Quiz Guy John Chaneski’s game involves clues about the names of countries. For example, a cylindrical container, plus an abbreviation on the back of a tube of toothpaste, combine to form the name of what neighbor to the north? This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Country Puzzle”
You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.
I’m Grant Barrett.
And I’m Martha Barnette.
And joining us now from New York City is our quiz guy, John Chaneski.
Hey, John.
Hey, Martha.
Hey, Grant.
How’s it going?
What is up?
Well, I had a great time a few months ago watching the Olympics, of course, like everyone.
Of course, my favorite is the Parade of Nations, which is awesome.
But while I’m watching it, all I can think of is wordplay using country names.
Oh, boy.
Oh, what a surprise.
He’ll treat the names of the countries literally or phonetically.
I’ll clue two words.
If you guess them and put them together, you’ll get the name of a country.
Okay.
Okay?
Right.
For example, a cylindrical metal container, the acronym that’s likely on the back of your toothpaste would be CAN and ADA, the American Tentable Association.
Oh, dear.
Canada.
That gets you Canada.
Got it.
Now, it might be typographic or it might be phonetic, but let’s just go someplace else.
Let’s go to another country.
Here we go.
The first one is an interjection used by Ebenezer Scrooge.
Precipitation.
Bahrain.
Bahrain.
That’s very good.
Okay, nice.
A group of Cub Scouts.
An academic grade on a test.
Pakistan.
Cuba.
Cuba.
No.
Oh.
No, a more general grade on a test.
Oh, Troop.
Mark.
Mark, something Mark.
Right.
That’s, you’re right, on the right track.
Denmark.
Yes, Denmark.
Denmark.
To talk and talk incessantly, a light switch position.
Gabon?
Yes, Gabon.
Oh, Gabon, nice.
Nice, very good, very good, well done.
The partner of from on a gift tag to move from one place to another.
Togo.
Togo.
Yes.
Nice.
To go.
You might find that on your fast food bag.
Who knows?
Next is a place for rest and relaxation and massages.
A two-letter word meaning fashionable or current.
Spain.
Spain.
Spa-in.
Spa-in.
Nice.
A triangular sail set in the front of the forward mast, a slang term for a rear end.
Slang.
Bum, butt, rear.
Jib, bum, jib, jib.
Jib is right.
Jib.
You ever call your bum a brawler?
Yeah, we were going to the same place, right?
Djibouti.
Djibouti.
Djibouti is right.
I think I’ve actually heard that rhymed in hip hop.
Djibouti?
Yeah, it’s a booty with booty.
A men’s fashion accessory, pale or weak in appearance?
Taiwan.
Taiwan, very good.
I think we’ve hit Martha’s wheelhouse this week.
Finally found my wheelhouse.
Propel a boat with a paddle, an abnormal mental state characterized by great excitement, euphoria.
Romania.
Romania, yes.
Finally, these are your two clues.
Thus, Obama’s firstborn.
I can’t remember which one.
Somalia.
Oh.
Yes.
Somalia.
Somalia.
It took me a second to remember which one was born first, but there’s no word I can think of with Sasha in it.
I was thinking sick in Latin.
You guys did fantastic on your geographic tour.
You always say that, John.
Thanks, John.
You’re my friend.
Give her best to the family, all right?
You too.
Take care.
I’ll see you next time.
All right.
This is a show where we talk about all aspects of language, so call us 877-929-9673.
