Quiz Guy John Chaneski has a prepositional puzzle in which each answer has a noun on either end of the words on the. For example, if you want to get the average person’s views, you might seek out a male adult standing in the road. In that case, whose opinion would you get? This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of ““Noun on the Noun” Word Puzzle”
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.
Hey, John.
Hi, John.
Hey, Martha.
Hi, Grant.
How are you guys doing?
Super duper.
Terrific.
You know, it’s time to get on the ball and answer some questions about things on other things.
I think we did things of things, but this is about nouns that are atop other nouns.
This is weird, but we’ll do it.
For example, we need the opinion of an average Joe found exactly where you would find an average Joe standing in the road.
That’s man on the street.
Right.
Man on the street is a noun, and he’s on a noun.
On the.
So let’s try some more of these.
We want to observe something surreptitiously, so we’ve got to be like an inconspicuous insect off to the side in the room.
Sure.
We’re a fly on the wall.
We’re a fly on the wall, indeed.
Now, having a baked dessert is one thing, but, oh, having a baked dessert covered in creamy, sugary deliciousness, oh, you know what that is.
Baked dessert covered in creamy, deliciousness.
Delicious.
Yeah.
Icing on the cake.
Oh, there we go.
Yes, icing on the cake.
Nicely done.
Now, look, before we go any further, I want to get things straight between us.
I’ve never played Pokemon before.
That’s why I’m just laying my hand down in front of me.
Your card’s on the table.
Yes, card’s on the table.
Very good.
Now, in America, this ornithological phrase means you’ve got a man on second and third in baseball.
In Australia, it means women have entered the room, so watch your language.
Really?
Yeah.
Birds on the…
Okay, actually, that’s a more specific bird.
Quack, quack.
Ducks on the pond.
Ducks on the pond, yes.
That’s it.
Now, if you do have ducks on the pond in baseball,
Maybe you shouldn’t get distracted by ducks on the pond.
Women, maybe you should just focus your vision and attain your goal.
Keep your eyes on the prize.
Eyes on the prize.
Both of those are fine.
I want to be where the deer and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
You know, where your domicile overlooks an open region where livestock feeds.
On the stovetop.
I mean the range.
Home on the range.
Home on the range, right.
I’m going to take this petrol as far from the conflagration as I can.
I’m just afraid it’s going to make the situation worse, if you know what I mean.
Throw something on the fire.
Gas on the fire.
Gas on the fire.
Yeah, you don’t want to throw gas on the fire.
Anything on the fire.
I had to stop and think.
Yeah.
We need people there, actually there, not viewing it from afar.
We need footwear hitting the soil.
Boots on the ground.
Boots on the ground, yes.
See, now I’m in a better mood.
Let’s all climb up to the tavern’s roof deck, and whatever you’d like to order, it’s free.
It’s on John Chaneski.
Drinks on the house.
Drinks on the house.
Drinks on the house, yes.
Tavern on the green.
Right.
No, seriously, seriously, drinks are on the house.
I’m not lying.
I’ll take an oath to that effect.
You’ll swear on the Bible?
Let’s put a noun on that noun.
Hand on the Bible?
Hand on the Bible, yes.
Hand on the Bible.
The drinks are on the house.
So let’s go have a drink right now.
That’s it.
You’ve finished the quiz.
Nice job.
John, that quiz was right on the money.
Bingo, buddy.
Thank you so much.
Free and worth every penny.
You’re welcome.
I’ll see you next week.
Bye-bye.
Bye, John.
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