A Smorgasbord Quiz

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 striding into the room in a green visor with a big stack of money, it’s our guy, our quiz guy, John Choneski.

Hi, John.

Hey, how you doing, guys?

Settle around the table.

Let me deal you guys in this quiz.

All right.

Yeah.

You know, when you play a quiz when you’re hungry, this is the result.

I’ll describe some items, and you’ll reiterate, but since you’re hungry, every answer will relate to food.

I call this a smorgasbord of words.

Let’s see.

Now, for example, I have a friend who is afraid of every little thing.

I think he just has a self-confidence problem.

But you’re hungry, so to you he’s just…

Don’t overthink it.

Self-confidence problem.

He’s afraid of every little thing.

He’s a veritable drumstick of fear.

Oh, he’s chicken.

Yes, he’s chicken.

Oh, yes, you’re right.

I was overthinking it.

There you go.

Yeah, just make your list of foods now, and let’s see which ones we come upon.

Here we go.

My neighbor and I have a decades-old disagreement.

I say we do not get along, but you’re hungry, so you say.

You have a beef.

I have a beef.

You have beef.

Yes, I have beef. Ken has beef. I have beef with them, yes.

I could obsess over my neighbors, but I’ve got a lot going on.

I’ve got more important things to attend to, but as you say, you have a lot going on, more important things to attend to.

Right.

Priorities. You have bigger fish to fry.

Exactly. I’ve got bigger fish to fry. Delicious fish to fry.

Seriously, I can’t talk about it.

I’ll give away the whole thing if I dish.

Or as you say, I will…

Spill the beans.

Yes, spill the beans.

The opposite of clam up, but that’s good too.

The opposite of clam, yes.

Yummy vegan alternative.

Now, I might just tell you the whole story.

It might take a few hours of convincing me.

Or as you hungry people would say…

Hours of convincing you.

You would have to…

Go the whole hog.

That’s pretty good, but I think there’s something more precise than that.

Wow.

See, you’re trying to get me to tell the story.

Just keep trying to convince me.

Oh, egg you on.

Yes, you may have to egg me on.

Very good.

You know what?

Enough about my neighbor.

You should see my kids dancing around together at the concert.

One is just like the other.

Or as you would say, they are two peas in a pod.

Yeah, two peas in a dancing pod.

I love it.

You know, sometimes I dream about changing careers.

But you know what?

These quizzes are just what I do.

They bring in the big bucks for me.

Or as you would say, they are bread and butter.

Yes.

No, that’s it.

They are my bread and butter.

Bread and butter.

And bread and butter and pickles, yes.

And gravy.

We’re just corning new food terms right and left.

And now I’m just famished and I have to go have lunch.

So thank you guys for a great quiz.

I’ll talk to you soon.

You’re always the big tease to us, John.

Yay.

Yeah, none of that was corny at all.

Oh, ouch.

And you can join us for a tasteful conversation about language.

The number is 877-929-9673.

Or send your thoughts and comments about language to words@waywordradio.org.