VESSELS 

If a pillow maker's vessel is a SOFT LAUNCH, what would be the vessel for ..... 

1. An academic

2. A lettuce grower

3. A carpenter

4. an actor

 

Answers:

 

1. SCHOLARSHIP

2. HEADLINER

3. NAIL CLIPPER

4. STAGE CRAFT

 

Credit: 

Jerry Miccolis  

3-G RATED

GAMES Magazine

March, 2001

A.W. Sunsets

 

Each answer to the clues below is a word, name, or phrase containing exactly three G's. 

 

1. A little laugh 

2. President on a dollar bill

3. Aviator is one type of these 

4. Group of geese on the ground 

5. Still muddleheaded from sleep

6. Vandalizing property with grafitti 

7. San Francisco - Marin County spanner

8. Went left, then right, then left, then .....

9. What goes around in an airport carousel

10. Dr. Seuss book about trying new things

11. Gift that's presented on bended knee

12. A whole made up of different parts

13. Greedy young woman who weds a rich old man

14. NYC art museum designed by Frank Lloyd Wright  

 

Answers: 

 

1. GIGGLE

2. GEORGE WASHINGTON

3. GOGGLES

4. GAGGLE

5. GROGGY

6. TAGGING

7. GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

8. ZIGZAGGED

9. LUGGAGE or BAGGAGE

10. GREEEN EGGS AND HAM

11. ENGAGEMENT RING

12. AGGREGATE

13. GOLD DIGGER

14. GUGGENHEIM  

BEGINNER'S LUCK

GAMES Magazine

November, 1999

Steve Wilson (adapted)

 

Each answer will begin with the first two or three letters of the answer above it. #4 begins with the first three letters of the previous answer.  

 

1. Electrical unit beginning with A

2. Very big tree

3. Dashboard gauge

4. One of the 9 Muses (see above)

5. An herb

6. White-sugar-dotted candy (singular)

7. A U.S. state

8. A city in Turkey

9. A muscular canine

10. Crude poetry

11. Like Santa's helpers

12. The "I" in ROYGBIV

13. 1 followed by 100 zeros

14. Olympian's goal

15. Unselfish kindness 

 

Answers:

 

1. AMPERE

2. REDWOOD

3. ODOMETER

4. TERPSICHORE 

5. OREGANO

6. NONPAREIL  

7. ILLINOIS

8. ISTANBUL

9. BULLDOG

10. DOGGEREL

11. ELFIN

12. INDIGO

13. GOOGOL

14. GOLD MEDAL

15. ALTRUISM  

Answer each clue with an expression in which every word starts with T.

Ex. Make a comeback

Ans. Turn the tide

 

1. Speak frankly 

2. Capsize, flip over 

3. Reverse a situation 

4. In direct opposition 

5. What you swear to do in court 

6. Speak confidently, but without action 

7. Reprimand, hold accountable for a fault 

8. She sells seashells by the seashore, for one 

 

Answers:

 

1. Talk turkey

2. Turn turtle

3. Turn the tables

4. Toe to toe

5. Tell the truth

6. Talk the talk

7. Take to task

8. Tongue twister  

  

The ten words below can be paired up into five pairs according to a certain pattern. 

SIFT

NUDE

CUFFS 

SNOOP 

ARTIST

DISHES

OUGHT 

BUSIER 

OZONES

FIGHTER

 

HINTS:

1. Anagrams 

2. Rhymes

 

Answers:

 

The ten words can be anagrammed into five rhyming pairs:

 

SIFT - DISHES = FIST - HISSED

NUDE - SNOOP = DUNE - SPOON

CUFFS - OUGHT = SCUFF - TOUGH

ARTIST - FIGHTER = STRAIT - FREIGHT

BUSIER - OZONES = BRUISE - SNOOZE

 

Credit:

Braingle  

 

NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle

August 2, 2026

Will Shortz 

 

Ex. A hand soap in reverse means "placed"

Ans: DIAL - LAID

 

1. A laundry soap in reverse means to make changes in text

 

2. A powdered drink mix in reverse means a flying insect pest

 

3. A canned meat in reverse means the contents of an atlas

 

4. A chewable antacid in reverse means obscene material

 

5. A cosmetic and skin care company in reverse means an exploding star

 

6. A rental car company in reverse means part of a Hindu trinity

 

7. A bygone Swedish car in reverse means the sounds of sheep

 

8. A brand of bottled water in reverse means easily fooled

 

9. Japanese watch maker in reverse means residents of the Sooner State 

 

