A trip to the zoo where he saw the Madagascar lemur called an aye-aye gave Quiz Guy John Chaneski an aye-dea for a puzzle about pairs of words or syllables that each have a long I sound. What two-word phrase denotes what’s often found between two things that aren’t all that different from each other? This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Aye-Aye Guy Applies Mind’s Eye”
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 climbing in the window, 12 stories up, it’s our quiz guy, John Chaneski.
Hi, John.
Hi, Grant. I’m Martha. Well, I am rather tall. I can just reach up and swing my way in,
Which I appreciate doing things differently.
It’s that upper body strength.
Yes, that’s key. It’s key.
My kid Jesse and I went to the zoo yesterday, and we saw a cute little Madagascar primate called an aye-aye. And aye, that gave me an idea, answers to a quiz whose only vowel sound are aye.
As in, it’s often found between two things that are maybe not so different from each other.
That would be a fine line, you know, there’s a fine line between genius and madness, etc., etc.
And we’re going to find out about that right now, this genius of madness.
Say aye-aye, Captain, and give me the aye-aye answer to the following clues.
Typically, it’s plugged into the outlet in a kid’s room.
It might look like a bird or some other whimsical shape.
It’s a nightlight, Captain.
It’s a nightlight, yeah.
Maybe yours is shaped like a blue canary or whatever.
Okay, soldiers, we’re marching our way toward the top brass on the grandstand.
Let’s show some respect by turning our heads and looking at them as we march.
Wow I feel like I should know this one.
It’s what you tell the soldiers to do when you want them to turn their heads and look.
Something right.
Yes.
Eyes right.
Exactly very nice.
That’s right.
Oh so you think you’re pretty cheeky.
Huh I think you’re some kind of smart aleck some kind of know-it-all some kind of some kind of wise guy yeah exactly you’re a wise guy now to me it means let’s get ready to have a really nice piece of steak but apparently to everybody else in the tv business it means the hours between 8 p.m and 11 p.m or whatever prime time.
Prime time yes very good guys those are your I, I clues and you did just fine.
We did fine, fine.
Fine, fine.
Yes.
All right.
Bye bye, John.
Thanks guys.
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