Quiz Guy Greg Pliska has a puzzle called “Categorical Allies.” After he says a word, you must come up with second word that’s in the same category, and begins with the last two letters of the original word. For example, if he says “Sampras,” then the category is tennis, and the second word is “Ashe.” Now try this first clue: “Sacramento.” The second word would be…? This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Categorical Allies Puzzle”
You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Martha Barnette.
And I’m Grant Barrett, and we’re joined once again by our quiz guy, Greg Polisca. Hello, Greg.
Hello, Grant. Hello, Martha.
Welcome back to the program. What have you been up to?
Well, you know, we haven’t talked about the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.
Oh, that was a while back. How’d that go?
It went very well. I was very pleased with my finish.
Yes.
34th place, which is 10 or 12 places up from where I have been lately.
Were there 35 people there?
There’s hundreds, right?
Or maybe more than a thousand?
Oh, it’s cold in here.
No, there’s about 600 something people.
Oh, wow.
Very nice.
Well, what about clues and puzzles for us?
I have a puzzle this week that’s called Categorical Allies.
Okay.
All right.
And the way it works is this.
I’ll give you a word, and you have to come up with a second word that’s in the same category as the first, and that begins with the two letters that the first ends with.
Okay.
For example.
So if I said, for example, Sampras, you would know that the category is tennis players.
Somebody’s name begins with A-S.
And then you need an answer starting with A-S that fits the category.
Well, it’s not Agassi.
I don’t know very much about tennis.
You’re the tennis lady.
Well, I know.
I mean, this is a lob into Martha’s court here.
Oh, he’s got a stadium named after him.
Yeah, Arthur Ashe.
Arthur Ashe, of course.
How embarrassing.
Okay.
So you see how this works.
Yeah, I see how it works.
Let’s go for it.
Diabolically.
Your first word is Sacramento.
Tomato.
That’s what I’m saying.
They grow a lot of tomatoes in Sacramento.
Oh, okay.
They do.
So what’s the category?
Capitals, Topeka.
There you go.
Oh, state capitals, Topeka.
Look at that.
Look at that.
Not even a pause.
That whole thing with tomato was just buying some time.
No, no, I’m serious.
They grow a lot of tomato.
They call it Sacra Tomato sometimes.
Of course.
All right.
Of course.
Of course.
All right, here’s another one for you.
Bach.
B-A-C-H.
Bach and, I was going to say chamber music, but Bach and…
Well, what’s the category, obviously?
Composers.
Composers.
Chopin.
Chopin would be the one I was looking for, yes.
How about Caliph, C-A-L-I-P-H?
Pharaoh.
Pharaoh, very good.
So those are, what do we say, Middle Eastern leaders or something like that?
Middle Eastern rulers, yes.
Rulers, titles, yeah.
Titles, yeah, very good.
How about Cisco, C-I-S-C-O?
This is a computer networking equipment manufacturer.
Yep.
So another one that begins with CO would be—
This is your question, Grant.
Maybe.
Well, it’s not- I’m actually thinking of it not specifically the industry that it’s in, but the fact that it’s one of the Dow Jones 30 industrials.
Oh, I see.
It’s looking for another big company that starts with CO.
Cores.
No, I don’t know.
I have no idea.
Oh, I’m thinking of his CompuServe.
That dates me.
CO.
Who else?
Coke.
Coca-Cola.
Coca-Cola.
There you go.
How about another music one?
Tuba.
Tuba bassoon.
Bassoon, yeah.
Bassoon, very good, yes.
Other orchestral instruments.
You could also say bass or bass clarinets.
Okay.
How about iodine?
Neon?
Neon, yes.
Very good.
Chemical elements.
Also, Neptunium and Neodymium.
I was going to say that.
Those are the other ones you were thinking of, right?
Molybdenum.
Molybdenum.
Molybdenum.
Yes.
All right.
So here’s another one for you.
Nike.
Keds.
Oh.
Nike Keds.
Yes.
Shoe manufacturers.
How about Drachma?
D-R-A-C-H-M-A.
Drachma.
Mark.
Mark.
Very good.
The category would be?
Currency.
Currencies, and specifically defunct European currencies.
I was going to say that.
No, really.
Mark from the German currency, or Marka, which is the Finnish currency that preceded the euro.
Did not know that.
And one more for you to dance off with.
Mambo.
Bossanova.
Bossanova.
Very nice.
Or Bolero.
Oh, of course.
Bolero.
And actually, I had one going with Latin dance styles that started with salsa.
And you can do a string of three more.
You go from salsa to samba.
Samba.
And from samba to…
Baccarina.
Baccarina.
Oh, is it baccata?
I’ve always said, is it baccata or bachata?
Maybe it’s bachata.
I don’t even know, actually.
It’s actually the dance of the Dominican Republic.
I believe it’s bachata, though.
I think I’ve heard it in some of the music.
Machata, and then it gives you a TA for one more.
Tango.
Tango.
Tango, exactly.
Wow.
Very nice.
Around the world in five dances.
Yeah, four dances.
Thank you so much, Greg.
That was great fun.
This is the kind of game we can win.
It takes three to tango.
That’s true.
You can be our third wheel anytime.
Oh, thank you.
And you can give us a call at 1-877-929-9673 or send an email to words@waywordradio.org.