10. A wafer cookie in reverse means a bold poker bet

 

11. A candy bar with chocolate covered wafers in reverse means (phonetically) a bit of strategy 

 

Answers:

 

1. TIDE - EDIT

2. TANG - GNAT

3. SPAM - MAPS

4. TUMS - SMUT

5. AVON - NOVA

6. AVIS - SIVA

7. SAAB - BAAS

8. EVIAN - NAIVE

9. SEIKO - OKIES

10. NILLA - ALL IN

11. KITKAT - TAKTIK (tactic)  

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 

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  

 

NY Times Crossword

July 16, 2026

Zhou Zhang and Mallory Montgomery

 

The first four clues below are answers a question hinted at by the fifth clue. What is the question, and what things are the clue answers referring to?

 

1. Yes, three arduous ones

2. Yes, sometimes more than 1,000

3. Yes, but just one

4. No, but it has three feet 

5. Question about an idea during a brainstorming session 

 

Answer to Clue 5:

Does it have legs?*

 

What the clue answers refer to:

1. Ironman triathlon

2. Millipede

3. Direct flight

4. A yardstick  

 

*The question, "Does it have legs?" is asking if an idea can stand on its own, if it has the potential to last and succeed 

 

 

 

NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle 

July 12, 2026

Will Shortz (1-7)

 

Name two things in each category - given the number of letters in both words and the first and last letters of both words.

 

Ex: Foods from Italy

      5 letters, P - A 

Ans: PIZZA, PASTA 

 

1. ROCKS

    5 letters, S - E

 

2. European languages

    7 letters, S - H

 

3. Ancient stringed instruments

    4 letters, L - E

 

4. Birds

    6 letters, P - N

 

5. Body parts

    5 lettters, T - H

 

6. Books of the Bible

    4 letters, A - S 

 

7. Things found in a classroom

     5 letters, C - K 

 

8. Santa's reindeer

    6 letters,  D - R 

 

Answers:

 

1. Slate, Shale

2. Spanish, Swedish

3. Lyre, Lute

4. Pigeon, Puffin

5. Thigh, Tooth

6. Amos, Acts

7. Chalk, Clock 

8. Dasher, Dancer

 

 

 

 

 

  

NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle

July 5, 2026

Will Shortz (3-8)

 

The two words in each pair below can be changed to new ones by adding the same two letters to the end of the first word and to the beginning of the second word. One of the answers is a two-word phrase.

 

Ex: PAPA - PRESS

Ans: PAPACY - CYPRESS

 

1. TOT - BARK

2. DEBT - DEAL 

3. LATER - READY

4. HABIT - TEMPT

5. SINCE - VENUE

6. SURGE - STAGE 

7. BLANK - CHING 

8. SHACK - GROOM

 

Answers:

 

1. TOTEM - EMBARK

2. DEBTOR - ORDEAL 

3. LATERAL - ALREADY

4. HABITAT - ATTEMPT

5. SINCERE - REVENUE

6. SURGEON - ON STAGE  

7. BLANKET - ETCHING 

8. SHACKLE - LEGROOM 

 

Universal Sunday Crossword

July 12, 2026

Paul Coulter

DANCING PARTNERS 

 

The answer to each clue (lower case) below is related to the accompanying name, word, or phrases (upper case) - according to a certain pattern. Can you solve the clues and determine the connections?

 

1. Safari sights - GOLDIE HAWN 

 

2. Bittersweet feelings - SINGLES' BAR

 

3. Villainous characters in white coats - FILM TEASER

 

4. Household like the one in "The Brady Bunch" - SNAPDRAGON

 

Answers to Clues:

 

1. Wild animals

2. Mixed emotions

3. Mad scientists

4. Blended family

 

Relation of clue answers to the accompanying name, word, or phrases:

 

Anagrams of the accompanying name, word, or phrases correspond to the clue answers:

 

1. GOLDIE HAWN - WHALE, DINGO (wild animals)

2. SINGLES' BAR - ANGER, BLISS (mixed emotions)

3. FILM TEASER - FERMI, TESLA (mad scientists)

4. SNAPDRAGON - GRANDPA, SON (blended family) 

 

  

 

TWO PAIR

GAMES/World of Puzzles 

June, 2026

Shawn Kennedy

 

The answer to each clue below joins two related words or category items to form a different word or phrase. 

