GAMES/World of Puzzles

April, 2026

Alan Arbesfeld 

 

PRINTER'S DEVILRY

 

In this very challenging puzzle, each clue is a passage (one or two sentences) from which the name of a European country has been removed: closing the gap between words, taking liberties sometimes with punctuation and spacing, but not disturbing the order of the letters. 

 

Ex: Pete seeth ink is sounder; appreciated as an artist (7)

Ans: Pete SeeGER, MANY think, is so under appreciated as an artist.

 

Note that when complete, the passage makes sense, and the clue is full enough to hint at the overall idea without giving away the actual name of the country. The number of letters in the missing country is indicated in ( ) after each clue. Can you match each clue with the correct country listed below the clues? 

 

1. I once wanted to be an artist, so museums make me misting (5)

 

2. Astronauts are a great source - O', for barns! (5)

 

3. Can't rue grit? Beth oughta mine film. (6)

 

4. Shameful acts? Could be, Theon! Ey, do in G (6) 

 

5. I'd like to know to what Dell phones distract students in classrooms (6)

 

6. The bread shop: pee behind the counter! (7)

 

7. The former educator turned corporate chi enters fort raining. (6)

 

France         Italy          Hungary

Greece        Norway

Spain          Sweden

 

HINTS:

Where the name of the missing country should be entered:

1. after the s in misting

2. after the b in barns

3. after the i in minor

4. after the E in Ey 

5. after the e in Dell

6. after the first e in pee 

7. after the first e in enters   

 

(BIG) HINTS:

The names of the missing countries:

1. Spain

2. Italy

3. Norway

4. Sweden

5. Greece

6. Hungary

7. France    

 

Answers:

 

1. I once wanted to be an artist, so museums make me misS PAINting.

 

2. Astronauts are a great source of orbITAL Yarns.

 

3. Can True Grit be thought a miNOR WAYne film? 

 

4. Shameful acts could be the oneS WE DENy doing. 

 

5. I'd like to know to what deGREE CEll phones distract students in classrooms.

 

6. The bread shoppe HUNG A RYe behind the counter.

 

7. The former educator turned corporate chieF RAN CEnters for training.

 

Note from JA: I did not include three other clues that were in the puzzle because I felt their solutions required specialized knowledge.