A Crossword Puzzle 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 here he is, our quiz guy, John Chaneski.

Hi, John.

Hi, Grant. Hi, Martha. Here I am.

And here is a quiz I have for you guys.

Now, if you’re the kind of person who has a favorite crossword constructor, chances are you also have a favorite crossword clue, a clue you’ve come across that you find to be particularly clever.

Now, for example, my favorite go-to clue has always been first place, four letters, a four-letter answer. Do you know what that one is?

First place?

First place, four letters.

First place, four letters, yeah.

As a preacher’s kid, I think I can guess.

Yeah, what do you got?

How about Eden?

Eden, correct, right.

The first place was Eden’s, so to speak.

Yeah, that’s one of my favorites.

It’s a standard clue that I always use as an example when I give you these, some favorite crossword clues.

Now, if you need a couple of letters to get the answers, that’s perfectly fine.

I’ll tell you what I have filled in already.

Here we go.

Here’s the first one.

Leaves home.

Four letters.

So is it a home for leaves, like the leaves that come off of trees?

That’s what I’m guessing.

Tree is the answer.

Yes, very good.

I’ll fill that one in.

Very nice.

Here’s a three-letter answer.

John Turingo.

John Turingo.

John Turingo.

So it is the Beatles?

Something’s with the Beatles?

Well, the Ringo is, yeah.

Oh, so it’s not the bathroom.

It’s not the musician, right?

Three letters.

So it’s Lou, L-O-O.

Lou, yes.

Perfect.

Very nice.

That’s a classic Merle Regal.

We loved Merle.

Oh, Rip Merle.

Yeah.

Here’s another one from Merle Regal, by the way.

Four letters.

The reason crows are noisy.

Because.

Cause, yes, that’s right.

Very good.

Here’s one from Amy Lucido of the American Values Club Crossword.

It’s less rich than the 1%.

Four letters.

Skim.

Yeah.

Skim milk.

Skim is correct.

Good.

Here’s one from Stan Newman.

It brings out the child in you.

Five letters.

Obstetrician?

You’re getting close.

It’s not doctor?

No.

How about doula?

Doctor is six.

What’d you get?

Doula, great.

Doula is good, but this is an it.

It’s not a person.

It’s a concept.

It brings up labor.

Labor is correct.

Nicely done.

Nice.

Good.

Finally, here’s the last one.

I’m not sure who this is from.

I’m sorry to say.

The answer is six letters and then seven letters, and it’s play with your food.

Play with your food.

Yeah.

I have a guess.

All right.

Let’s hear it, Martha.

How about dinner theater?

Dinner theater is correct.

Nicely done.

That’s great.

That was fantastic.

And thank you for giving all the shout outs to all these incredible, these people, these intelligent people who make these crazy, wonderful puzzles every week.

John, thanks so much.

Thank you.

See you next time.

Bye-bye.

Bye, John.

Well, we’d love to talk with you about any aspect of language whatsoever, so give us a call, 877-929-9673, or send an email to words@waywordradio.org.