Terminal Deletion Word Game

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 Cherneski, our quiz guy in New York City.

Hi, John.

Hi, Grant.

Hi, Martha.

Hey.

It’s a pleasure to be back.

You know, it’s about time for my semi-annual mention of the National Puzzlers League, of which I have been a member for over 25 years.

Now, if you enjoy wordplay and grid puzzles and codes, cryptograms, you will enjoy the NPL.

And you can find them at puzzlers.org.

And the NPL’s primary puzzle type, as you may remember, is called a flat, which is a sort of verse with several words masked with placeholders, and you’ve got to figure out those words.

And each flat uses at least one kind of wordplay, and the kind of wordplay we’re playing with today is called a terminal deletion, all right?

In this case, the terminal we’re talking about are the first and last letters of a word, both ends.

And a deletion is, you know, a deletion.

So, for example, the word ample is a terminal deletion of the original word sampled.

Sampled, take out the S and the D, and you get ample.

Right.

Understood?

Mm—

Good.

Yep.

Now, I’ll give you a clue to both the original word and the terminal deletion answer word.

You tell me what they are.

Now, for example, if I said, if you terminally delete a large wooden box, you’ll get a large rodent.

The answers would be crate and rat.

Got it?

Got it.

Here’s the first one.

If you terminally delete the soil beneath your feet, you’ll get a way to express yourself creatively.

So earth and art.

Earth and art is correct.

Oh, I see.

If you terminally delete a warm winter accessory, you’ll get a common conveyance.

Scarf and car?

Scarf and car is correct. Nicely done.

If you terminally delete a common first step in cooking ground beef, you’ll get an argument in the UK.

So brown and row?

Brown and row, yes.

If you terminally delete Weir or Lipinski, you’ll get Hepburn or Winslet.

So, Kate and Skater.

Oh, good.

Skater, yes.

I can see you came in through the back way that time.

Very nice.

If you terminally delete Oak or Maple, for example, you’ll get Oak or Maple, for example.

Street and tree?

Street and tree.

Nice.

Very good.

If you terminally delete a vehicle you might see at a cemetery, you’ll get something you can use to listen to a eulogy.

So hearse and ears.

Hearse and ears.

Yes.

Very nice.

Finally, if you terminally delete a large bladed tool used to chop meat, well, I’m just going to get the heck out of here.

Cleaver and leave.

Cleaver and leave.

And that is my cue to leave.

Okay, you guys did fantastic.

I’ll see you next time.

Thanks, John, we appreciate it.

We’ll talk to you next week.

Take care.

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