STRESSONYMS VI

MISREADING THE SIGNS

Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

 

Stressonyms are words that change pronunciation and meaning when the stress and/or syllabication is changed. For example, given the clue, "Get violent in the kitchenware store," the answer would be "Punch bowls," with the stress on "bowls" instead of the usual stress on "punch," - suggesting an image of someone punching [hitting] a bowl. The answers to the clues below are stressonyms.

1. Start a food fight at the butcher's

2. Go klepto in the paperback aisle

3. Lose control at the bakery

4. Get rowdy in floor coverings

5. Act like Godzilla in the parking lot

6. Start fistfight in power tools

7. Turn on the sprinklers in the mattress section

8. Assault verse makers

9. Toss certain silverware in the trash

 

Answers:

 

1. Chuck roast

2. Pocket books

3. Pound cake

4. Throw rugs

5. Compact cars

6. Belt sanders

7. Water beds

8. Beat poets

9. Pitch forks