MISSING LINKS CCLXXVI

Each group below shares a Missing Link - that is, its members have something in common, obvious or not. For example, RIVERS, NOSES, & VIOLINS can all have BRIDGES.  

1. Sea..........Fire..........Side 

2. Deep..........Stir..........Small

2. Sea..........Mind..........Secret 

2. Fast.......... Curve..........Bean

2. Dead..........Open..........Cover 

2. Ground..........House..........Iron 

3. Buffalo..........Shed.........Wings 

5. Strike..........Action..........Timber 

2. Wheel..........Column..........Estate

2. Paper..........Myrtle..........Pancake

MISSING TRIOS CIX

Dell PennyPress Variety Puzzles

Volume 139

 

For each group below, fill in the same three missing letters to complete 7,6,5,4, and 3-letter words. The letters may be filled in in any order, and the missing trio will be different for each group. One of the 3-letter words in one of the groups is an informal abbreviation.

 

1. _ RO _ R _ M  

      _ _ LLO _ 

      _ R _ _ H

        _ _N _

         _ _ _ 

 

2.  A _ S _ A _ N

      _ R _ GH _

       _ R _ _ E

        _ A _ _

          _ _ _ 

 

3. _ N _ O _ CE

     _ A _ M _ R

       D _ _ E _

         _ _ _ N

          _ _ _ 

 

4. C _ N _ O _ R

     B _ T _ _ N

      C _ _ N _

        _ _ N _

         _ _ _ 

 

5. _ R _ _ ERY

     _ O _ IN _

      L _ _ I _

       _ L _ _

         _ _ _ 

 

Answers:

 

1. The letters are GAP:

        PROGRAM

         GALLOP

          GRAPH

           PANG

            GAP  

 

2. The letters are BIT:

         ABSTAIN

          BRIGHT

           TRIBE

            BAIT

             BIT  

 

3. The letters are REF:

        ENFORCE

         FARMER

          DEEPER

            FERN

             REF  

 

4. The letters are OUT:

        CONTOUR

         BUTTON 

          COUNT  

           TOUR

            OUT  

 

5.  The letters are COG:

          GROCERY

           COOING

            LOGIC

             CLOG

              COG 

 SYNONYM/ANAGRAM CCCXXIV

The two words on each line can be anagrammed into one - beginning with the given letter. The meanings of the anagrams are given below the clues. 

1. NAP + MOTH = P

2. TIME + PAINT = I

3. ODE + RAVEN = E 

4. EPIC + ATTAIN = A 

5. BASIN + TAPIR = B

6. EPIC + CORRAL = R 

7. LABOR + VIPER = P

8. QUEST + ALIEN = S

9. CLEAN + AGILE = A 

10. CREAM + POINT = I 

11. TAPE + ALUMNI = M 

12. HOTEL + SYRUP = U 

 

Meanings of the anagrams:

1. Ghost

2. Quick to be irritated

3. Effort 

4. Look forward to

5. Opposing political parties agreeing

6. 4/3 to 3/4

7. Well known, as an adage

8. One thing following another

9. Loyalty

10. Significance

11. To control someone or something unfairly

12. Seat/furniture covering 

 

Answers:

 

1. PHANTOM

2. IMPATIENT

3. ENDEAVOR 

4. ANTICIPATE

5. BIPARTISAN

6. RECIPROCAL

7. PROVERBIAL

8. SEQUENTIAL

9. ALLEGIANCE

10. IMPORTANCE

11. MANIPULATE

12. UPHOLSTERY  

 

COMMON COMBOS LXV

Dell PennyPress Variety Puzzles

March, 2025

 

Each group below contains four unrelated words. Find a word that can either precede or follow each of the words in each of the groups.

 

1. BACK, TEE, HEAD, TEA  

2. SHEET, HALL, POP, BOX

3. WALL, BED, OPEN, SIDE

4. SEE, MAKE, VIEW, RULE 

5. FOOD, SEA, YEAR, CORN 

6. FATHER, SHOW, LINE, OUT 

7. ORGAN, PIECE, SMART, OFF

8. CHAIN, HEAD, PERFECT, RED 

 

Answers:

 

1. SET

2. MUSIC

3. SEA

4. OVER

5. DOG

6. TIME

7. MOUTH 

8. LETTER 

  

POINTS TO PONDER CXXVII

As long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him. Therefore, you cannot soar as you otherwise might.

Marian Anderson

 

******************************************

 

When, if ever, will the voting records of congressmen be followed as carefully as the batting averages of baseball players?

Author Unknown 

QUOTES CCLXIII

The loftiest perch has the steepest fall.

Author Unknown

 

Both wisdom and folly increase with age. 

Author Unknown

 

It is possible to learn things from an enemy we can't learn from a friend.

Author Unknown

 

In a world bloated with images, we are finally learning that photographs do indeed lie.

Barbara Kruger 

 

The illusion that times that were are better than those that are, has probably pervaded all ages. 

Horace Greeley

 

Some people become annoyed because thorns were put on roses, while others appreciate that roses were placed among thorns.

Author Unknown

 

Know where to find the sunrise and sunset times and note how the sky looks at those times at least once.

Marilyn vos Savant  

 

When you're safe at home, you wish you were having an adventure; when you're having an adventure, you wish you were safe at home.

Author Unknown

 

Judge to convict: "The prisons are all full, so I'm sentencing to five years waiting in line at the DMV."

Author Unknown 

  

CRYPTO CLUES CCXII

Dell PennyPress Variety Puzzles

April, 2025

 

1. Snare piece returned  (reversal)

 

2. Get a tar moving in a boat race (anagram)

 

3. Birds leave high places (two words [leave = part])

 

4. Guide member of  cattle drive (homograph)

 

5. Study bug pierced by lead of pencil (word + letter)

 

6. Strength of bivalve mollusks in the sound (homophone)

 

7. Lose luster, as a gem tossed in trash (anagram)

 

8. Garbage we put around a street (container [a st = a street])

 

9. Class of unruly marines (anagram)

 

10. Remainder dwell around university (container [u = university])

 

11. Sets apart rotten Easter eggs (anagram)

 

12. Unpleasant character takes in NBA game (container [unpleasant character = pill]) 

 

Answers:

 

1. TRAP

2. REGATTA (get a tar)

3. PARTRIDGES

4. STEER

5. INSPECT (lead [long E] of pencil = P)  

6. MUSCLES (strength) [mollusks = mussels]

7. TARNISH (in trash)

8. WASTE (W A ST E)

9. SEMINAR (marines)

10. RESIDUE (resid u e)

11. SEGREGATES (easter eggs) 

12. PINBALL (pi NBA ll)