RIGID
5. COTTON
6. ROSTER
7. CHOIRS
8. LYING
9. THREE
10. STRESS
11. GHOUL
12. DRESS
13. QUIET
14. ESTATE
15. VALISE

WHACHAMACALITS
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Oct/Nov 1989

Can you come up with the actual names of these commonly seen objects?

1. The part of a rotary or push-button phone on which the headset rests
2. The little metal band around a pencil, right next to the eraser
3. The plastic or metal tip of a shoelace
4. The whole through which #3 is slipped when tying your shoes
5. The small, curved end on a suit hanger that forms a letter "C"
6. The part of the stairway you step on
7. The small posts that support the banister on a staircase
8. The parts of a pair of glasses that rest on your ears
9. The little loop on the front of a belt that secures the tip of the belt
10. The wooden or metal frames in which the glass panes of a window are set

Answers:

1. Cradle
2. Ferrule
3. Aglet
4. Eyelet
5. Turnback
6. Tread
7. Balusters
8. Temples
9. Keeper
10. Muntins (not mullions)

COMPOUND INTEREST
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Sept. 1986
Stephen Sniderman  (adapted)

Use the hint provided to fill in the first and last name of a well-known person so that the sentence will make sense.

1. Take his wife - please

_ _ _ _ _ was a _ _ _ _   _ _ _ when he told his first joke.

2. American actress with a distinctive voice

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ talked to a _ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ about a loan.

3. British statesman

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ came out of _ _ _ _ _ _   _ _ _ on Sunday morning.

4. German actress and singer known for sultry roles

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ followed a _ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ in protein.

5. Fantasy author and mathematician

_ _ _ _ _ watched his _ _ _   _ _ _ _ away after the brakes failed.

Answers:

1. HENNY YOUNGMAN
2. TALLULAH BANKHEAD
3. WINSTON CHURCHILL
4. MARLENE DIETRICH
5. LEWIS CARROLL

FOUR THREESOMES

1. The same three letters, in the same order will complete the partial words below:

_ _ _ B
_ _ _ T
_ _ _ W

2. The same three letters, in the same order, will complete the partial words below:

_ _ _ LY
_ _ _ SE
_ _ _ TA

3. The same three letters, in the same order, will complete the partial words below:

_ _ _ RE
_ _ _ RK
_ _ _ SM
_ _ _ WN

4. The same three letters, in the same order, will complete the partial words below:

_ _ _ D
_ _ _ K
_ _ _ M
_ _ _ N
_ _ _ R
_ _ _ T
_ _ _ U

HINTS:
1. The first letter is silent.
2. GO and IC could be added to the list.
3. The second letter is P.
4. The third letter is A

Answers:

1. The letters are KNO.
2. The letters are MAN.
3. The letters are SPA.
4. The letters are BEA.

What do the following words have in common?

FILE
MULE
JAY
DALE
MIEN

HINTS:
#1: The same two letters will change each word into a new one.
#2: The two letters are added in the same position in each word.
#3: The two letters are the same.

Answer:

Each word can be changed into a new one by inserting ZZ after the second letter:

FIZZLE
MUZZLE
JAZZY
DAZZLE
MIZZEN

STUMPERS XLII

Can you think of a five-letter that becomes a completely different word when the first three letters are reversed, and then the last two letters are reversed? For example, if the first word was ABCDE, the second word would be CBAED.

HINTS:
#1; The beginning letters of the two words are B and G - or G and B
#2: The last letters of the words are L and E - or E and L.

Answer:

The words are BAGEL and GABLE.

KANGAROO WORDS IV
Credit: GAMES Magazine
August, 1994
Ogden Porter  (adapted)

A kangaroo word is one that has within its letters a synonym of itself, with the letters in correct, but not consecutive, order. The hidden synonyms are called Joeys. For example, in the kangaroo word PROSECUTED, you can find the Joey SUED.