 

Ex. Two brands of jeans that form a correct shot in the dark

Ans. Lucky Guess 

 

1. Two objects in a place setting that form a kind of window.

 

2. A common name for a newspaper and a brand of soap that form a timepiece

 

3. Two US universities that form a whole grain

 

4. Two baseball terms that combine to form a phrase meaning to relate to you on a personal level

 

5. Two rooms in the board game Clue that form a school period

 

6.  A world capital and a big name in hotels to form the name of a socialite

 

7. Two words that sound like things on a golf course that form a beverage

 

8. Two hairstyles that, with "and" in between them, form a boxer's tactic

 

9. Two words associated with Mars that form a children's game

 

10. Two things that a football player does, with "and" in between them, that form a simple machine

 

Answers:

 

1. Plate glass

2. Sundial

3. Brown Rice

4. Hit home

5. Study hall

6. Paris Hilton

7. Green tea

8. Bob and weave

9. Red Rover

10. Block and tackle  

GAMES/World of Puzzles

June, 2026

Scott Erdman 

 

The same change can be made to each word below to get a new one. What is the change, and what are the new words?

 

QUEEN

QUEER

QUELL

QUEST

QUILL 

QUAIL 

QUALM

QUARTER 

QUARREL 

 

Answer:

 

Replace the QU in each word with the letter B:

 

BEEN

BEER

BELL

BEST

BILL

BAIL

BALM 

BARTER 

BARREL  

FOOLING AROUND 

Can you complete these familiar phrases that are about foolishness?

1. A fool and his money ..... 

2. There's no fool .....

3. Fools rush in .....

4. To be on a fool's ..... 

5. A lawyer who represents himself has .....

 

Answers:

 

1. ..... are soon parted.

2. ..... like an old fool  

3. ..... where angels fear to tread.

4. ..... errand

5. ..... a fool for a client.  

 

MIRACLE LIMERICK

From The Enigma

National Puzzlers' League Magazine (NPL)

April, 2026

LINKO 

 

Can you complete the last line of this limerick? 

 

When faced with 5K empty dishes,

He exceeded our wildest wishes:

Through some divine will

The whole crowd ate their fill - 

And all from _________________!

 

Answer:

 

five loaves and two fishes!  

Can you think of three familiar expressions that use the word IS two times each that reflect resignation - the feeling that there's nothing more that can be done to change the situation?

(Possible) Answers: 

It is what it is.

That's how it is. 

What's done is done.

Each of the phrases below has a very unusual property. Can you determine what it is?

1. MONA'S THICK RAINCOAT

2. RECORDS A TV EPISODE

HINT:

Anagrams

 

Answers:

 

1. Two of the three words can be anagrammed to make a synonym of the remaining word:

     MONA'S THICK = MACKINTOSH (raincoat)

 

2. Three of the four words can be anagrammed to make a synonym of the remaining word:

     A TV EPISODE = VIDEOTAPES (records) 

 

Credit:
Dell PennyPress Variety Puzzles 

DE WORD'S DE THING 

Ex: De organ that filters de blood - DELIVER 

1. De thing you get after taking de test 

2. De thing used to boil water on de stove

3. De way a shy but flirtatious girl might act 

4. De Jewish circumcision ceremony

 

Answers:

 

1. DEGRADE

2. DEPOT

3. DECOY

4. DEBRIS

 

Credit:
1-3: Braingle  

THE AI REVOLUTION

GAMES/World of Puzzles

April, 2026

Raymond Simon (1-8)

 

The answer to each clue below is a two-word phrase or name beginning with the letters A and I, in that order. 

 

1. Potentially risky poker bet

   A _ _   I_ 

 

2. Slangy interjection suggesting something is too absurd to be true

    A _   I_

 

3. Subject of Orson Welles' The War of the Worlds

    A _ _ _ _    I _ _ _ _ _ _ _

 

4. Alaskan archipelago

    A _ _ _ _ _ _ _   I _ _ _ _ _ _

 

5. One year's salary

    A _ _ _ _ _   I _ _ _ _ _

 

6. Question to friends to see if they are inclined to do something you want to do

    A _ _   I _ _ _ _ _ _ _?

 

7. Crucial medication component

    A _ _ _ _ _   I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

 

8. Like the amenities at some vacation getaways, supposedly

    A _ _   I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

 

9. Being about as smart as everyone else

    A _ _ _ _ _ _   I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

 

10.  Navajo and Cherokee Nations

       A _ _ _ _ _ _   I _ _ _ _ _ _ 

 

Answers:

 

1. All in

2. As if

3. Alien invasion

4. Aleutian Islands

5. Annual income

6. Any interest?

7. Active ingredient

8. All-inclusive  

9. Average intelligence

10. American Indians