Quiz Guy John Chaneski says that lately he’s been thinking a lot about Greece for some reason. So his puzzle this week is based on the Greek alphabet. Each clue’s blank must be filled by a word or phrase that sounds like the name of a Greek letter. For example, supply the Greek letter suggested by Their moussaka is so good I \_\_\_\_ plate of it every day for a week. Fair warning: Get ready for groan-worthy puns, including some that depend upon creative pronunciations. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Greek Letter Homophones: A Fill-in-the-Blank Quiz with Clues Like Moussaka”
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 we’re joined by a guy who looks like he’s ready to be the new James Bond.
It’s our quiz guy, John Czynecki.
Yeah.
Let me take off my fedora and and my tuxedo.
I’ll leave the tuxedo on.
But let’s move on to the quiz.
This week, I’m not sure why, but lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about Greece.
So many of our words come from Greek, but, you know, a lot of them have gone through many changes.
I wonder if we could just go back to the beginning and take some words, not from Greek, but from the Greek alphabet.
For example, here’s a clue.
I’ve had this toga for ages, but this other one is brand blank.
The answer would be New.
That’s a Greek letter.
As a Greek letter, new, n u.
Right.
Now on this one, there will be some massaging of the pronunciation on a few of them.
Well, let’s set sail.
Here we go.
Their moussaka is so good I blank plate of it every day for a week.
Ada.
Ada.
I ate a plate of it every day for a week.
Moussaka.
Good.
I asked Homer what he thought about the new movie, and he said, I’m going to blank lawyers on them.
So Sigma.
Sick sigma lawyers on sigma lawyers on them.
Yes.
I tried to string the hero’s bow, but after trying and trying, it was blank naught.
Oh, alpha naught.
Who is alpha naught?
Yes.
Oh, god.
Very good.
Odysseus’ shipmates did their best, but let’s face it.
They were blank, rotten hand.
Oh, Delta.
Oh my gosh.
Oh, I see.
I was thinking about actually human hands.
Yes.
Oh, okay.
Oh, gross.
Rotten hands.
You know, I was thinking about the the pig claymation.
Got it.
Got it.
My family has never been to Athens, but blank, arrange a trip.
IOTA?
IOTA.
IOTA.
Arrange a trip to Athens.
You know, it’s a great spa, but try to avoid the blank extras like fancy meals.
Oh.
Oh, the upsell on?
The upsell on extras like fancy meals.
Oh, gosh.
Hooray.
We go through it.
We somehow made it, and hardly any of us died.
I think the broccolis are removing the deal they put on the table for you to become the new Bond.
I’m just saying, no.
My martinis.
Where where am I gonna get my martinis?
Athens will always be there for you, John.
Thank you so much for this We’ll have Pareas.
Okay.
Thank you, guys.
Great quiz.
Thanks, John.
We’ll talk to you next week.
John, that was genius.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Talk to you next time.
Bye bye.
Wow.
Well, John really gave our brains a workout, and you can too.
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