In this puzzle, instead of finding the Joey in the kangaroo word, the Joey will be given and you must supply the kangaroo word. As a solving aid, the number of letters that have to be added to the Joey to reveal the kangaroo word will be given in parentheses. For example, given the clue VACATE (2), the answer would be EVACUATE.

1. SOBER (1)
2. BLOOM (2)
3. GAMING (2)
4. WOES (3)
5. HIES (3)
6. RAGE (3)
7. DEAD (4)
8. PIES (4)
9. IRATE (4)
10. TUTOR (4)
11. IDLE (4)
12. DEBATE (4)
13. FICTION (4)
14. RASCAL (5)
15. ELATION (5)
16. RAIN (9)
17. AREA (3)
18. PLED (4)

Answers:

1. SOMBER
2. BLOSSOM
3. GAMBLING
4. WORRIES
5. HURRIES
6. RAMPAGE
7. DECEASED
8. PASTRIES
9. IRRITATED
10. INSTRUCTOR
11. INDOLENT
12. DELIBERATE
13. FABRICATION
14. RAPSCALLION
15. EXHILARATION
16. PRECIPITATION
17. ACREAGE
18. IMPLORED 

DYNAMIC DUOS I
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Aug. 1994
Stephen Sniderman

The same two consecutive letters can be inserted somewhere within each word in the pairs below to form two new words. For example, given the two clue pairs

TRUE     LEER
HOME    RING,

the consecutive letters DG could be added to  TRUE and LEER , forming TRUDGE and LEDGER.
Likewise, the consecutive letters AG could be added to HOME and RING to form HOMAGE and RAGING. The duos are never added at the beginning or end of words.

As a solving aid, each letter duo shares one missing letter with the duo from the preceding pair of words and the other missing letter with the next duo. In the example above, the letter G from the first pair is used in the second pair. The A in the second pair will be used in the third pair, and so on. This holds true for the first and last words in each set, which also share a letter. This allows you to solve  from the bottom up as well as from the top down. For example, the duo in the last pair of Set I, HALE and BAIT, must contain either a D or a G.

Set I
TRUE          LEER
HOME         RING
LENDER     TRAIL
TRIAL         LASH
SISTER        MARE
HALE          BAIT

Set II
GLOSSY      CAFE
DAM            ENTITY
COSMIC      DOUR
EARLY         LIE
BEND          TROPES
FRY              FLING

Set III
SEW            TOUGH
HAY             HOE
CANE          BRIE
SLAM         CARIES
BUS             TETHER
KNIT           BOUT

Answers:

Set I
TRUDGE         LEDGER
HOMAGE       RAGING
LAVENDER   TRAVAIL
TRIVIAL        LAVISH 
SINISTER      MARINE
HANDLE        BANDIT

Set II
GLOSSARY     CARAFE
DREAM            ENTIRETY
COSMETIC      DETOUR
EARTHY          LITHE
BEHIND           TROPHIES
FAIRY               FAILING

Set III
SHREW       THROUGH
HARDY       HORDE
CANDLE     BRIDLE
SLALOM    CALORIES
BOGUS       TOGETHER
KNIGHT     BOUGHT

Can you determine what the twelve words below have in common?

ALTER
ARK
AVID
DAM
EON
ITCH
LINT
LIVER
RANK
SCAR
TAN
THAN

HINTS:
#1: The title of this puzzle is MISSING INK.
#2: A single letter, appropriately placed in each word, will change the words so that they all have something in common.

Answer:

All the words become common men's names when the appropriate letter is added at the beginning of the word:

WALTER
MARK
DAVID
ADAM
LEON
MITCH
CLINT
OLIVER 
FRANK
OSCAR
STAN
ETHAN 

Credit: GAMES Magazine - Dec. 1994
John Chaneski
MISSING INK

 

NICHOLAS NAMES I
Credit: GAMES Magazine - June, 1994
Stephen Sniderman

Many first names become nicknames simply by dropping one or more of their last letters. Below are the castoff letters for 16 names. Can you determine the nicknames? For example, given the clue LIN, the answer would be FRANK, a common nickname for FRANKLIN. Likewise, DOLYN would lead to GWENDOLYN.

