TRIPLES V

IN each compound word or two-word phrase below, the same word can follow the first word and precede the second word to make two other compound words or two-word phrases. What are the connecting words?

Ex. ROCK OUT

Ans. BOTTOM (rock bottom / bottom out)

 

1. BACK LIGHT

2. HARD DRIVE

3. BROAD SIDE

4. TURNCOAT

5. MIDDLE AGE

6. SODA WATER

 

Answers:

 

1. SIDE

2. LINE

3. WAY

4. OVER

5. MAN

6. JERK   

  

TWO OUT OF THREE VIII

Anagram two of the three words in each clue to get a synonym of the third word.

Ex. RAIN, STORY, AVERT

Ans. RAIN + AVERT = NARRATIVE (story)  

 

1. PER, VERSE, TOY 

2. DREGS, SEED, MINT 

3. BITS, FOUND, LEASH 

4. LUCKY, TURF, ATONE

5. PURE, MIME, ACTUAL 

6. GIANT, SEED, CHOOSE

 

HINTS:
One of the words to be anagrammed:

1. TOY

2. SEED

3. LEASH

4. TURF

5. ACTUAL

6. GIANT

 

Answers:

 

1. TOY + PER = POETRY (verse)

2. SEED + MINT = SEDIMENT (dregs)

3. LEASH + BITS = ESTABLISH (found)

4. TURF + ATONE = FORTUNATE (lucky)

5. ACTUAL + MIME = IMMACULATE (pure)

6. GIANT + SEED = DESIGNATE (choose)  

  

LA Times Crossword

July 20, 2026

Rena Cohen 

 

The answers to the first four clues will have something in common that is hinted at by the fifth clue. Can you determine what it is?

 

1. Nickname for Hollywood

2. Result of running a red light or speeding, perhaps

3. "She sells seashells by the seashore", for example

4. Forward and backward in science fiction tales

5. Collections with cups and saucers

 

Answer to Clue 5: 

Tea sets

 

Answers to Clues 1-4:

 

1. Tinsel Town

2. Traffic ticket

3. Tongue twister

4. Time travel - - - Each word in each two-word answer word starts with T = T sets  

CRYPTO CLUES CCXXXV

GAMES/World of Puzzles

June, 2026

Bob Stigger (1)

Chris Crossman (2) 

Fred Piscop  (3- 11)  

 

1. Big hostel inhabited by a phantom 

 

2. Sea god poisoned flounders

 

3. Unadulterated, say 

 

4. Roaring bear is horrifying

 

5. Tone down a kind of paint 

 

6. Lear's daughter's misdirected anger 

 

7. Trivia questions breaking a tie score

 

8. Legendary twin of a tale-telling uncle 

 

9. Start anew, adopting a Highlander's symbol 

 

10. Involved in business and management, he'll put you to sleep 

 

11. Operatic showpiece captivates about half the population of Eurasian land 

 

HINTS:

1. Hidden word

2. Anagram

3. Homograph (two meanings)

4. Definition - homophone

5. Definition - two words

6. Anagram

7. Definition - anagram

8. Two meanings

9. Hidden word

10. Hidden word

11. Two definitions - anagram - container

 

Answers:

 

1. GHOST (biG HOSTel)

2. POSEIDEN (poisoned)

3. UTTER

4. GRISLY (grizzly)

5. TEMPERA (temper + a )

6. REGAN (anger)

7. ESOTERICA (tie score)

8. REMUS (Romulus and Remus / Uncle Remus)

9. TARTAN (sTART ANew)  

10. SANDMAN (businesS AND MANagement)

11. ARIA + MEN = ARMENIA  

 

From The Enigma

NPL Magazine 

May, 2026

raw

 

The first keyword of this flat, DOUGH, is a 4-letter, one-syllable word. The second keyword, DODO, is a 4-letter, 2-syllale word - in which both syllables are the same and sound exactly like the word DOUGH stand for. 

 

A wealthy couple wed, 

The family invite said

"In DOUGH of gifts send cash

To fund our nuptial bash

At the swank Hotel Europa."

What a DODO of a faux pas.

 

Answers:

 

LIEU

LULU  

 

Note from JA: This clever puzzle is doubly intriguing because the LU in LULU sounds like LIEU and the DO in DODO sounds like DOUGH 

PAIRS AND SNARES XLV

The words in each group can be confused. Can you give a simple definition of each one that shows the difference  between them?

1. TORT - TORTE

2. STYE - STYMIE 

3. CAVALRY - CALVARY

4. GORILLA - GUERRILLA

5. MARSHAL - MARTIAL -MARITAL

Answers:

1. TORT - In law,  a wrongful act that causes harm

    TORTE - A rich, dense dessert cake

 

2. STYE - A painful red bump on the edge of the eyelid

    STYMIE - To obstruct, hinder, or prevent the progress of someone or something

 

3. CAVALRY - Traditionally, fighting soldiers mounted on horseback / Today, a rapid response force using armored vehicles and helicopters  

   CALVARY - In the Bible, the hill near Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified

 

4. GORILLA -  A great ape

    GUERRILLA - A member of an unofficial, irregular armed force that fights larger, established armies or governments - using unconventional tactics

 

5. MARSHAL - A law-enforcement officer / also, as a verb, to gather, organize, and lead - as people or ideas

    MARTIAL - Relating to war

    MARITAL - Relating to marriage 

 

THEM'S THE BREAKS

GAMES/World of Puzzles

June, 2026

Patrick Berry

 

What is unusual about the following phrases?

 

1. Inane pickings

2. Honest sardine

3. Karate chop ink

4. May adolescent

5. Alamo defiance 

 

HINT:

The title is a hint. 

 

Answer:

 

Each phrase be broken into component words:

 

1. INANE PICKINGS - IN AN EPIC KINGS

2. HONEST SARDINE - HONES TSAR DINE

3. KARATE CHOP INK - KARAT ECHO PINK

4. MAY ADOLESCENT - MAYA DOLES CENT

5. ALAMO DEFIANCE - A LA MODE FIANCE