A Puzzle Ending in Y

You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.

I’m Martha Barnette.

And I’m Grant Barrett, and we’re joined by John Chaneski, our quiz guy.

Hi, John.

Hi, Grant.

Hi, Martha.

Hello.

Hi.

You know, in Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll introduced this rather weird, unanswerable question that’s a classic riddle.

How is a raven like a writing desk?

Now, do either of you know an answer to that?

You’ve heard it before, I’m sure, right?

Yeah, but I don’t know a good answer except dumb ones.

Yeah, they’re only dumb ones, actually.

They’re both English words.

They’re both English words.

Sam Lloyd once said, Poe wrote on both.

Oh, nice.

Carol himself said, both can produce a few notes, though they’re very flat.

Yeah.

But in any case, it was meant to be a sort of a nonsense question.

In any case, I have another question for you.

How is a popular song like a butterfly net?

It’s catchy?

Yes, it’s catchy.

Very good.

So the following questions follow the same pattern.

One thing is describable by an adjective that ends in Y.

The other can be two, but in a different way.

Okay.

All right.

I think you’ve got it.

Yeah, they’re both catchy.

Now, this one’s kind of classic.

How is scotch tape like a walking cane?

They’re both sticky.

They’re both sticky, yes.

How is the Four Seasons Hotel like a grade school teacher?

Classy.

Oh, classy.

Classy, yeah, that’s very good.

How is an old-fashioned car like a mean old man?

Both cranky.

Cranky, yes.

Good.

I’m so glad you guys are getting right into the sum of this.

How is a thick stew like a gift shop in February?

Hearty.

Hearty, yes.

Very nice.

Very nice.

How is a lumberjack like the Dow Jones Industrial Average?

Choppy?

Seesaws.

Plaid.

Stocky?

Yes, stocky.

Nicely done.

How is a poorly washed window like a naked jogger?

Exactly.

Exactly, that’s right.

A poorly washed window is like a naked jogger.

They’re streaky.

Streaky.

Streaky, yes.

Finally, how is a rundown hotel like a garden supply store?

Shifty, reiki, something like that.

Run down hotel.

Seedy.

Yes, they’re both seedy.

Very good.

Well, you guys were fantastic.

That was great.

Congratulations.

Thanks, John.

Appreciate the quiz every week.

We’ll talk to you next time.

Thank you.

See you then.

All right.

Take care.

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