1. _______ HUR
2. _______ ORD
3. _______ UA
4. _______ RICIA
5. _______ MOND
6. _______ ARD
7. _______ IAM
8. _______ HANIEL
9. _______ IP
10. _______ TINE
11. _______ ORAH
12. _______NETH
13. _______ LIAN
14. _______ JAMIN
15. _______ ANA
16. _______ WELL

Answers:

1. ART
2. CLIFF
3. JOSH
4. PAT
5. RAY
6. RICH
7. WILL
8. NAT
9. PHIL
10. CHRIS 
11. DEB
12. KEN
13. LIL
14. BEN
15. DI
16. MAX 

BEHEADMENTS IV
DOUBLE (BE)HEADERS
Credit: GAMES Magazine - June, 1994
Peter Gordon

Each string of letters below was formed by taking a common two-word phrase in which both words start with the same pair of letters, removing the first two letters from each word, and closing the space between the words. Can you restore each string to its original form?

For example, NDSHIELDPR represents WINDSHIELD WIPER, while STRTICIPLE is PAST PARTICIPLE.

1. AINLESSEEL
2. JAMARTY
3. OCOLATEIP
4. CRETRVICE
5. EEZEAME
6. RDTALOG
7. MMONLD
8. ORTFIFT
9. ASHOOD
10. TTLELL
11. ZZAE
12. UNDBIN
13. ENCHIES
14. LLISIONURSE 
15. UEOOD
16. LONY
17 TCE
18. DIAK
19. ARPENT
20. TEVE

HINTS:
16. LO/NY
17.T/CE
18. DIA/K
19. A/RPENT
20. T/EVE

Answers:

1. STAINLESS STEEL
2. PAJAMA PARTY
3. CHOCOLATE CHIP
4. SECRET SERVICE
5. FREEZE FRAME
6. CARD CATALOG
7. COMMON COLD
8. SHORT SHRIFT
9. FLASH FLOOD
10. CATTLE CALL
11. PIZZA PIE
12. ROUND ROBIN
13. FRENCH FRIES
14. COLLISION COURSE
15. BLUE BLOOD
16. POLO PONY
17. RAT RACE
18. INDIA INK 
19. SEA SERPENT 
20. PET PEEVE 

NOTE: See also DIG DEEPER III 

INSIDE AND OUT II
Credit: GAMES Magazine - Nov. 2008
Will Shortz

Each sentence below has a hidden word that is defined somewhere in the sentcnce.

For example, consider the sentence

The sound of the bird in Handel's oratorio left me bewildered.

It conceals the word ORIOLE (oratorio left) which is defined in the sentence as "bird."

The hidden word can be defined in the sentence as a single word or a phrase.

1. Several taxpayers don't think the rate adjustment is fair

2. We need to repair a diode in the receiver.

3. Father ran downtown on a quick trip to the store.

4. Martha taught the novice yogi some tricky kind of exercise.

5. The Indian language is behind in the development of new words

6. The violent anger in Ed's voice was intensified by the bright color of his face.

Answers:

1. JUST - fair
2. RADIO - receiver
3. ERRAND - trip
4. ISOMETRIC - kind of exercise
5. HINDI - Indian language
6. TANGERINE - bright color

CHANGING PLACES
Credit: GAMES Magazine - April, 1994
Hal Turner

The answer to each of the twelve clues below is a two-word phrase. The first word is the name of a city in the state or country given; the second word is a synonym for the second half of the clue and an anagram of the city' name.

For example, given the clue MOROCCO ROCK, the answer would be TANGIER GRANITE.

