Quiz Guy John Chaneski has created an audio escape room. You’re trapped in a hotel and must figure out a series of clues from objects in the room to find your way out. See that Gideon Bible over there? It’s said that the Bible is this four-letter noun, but a 1963 song by The Trashmen claims that actually it’s a bird. (Need a hint?) This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Audio Escape Room Word Game”
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 is that man of many mysteries, John Chaneski, our quiz guy.
Hi, John.
Hey, Martha.
Hi, Grant.
Welcome once again to what I call a play with words.
Let’s play with them.
I have a special quiz for you today.
It’s a little weird.
You know, these days we all wish we could get out more.
It’s as if all of us are living in a massive escape room.
This is a wordplay-based audio escape room, and you’re stuck in it.
I hope you can get out.
-oh.
Yeah.
The two of you are in a standard hotel room, complete with the standard things you find in a hotel room.
Somehow you’ve been locked in and have to find a way out.
Now, search the items in the room, and you’ll find word puzzles which will help you escape.
Now, go ahead and pick an item, a random item.
Now, be sure to take notes.
Write these down.
The Gideon’s Bible.
The Bible.
All right.
You know, it’s said that the Bible is this four-letter term,
But a 1963 song by the Trash Men claims that it’s bird.
What is it?
The word.
Bird, bird, bird.
Bird is a word.
Word, right.
Your answer is word.
Write that down, word.
All right, you’ve got the Bible.
What do you want to look at next?
How about that remote control?
The TV.
You know, there’s a puppet show on.
Maybe sit back and watch this classic slapstick character.
While sipping a same-named five-letter fruity drink?
Oh, punch.
Punch, yes, good. Punch is your answer.
Write that down, yeah.
What else do you want to look at in this room?
A phone book.
The phone. Yeah, the phone.
Let’s see, now, if Groucho was a grouch,
And Chico chased the chicks, and Harpo played the harp,
What did a famous drummer wear to earn his name?
A ring.
Ring, ring is the phone answer, yes.
Write down ring.
Very good.
What else would you like to look at?
We have a few more.
Bathroom.
Bath.
You know who could use a relaxing bath and perhaps a refreshing beer?
A six-letter worker who sleeps all night and works all day.
Six letters.
Isn’t there a song that has lyrics like that?
Yeah.
Sleeps all night, works all day.
Oh, a lager.
A lager, yes.
Your answer is lager, L-O-G-G-E-R, lager.
All right, only a few more to go now.
What do you want to look at?
A table.
A table.
There’s a desk.
How about that one?
There is a desk, yeah.
What three-letter word is an item you might find here?
Also something you might do to your expense report.
Well, there’s a pen.
Oh.
I would never do it, but some people pad their.
Yes, pad.
Your answer is pad.
You’re almost out of the room.
Take a look at the answers you found.
You took notes.
See if you can find something related to them that will help you out.
Just think of something that’s related that can be used with all of those.
Oh.
A word that goes with all of them.
How about key?
It’s the key.
You found a key.
You can get out of the room.
Congratulations.
Keypad.
Key word.
Key punch.
Key ring.
Key, logger, key, peg.
Nicely done there, Martha.
Oh, wow.
Welcome back to reality, everybody.
Yeah, fresh air.
Thanks for coming out of the room.
John, that was amazing.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, guys.
Take care.
We’ll talk to you next time.
All right, bye-bye.
And now it’s time for you to get in on the fun on this show.
So call us to talk about any aspect of language whatsoever,
Whether it’s wordplay or riddles or etymologies or slang or even grammar.
Or you can send us an email.
That address is words@waywordradio.org.
Or hit us up on Twitter at Wayword.
