GAMES/World of Puzzles 

Holiday, 2026

Scott Erdman (modified)

(Puzzle title shown below)

 

The two answers to each clue below follow a certain pattern and also share an unusual property. What is the pattern, and in what unusual way are the two words related?

 

1. He _____ to play his hand, so he _____ up and put money in the pot.

 

2. _____ garden _____ did you borrow to water the plants?

 

3. The _____ is the last resort to conflict. The power of the _____ is preferred.

 

4. The _____ of any group of people should never be a cause for _____.

 

5. Wading birds known as _____ pair up just like romantic _____.

 

6. _____ release me from this _____ so I can move to a different location.

 

7. Can your _____ deceive you? _____ they can, and often do.

 

8. We will have to wait until prices go _____ before we can hope to _____ a house.

 

9. _____ is the path that leads to unhappiness, but narrow the _____ that leads to joy.

 

10. In an earthquake, it's important to take _____ and make sure nothing that can collapse is _____ your head. 

 

Answers:

 

The pattern is to drop the first letter of the first answer to get the second answer:

 

1. WANTED - ANTED

2. WHOSE - HOSE

3. SWORD - WORD

4. SLAUGHTER - LAUGHTER

5. PLOVERS - LOVERS

6. PLEASE - LEASE

7. EYES - YES

8. DOWN - OWN

9. BROAD - ROAD 

10. COVER - OVER  

 

The unusual property of these word pairs is that they don't rhyme with each other. In most words that drop their first letter, the remaining word will rhyme with the original. 

 

Puzzle title: 

NO RHYME, SOME REASON