1. France twosomes
2. Norway aria
3. Massachusetts dinners
4. Peru correspondence
5. Ohio Islamic book of scripture
6. Philippines creature
7. Arizona royalty
8. Wisconsin realms
9. Italy jets
10. South Korea insect

Answers:

1. PARIS PAIRS
2. OSLO SOLO
3. SALEM MEALS
4. LIMA MAIL
5. AKRON KORAN
6. MANILA ANIMAL
7. TUCSON COUNTS
8. MADISON DOMAINS
9. NAPLES PLANES
10. SEOUL LOUSE 

THE NAME OF THE GAME
Credit: GAMES Magazine - April, 1994
Sandy Fein

Each clue below leads to a phrase with rhyming words in it. For example, given the clue Follow prevailing trends (4), the answer would be Go with the flow. The number in ( ) tells how many words are in the phrase. 

1. Dr. Seuss classic (5)
2. Common stick shift number and location (4)
3. Phrase about springtime weather (5)
4. Using any means whatsoever (5)
5. Benny Goodman's nickname (4)
6. Abandon (4)
7. Getting -in-shape motto (4)
8. Very eager to get started (4)
9. 1955 Bill Haley classic (4)
10. "Shut up!" (3)
11. Empty promise of happiness or prosperity (4)
12. Question asked during limbo contests (5)
13. Children's toy with a silver screen (3)
14. Saying that advises against rushing (3)
15. Something that brings back memories of yesteryear (4)
16. Entertain lavishly, often with an ulterior motive (3)
17. Comfortable and secure (7)

Answers:

1. The Cat in the Hat
2. Four on the floor
3. April showers bring May flowers
4. By hook or by crook
5. The king of swing
6. Leave high and dry
7. No pain, no gain
8. Hot to trot
9. "Rock Around the Clock"
10. Zip your lip!
11. Pie in the sky
12. "How low can you go?"
13. Etch-a-sketch
14. Haste makes waste
15. Blast from the past
16. Wine and dine 
17. Snug as a bug in a rug 


 

CLEMENT'S CLUB
Credit: GAMES Magazine - April, 1994
Trip Payne

Can you determine what the ten names below have in common?

ARSENIO
BARNUM
CARSON
COOPER
LEON
MEAD
MODINE
RAMON
TIM
ZINA

HINTS:
1. The title follows the same pattern as the clues.
2. It involves changing a single letter in each name.

Answers:

Each name can be changed into the name of a chemical element by changing just one letter:

ARSENIC
BARIUM
CARBON
COPPER
NEON
LEAD
IODINE
RADON
TIN
ZINC
(ELEMENT'S CLUB)

MIND FLEXERS XIV
Credit: GAMES Magazine
April, 1994
Howard Richler

Match the words on the left with those on the right based on similar or related meanings. The relationships are disguised by the use of double meanings or altered spacing within words. For example, given the clue BARBEQUE CHICKEN, the answer could be HEATHEN - as in HEAT HEN. Ignore the dotted lines.

1. WARRANT..................................REDOLENT
2. POLEMIST..................................SCUBA GUY
3. CURTAILMENT.........................FIRST INSECT
4. FAST TWICE..............................BATTLE CRY
5. JUSTICE......................................CORPORATE SALARY
6. ADAMANT.................................WARSAW FOG
7. CAESAR'S TWITCH..................BRIEF ILLNESS
8. PURE...........................................GLACIER
9. DIVERGENT..............................NOVICES
10. EXECRATE .............................ROMANTIC

Answers:

1. Battle cry - War rant
2. Warsaw fog - Pole mist
3. Brief illness - Curt ailment
4. Redolent - Redo Lent
5. Glacier - Just ice
6. First insect - Adam ant
7. Romantic - Roman tic
8. Novices - No vices
9. Scuba guy - Diver gent
10. Corporate salary - Exec rate 

IN OTHER WORDS III
Credit: GAMES Magazine - April, 1994
Stephen Sniderman

The five words in each set below are derived from an answer word that's made up of at least nine letters, none of which are repeated. The letters of each clue word appear in the answer word in left-to-right order, though not necessarily consecutively.

For example, given the clue words LAW, LIGHT, PAY, RIG, WIT, the answer word would be PLAYWRIGHT - which contains all the clue words in left-to-right order, though not consecutively. Every letter of the answer word appears at least once in the clue words, and one clue word in each set appears in the answer word intact (RIG in the above example.)

