“Apps” Word Puzzle

You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.

I’m Martha Barnette.

And I’m Grant Barrett, and we’re joined on the line by, who is this masked man?

It’s John Janeski. Hello, John.

It’s John Janeski. Hi, guys. Hi, Grant. Hi, Martha.

I have a quiz for you.

Now, if you guys have a smartphone, you know how quickly the apps add up?

Oh, boy.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I have a friend, I swear to you, he has no fewer than 10 apps just for the weather.

I don’t know why.

Makes no sense.

I need an app to manage my apps.

This is true.

Now, I’ve decided that as a word person, I’d just stick to apps that double the sound app.

Okay.

For example, if I need the lyrics to songs by Dr. Dre or Eminem, I’ll just use my…

Rap app?

My rap app.

Nice.

That’s very good.

I’ll describe the app.

You tell me what it’s called.

Got it.

Okay.

Now, I’m at the airport and I need help with my luggage.

What should I use?

A Skycap app?

The Skycap app, yes.

I need to find a convenient route across the Alps from Austria to Switzerland.

Von Trapp app?

I need the Von Trapp app, yeah.

That’ll get me there.

Nice.

Hey, you know, I’m needed on stage at a Chicago theater for my scathing rock guitar solo, but I’m lost backstage.

Think of a band that got lost backstage at a Chicago theater.

What?

That happened?

In a famous movie.

Oh, Spinal Tap app.

Oh, oh, oh.

Oh, gosh.

That’s my Spinal Tap app.

Hello, Cleveland!

Sorry.

Now, they say if you build a better one of these, people will beat a path to your Kickstarter campaign.

Mousetrap app.

Your Mousetrap app, yes.

You know, I don’t go in for all that fancy bottled water.

I’m happy just to locate the nearest faucet.

The Tap app.

Tap app.

The Tap app.

Yeah, simple one.

When I’m stressed, I enjoy the sensation of popping the air trapped in all kinds of cushioning materials.

This exists.

The Bubble Wrap app.

This does exist.

It does exist.

The bubble wrap app.

I’m at the track now, and I want to determine which horses are most likely to win, place, and show.

The something I’m forgetting app.

Oh, gosh.

What do the guys at the track do to figure out which horse?

A handicap app.

Yes, they use a handicap app.

I’m sure actually that one exists, too.

I’m sure.

No doubt.

It’s late, but I think one more little drink before bed will be okay.

Where can I find a place that’s open late?

The nightcap app.

The nightcap app, yes.

And please drink responsibly.

Now, breaker breaker, good buddy.

I don’t want to get any tickets while I’m driving down the highway.

Where’s Smokey hiding out?

The speed trap app.

The speed trap app.

Those exist, too.

I’m sure they do.

And please drive safely.

You know what?

You guys did fantastic on the app quiz.

Congratulations.

Thanks, John.

That’s super wonderful.

We’ll talk to you next week.

So something great, right?

Yes, of course.

All right.

Give our best to your family.

You too.

Bye-bye.

If you’ve got a question about language or a story to tell us about something that happened related to language, give us a call, 877-929-9673, or email the whole details to words@waywordradio.org.