Quiz Guy John Chaneski’s “coffee cup” quiz requires the addition of the letters M (as in milk) or S (as in sugar) to a word to form another word that fits a clue. For example, if the original word is cap, but what he’s looking for is a place to pitch his tent, which letter would you add? This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Milk or Sugar Coffee Cup Quiz”
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, John Chaneski.
Hi, John.
Hi, John.
Hi, Martha.
Hi, Grant.
I set myself a task this week to come up with a quiz based on a random phrase.
And when I thought to do this, I was walking up the subway stairs,
and immediately the first thing I saw was a coffee cup sitting at the top of the stairs.
Now, today’s quiz is called Coffee Cup.
Here’s how it works.
I’ll give you a word and then a definition of the word that I want that word to be.
Now, the only way we’ll get the new word is by adding an M, like milk, or an S for sugar.
Now, sometimes you may have to add both milk and sugar, an M and an S, or multiples of them.
For example, if the word is cap, C-A-P, but what I really need is a place to pitch my tent, your answer would be…
Camp, or adding one M.
One milk, that’s right. Very good.
If the word was foil, F-O-I-L, but what I really need is a relic of the past, your answer would be?
Fossil, so that would be two S’s, two sugars.
Two S’s, right, very good.
Or sugar and soy.
Sugar and soy, very good.
It’s very modern, I like that.
Let’s order a few.
The word is now, but what I really want is cold weather precipitation.
Snow, we’re adding an S.
Yes, very good.
The word is cob, but what I really need is a common tonsorial tool.
That would be a comb, so you’re adding one M.
C-O-M-B.
Tonsorial.
Very nice.
Very nice word, tonsorial.
Tonsorial.
The word is pal, but what I really want is a sacred song or poem.
Psalm, right?
P-S-A-L-M, adding an S and an M.
An S and an M has both milk and sugar.
Yes, very good.
Psalm.
The word is tar, but what I really need is a monarch or emperor.
Sar, right?
T-S-A-R, yes.
T-S-A-R, yes.
The word is halo, but what I really want is peace in Israel.
You would be adding an S-anonym to make shalom.
Shalom, and shalom to you as well.
Now, I was given a tea, T-E-A, but what I really want is what’s coming out of the teapot.
Steam.
Steam, yes.
And an S and an M for steam.
S and an M.
Very good.
The word is coerce, but what I really want is the buying and selling of goods.
Two M’s.
Two M’s, yeah, for commerce.
Two M’s.
Double milk.
Very good.
Yeah.
The word is ink, but what I really want is the capital city of Belarus.
Minsk.
M and an S.
Minsk is right.
The word is eBay.
But what I really want is my country’s headquarters in another country.
An embassy.
An embassy.
Two S’s.
That’s right.
I’m taking my coffee and getting out of here.
Yeah, where’s the coffee?
I left yours at the top of the stairs so you could pick it on your way up the subway.
That’s where it is.
Oh, go on.
I’m ready now.
At the top of every New York City subway platform staircase, there is a cup of coffee waiting there for you.
Waiting for me.
No, thank you.
But thank you, John.
Thanks, John.
We appreciate it.
Talk to you next week.
Thank you, guys.
Bye.
Bye.
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