Our Quiz Guy John Chaneski has a game for the Mamas and the Papas, with two-word phrases beginning with the letters M-A- M-A- or P-A- P-A-. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “M-A-M-A and P-A-P-A Puzzle”
You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Martha Barnette.
And I’m Grant Barrett. And here we have on the line, John Chaneski, our quiz guy in New York City.
Reel him in!
New York City.
Reel me in. Here I come.
On the East Coast, here’s John Chaneski with a quiz. Hello, John.
Oh, boy. What did they put in your juice today, guys?
So, I’m doing great. My mom and dad just moved back from, they moved from Fort Leeds back to Hoboken, the town I grew up in.
Okay.
So, that’s really cool. The reason I mention them, because today’s quiz is called a mom-and-pop operation.
Okay.
That’s a little segue there.
Okay.
The answer to each of the following questions is a two-word phrase in which each word begins with either M-A or P-A.
Okay.
Sure.
Okay.
Okay.
For example, if a bachelor gets altered, he becomes what?
Married.
Man.
Well, two-word phrase.
Oh.
Married man.
Married man.
Married man.
Yeah, two words.
Okay.
Very good.
Two-word phrase, M-A or P-A.
That was a mama right there.
Okay.
It’s altered.
Here we go.
He had the only line in Mel Brooks’ silent movie, silent movie, which is funny because he was famous for not talking.
Marcel Marceau.
Marcel Marceau is correct.
Nice.
Way to go.
Now, I mentioned I grew up in Hoboken, where almost no one has a garage.
So I’m frankly quite adept at this vehicular skill.
I’m not.
Parallel parking.
Parallel parking.
Parable.
I love it.
Now, once a year, thousands and thousands of people go insane for college basketball.
March Madness.
March Madness.
There’s your mama right there.
TM.
NCAA.
How about this?
She is a fictional lady who fell in love with a homeless archer.
Oh, Maid Marianne.
Maid Marianne, yes.
Homeless archer.
She was a character in the Bible who illustrated that it’s possible for anyone from any background to be blessed.
Mary Magdalene.
Mary Magdalene.
Very good.
Now, this port in American Samoa sounds like what happens to my salary each week when I settle up with my creditors.
Pay-pay?
PayPal.
Almost.
What happens to my pay?
It’s…
Pago-pago.
Pago-pago, yes.
Good.
Now, when you need an object or a part and you want to avoid all the imperfections inherent in a human-crafted item,
Get one created like this.
Machine made.
Yes, machine made.
Well done.
Now, when you’re done baking with this disposable nonstick surface,
Maybe you can write a letter inviting me to your cookie party, maybe.
Something pan?
No, it’s disposable.
No, it’s disposable.
Paper pan?
That’s an idea.
Now all the bakers in the crowd are yelling at me.
Parchment paper.
Yes, parchment paper.
Good teamwork.
There we go.
Parchment paper is used for baking.
And then, like I said, you can write me a letter if you wish.
Here’s the last one.
Well, the quiz is over.
Questions have been asked and answers were delivered.
Except for asked and delivered are what verb form?
Past participle.
Past participle is right.
That’s your last papa, mama, and papa.
I think you could fashion that one into a pretty good road game, right?
Yeah, you could.
Thanks, John.
Really good stuff, as always.
We’ll talk to you again next week, all right?
Thank you, guys.
A lot of fun.
See you next week.
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