OohAahEeh Word Game

You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Grant Barrett.

And I’m Martha Barnette. And joining us once again is our quiz guy, John Chaneski.

Hiya, John.

Hi, Martha. Hi, Grant. How are you?

What’s up, buddy? What’s cooking over there?

You know, sometimes I have a reason for coming up with a certain quiz, and sometimes it’s just no reason whatsoever.

Well, today, for no good reason, I’ve decided that I’d like you both to act like monkeys this week.

Again?

As opposed to other weeks.

So I’ve created three short quizzes with two-word answers.

Now, the answers to the first clues have the sounds, as in pool room.

The answers to the second clues have the sounds as in pot shot.

Oh, no.

And the answers to the third quiz have the sounds as in cheat sheet.

Oh, no.

I don’t know why I came up with this.

That’s clever, though. Let’s see how it goes.

At the very least, I’m sure you monkeys will amuse the kitties out there.

Okay, here we go.

Quiz number one.

This event occurs about once a month when the Earth’s only natural satellite is positioned between Earth and the sun.

But that’s not quite right, is it?

Full moon? No?

What else would it be?

Oh, I was going to say lunar…

New moon.

New moon is correct, yes.

There we go.

Good. Okay, here’s the next.

Ooh, ooh.

You’ll hear this phrase in a fairly common sarcastic comment in response to a stupid or crass action, usually followed by ex-lax.

Smooth move, X-Lax.

Very nice.

Every time you do ooh-ooh, I think of Welcome Back, Cotter.

Ooh, Mr. Cotter, Mr. Cotter, Mr. Cotter, Mr. Cotter.

Okay, here we go.

Ooh-ooh.

This 1979 collection of humorous essays by Steve Martin takes its name from the title of a short story within the book.

It describes some mean, nasty footwear.

Oh.

I was going to say excuse me, but it’s something shoes.

It’s…

It is.

Cruel, cruel shoes.

Cruel shoes is right.

It was his first book, and it was delightful.

Yes, very nice.

Okay, here we go.

Ooh, ooh.

This two-word phrase refers to a group of famous people, the elite of the elite.

It’s also the name of a number of reference publications, generally consisting of concise biographical information on people who are outstanding in their field.

Who’s who?

Who’s who?

Who’s who?

Who’s who?

Okay, that’s the…

Who’s who?

Sorry, that’s the peacock.

That’s fine.

I’m still working on the giraffe.

Do you want to hear the giraffe?

Sure, how’s the giraffe going?

That’s pretty good.

I don’t know what a giraffe does.

I don’t want to criticize your peacock, but my daughter actually does a real mean peacock.

Oh, does she?

Hi-yah!

Hi-yah!

Oh, nice.

That’s it.

Yeah.

Well, I went and downloaded the audio clip, some Animal Planet, so.

There you go.

All right, that’s our ooh-ooh quiz.

Let’s move on to —

Okay.

—

Ooh-ooh.

—

—

This phrase for an electric cooker that maintains a relatively low temperature over a long period of time is actually a trademark.

Crock-pot.

Awesome.

Crock-pot is right.

I always waited for that to explode.

They never did, though.

I always thought they were sure to explode.

—

In a famous urban legend, life cereal mascot Mikey suffered a grim fate after eating these crackly carbonated pebbly candies.

Oh, oh, oh.

Pop rocks.

Pop rocks.

I loved those.

Yeah.

Who’d eat those by the carton?

They were great.

Mikey, by the way, whose real name is John Gilchrist, is fine, by the way.

Thank you for asking.

He’s just great, yes.

He likes it.

Very nice.

This comic actor gained fame in the 1960s as Deputy Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, and in the 80s as Landlord Mr. Furley on Three’s Company.

I don’t know, Andy, what are you?

No, I’m sorry.

Don Knotts.

That’s a pretty good Don Knotts, man.

Love him.

Way to go.

Let’s move on to E.E.

All right.

E.E.

E.E.

An activity that most people typically engage in each night is divided into several stages.

The REM or rapid eye movement stage of this activity actually takes place after stages three and four, which feature this intense form of it.

Deep sleep.

Deep sleep is right.

Thank you for sitting through my question.

I was going to blurt it, but I figured he worked so hard for his money.

Thank you.

EE.

This two-word phrase is used to describe a group whose members are among the most talented in their particular field.

I have a further clue for you if you need it.

What’s that?

I was going to say elite, but…

Elite.

So the top of their…

The top of their particular field.

I’ll give you more of a clue.

All right.

The 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team was referred to…

The dream team.

There we go.

I just realized I said the word team in the clue.

But you got it.

Yeah, basketball was the biggest giveaway, though.

There you go.

Yeah.

Composed of professionals such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.

Dream team is right.

Let’s go on to the last one.

The last E-E.

E-E.

There are those that say the antioxidant benefits of this hot beverage that originates from China are substantial.

All I know is I enjoy a decaf with just a little bit of honey.

And I like the ice cream flavor, actually.

Mm—

Really good.

Yeah, that’s the best.

Green tea.

Green tea is right.

You monkeys did just great.

Fantastic.

For a couple of monkeys.

John, I’m craving bananas.

I got to split.

Oh, man.

Well, thanks as always, John.

It’s my pleasure. Thanks very much.

Thanks, John.

And if you have a question about language, give us a call, 1-877-929-9673.

Or email us. The address is words@waywordradio.org.