Quiz Guy John Chaneski has crafted this puzzle with eeeeeeeease. In fact, all the answers are combinations of words that include only one vowel sound — a long E. For example, suppose the clue is It’s what some people say the moon is made of, and who’s to say it’s not? What’s the answer? This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Long Eeeeeeeease Brain Tease”
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 our quiz guy, the one, the only, the unique, John Chaneski.
Hi, Martha. Hi, Grant. I think one of me is enough.
This quiz this week is something we’ve sort of done before, but it’s a little different.
The answers to each of the following clues is a two-word or more word phrase in which the only vowel is E.
You get that?
Yeah.
Okay.
For example, it’s what some people claim the moon was made of, and who’s to say it’s not?
Green cheese.
Yes, green cheese.
Two words, five E’s, all E’s, no other vowels in any of these.
Now, here’s the first one.
This describes a classic version of a picnic blanket or tablecloth, like you might see at a country diner.
Red checkered.
Yes, red checkered.
There we go.
Two words, four E’s, only E’s, red checkered.
This is a song by Warren and Mercer, written for the 1938 film Going Places, but it’s also a minced oath that, in the song, is inspired by a beautiful pair of eyes.
Jeepers Creepers?
Yes, cheepers, creepers.
Where’d you get those peepers?
Also only E’s, peepers.
You commonly find these on mirrors, where the top, bottom, and sides are not square, they’re not rounded, they’re not tapered.
They’re beveled.
Yes, beveled…
Edges.
Beveled edges, yes, beveled edges.
One, two, three, four, five E’s in only two words.
Very good.
Now, you’re supposed to add these three words to the end of your fortune cookie fortune to give it a naughty meaning.
I thought it was always in bed, but…
So did I.
Well, this is sort of a more poetic way of saying in bed.
Oh, is this what we used to say when we would page through the Baptist hymnal?
Oh, do tell.
But what is that?
You just add between the sheets to all the names of the hymns.
That’s it, between the sheets.
I thought it was between the sheaves, but okay.
Between the sheets, six E’s.
Six E’s there.
Finally, one of the three Beatles songs that only contains E in their title is appropriate for this part of our quiz because it’s over.
Something ends.
Yeah.
Just use the definite article.
The end.
The end.
Yes, that’s it.
The end, two E’s, and that’s it.
The other Beatles song that fits this quiz is Help.
And you guys needed a little bit of help in this quiz, but that’s okay.
We appreciate all the hard work you put into these, John, and we’re looking forward to next week.
Thank you.
It’s my pleasure.
I can’t wait to do it again.
Talk to you next week.
Take care.
Bye-bye.
Bye.
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