Common Bond Word Quiz

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 leaping in the doorway with papers in his hand and a grin that can’t be beat is our quiz guy, John Chaneski.

Hi, John.

Hello, Martha and Grant.

You know, leaping in the doorway is the only exercise I get, so I got to do it every single time.

Now, this quiz is a bit of a variation on one we’ve done before, common bonds. I’m going to read you a list of items. All of these things have been described in the titles of movies, TV shows, songs, books, common vernacular, whatever, using the same adjective. You tell me the adjective.

For example, if I said apple, chill, bang, bird, gulp, you might say the word…

Big.

Big, yes, of course. Big apple, big bang, big chill, big gulp. Big bang, big bird, big gulp.

Yes, exactly. If you need a deeper hint, I’ll give you a multi-word clue that something like fish in a small pond, big fish in a small pond, like that.

Got it?

Gotcha.

Good.

Gotcha.

Okay.

Here’s the first one.

Prince, mermaid, foxes, rascals, tramp.

Little.

Little.

Little, yes. Just like the house on the prairie. Nicely done.

Supper, gasp, resort, laugh, straw.

Last.

Last.

Very good.

Night.

That’s K-N-I-G-H-T.

Mile.

Deal.

Lantern.

Berets.

Green.

Green is right. Green night. Green berets. Green mile.

Bone.

Money.

Papers.

Valentine.

Business.

Funny.

Funny, yes, Martha.

Nice.

My multi-word clue was thing happened on the way to the farm, but you didn’t need it. That would have been an easy one.

Yeah.

Season.

Window.

House.

Source.

Mic.

Open.

Open.

Yes. Open season. Open mic. Open source. Open window. The open window. Very scary story, by the way.

Here’s another.

Child.

City.

Ear.

Peace.

Sanctum.

Inner.

Inner.

Inner is correct. I think sanctum is a big giveaway on that one.

Yeah, that was. There’s always one. I wouldn’t have gotten it without sanctum.

Yeah.

All right, here’s the last one.

Opera.

Cowboy.

Force.

Needle.

Jam.

Opera.

Cowboy, force, needle, jam, space.

Space is correct.

Yes, you got them. You got all of these, and you’re fantastic. These are all adjectives, and my adjective for you guys is brilliant.

Nicely done.

Oh, wow.

But you’re the guy that came up with the puzzle, so you’re brilliant squared.

Oh, and you’re sweet.

And square.

Square.

Thanks, John.

Bye-bye.

We’ll talk to you next time.

Take care.

And we’d love to talk with you, too. So call us 877-929-9673 or send your thoughts and stories and observations about language to words@waywordradio.org.