1. FORT, MIST, RUNE, SORE, STUN
2. HOP, LIFE, PIER, SIT, SOFTER
3. ERA, MOST, MUSE, SET, STRAP
4. NOW, OWL, SOAK, SOFA, WAKE
5. AMOS, ASP, HER, MOPE, TOPIC
6. ACE, AIRY, CHIN MANY, MINER
7. SLY, SODA, SPA, WORD, WRY
8. DATE, FAT, GOAT, OAR, OTHER

HINTS:
The clue words appearing intact in the answer words are:
1. FORT
2. HOP
3. SET
4. NOW
5. HER
6. CHIN
7. WORD
8. FAT

Answers:

1. MISFORTUNE
2. SHOPLIFTER
3. MOUSETRAP
4. SNOWFLAKE
5. ATMOSPHERIC
6. MACHINERY
7. SWORDPLAY
8. GODFATHER

MIXED COLORS
Credit: GAMES Magazine
March, 1985
Len Elliott

The ten colors below can be changed into new words by adding one letter to each color and re-arranging the letters to match one of the definitions.

1. TAN
2. SCARLET
3. ORANGE
4. RED
5. GRAY
6. ECRU
7. BLUE
8. WHITE
9. VIOLET
10. GREEN

Most limpid
Irate
Showed strain vocally
Vim and vigor
Challenge
Dry up
Desecrate
Unrefined fuel
Declaim
Army instrument

Answers:

1. TAN - RANT - Declaim
2. SCARLET - CLEAREST - Most limpid
3. ORANGE - GROANED - Showed strain vocally 
4. RED - DARE - Challenge
5. GRAY -  ANGRY - Irate
6. ECRU - CRUDE - Unrefined fuel
7. BLUE - BUGLE - Army instrument
8. WHITE - WITHER - Dry up
9. VIOLET - VIOLATE - Desecrate
10. GREEN - ENERGY - Vim and vigor

What is the correct answer to this famous tongue-twister?

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?

HINT:
It has nothing to do with how many peppers it takes to fill a peck (which is a quarter of a bushel).

Answer:

NONE ............ Peter Piper couldn't have picked any pickled peppers because peppers are picked unpickled.

Credit: GAMES Magazine
Burt Hochberg
SLIM PICKINGS 
(B.H.  April, 1983)

VOICE MAIL MESSAGE II

Here is a suggestion of what to say the next time you're asked to leave a voice-mail message:

Hi, this is _________ . Please spell the following words and then return my call:

chihuahua, moccasin, broccoli, liaison, camaraderie, conscientious, chauffeur, Caribbean, idiosyncrasy, occurrence, hypocrisy, cinnamon, and pharaoh

MANHUNT I
Credit: GAMES Magazine
July, 1983
Henry E. Leabo 

Some letters are missing from the words in the list below. Replace each set of asterisks with a man's first name to form a complete word.

For example, given the clue AD***TAGE, the asterisks could be replaced by VAN to from the complete word ADVANTAGE.

1. K****KNACK
2. FLOT***
3. ASPARA***
4. R****SERIE
5. S****ET
6. TAR****IN
7. UN****ING
8. M***GE
9. ****WARM
10. CLI***
11. ****SMAN
12. SE***
13. ****ANT

BONUS
14.*****TONE
15. ST******

Answers:

1. kNICKknack
2. flotSAM
3. asparaGUS
4. rOTISerie
5. sCARLet
6. tarPAULin
7. unWILLing
8. mIRAge
9. LUKEwarm
10. cliMAX
11. MARKsman
12. seDAN
13. ADAMant

BONUS
14. MILEStone
15. stERNEST

The following words share  an unusual property. Can you determine what it is?

HE
HERE
FAST
FIEND
TREAT

HINT:
It has to do with opposites.

Answers:

Adding a single letter to each word will change it into its opposite:

HE - SHE
HERE - THERE
FAST - FEAST
FIEND - FRIEND
TREAT - THREAT