In this week’s puzzle, Quiz Guy John Chaneski is looking for phrases in which the only vowel is the letter “A.” Try this clue: “This person said, ‘I have spent all my life with dance and being a dancer. It’s permitting life to use you in a very intense way. Sometimes it is not pleasant, sometimes it is fearful, but nevertheless, it is inevitable.” Hint: The speaker’s first name is the same as one of this show’s hosts. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Word Quiz Vowel “A””
You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Martha Barnette.
And I’m Grant Barrett, and here with us now is that lovable quiz guy, John Chanesky. Hello, John.
Hello, Grant. Hello, Martha. It’s funny. Today’s quiz is related to my wife in some way.
Okay.
Really?
Yeah. You know, my wife is a poet and an author. Her name is Jennifer Michael Hecht.
And she blogs, as I guess everyone does these days. I don’t know how to do that stuff.
But she blogs, two blogs.
She has one on the Best American Poetry site.
And she has a personal blog that she calls Dear Fonzie.
Because she asked me one day, what should I call my blog?
I said, well, why don’t you write it as if you’re addressing someone, anyone that you think is great.
And she’s good.
Dear Fonzie.
Oh, no.
So this puzzle is all about A’s.
It’s all about A’s.
A.
A’s.
A. The letter A.
Because that’s what Fonzie used to say.
Happy days.
Okay, gotcha.
Hence the conceit.
Here are some clues to phrases in which the only vowel is the letter A.
For example, this was a hot item of interior decor through the 60s and 70s.
Beanbag.
No, there’s an E in there.
Beanbag chair.
Oh, it’s only A’s.
Only A’s.
I mean really hot.
It got its name from its resemblance to flowing heated rock.
So shag carpeting doesn’t work.
No.
Lava lamp.
Lava lamp is correct.
Originally they were known as lava lights, but lava lamp is commonly what they’re known as.
That’s very good.
Let’s try a few more, okay?
Two words, four A’s.
King John did not sign this important historical document.
He affixed his royal seal to it in 1215 at Runnymede.
The Magna Carta.
Yes, the Magna Carta.
Lots of A’s.
Very good.
Yeah, very good.
Okay, here’s the next one.
Two words, two A’s.
My wife and I are currently doing battle with this formidable nemesis in our backyard.
Its scientific name is Digitaria sanguinalis, but you might know it by a more crustacean nickname.
Digitaria sanguinalis.
Here’s your clue.
It’s backyard, crustacean.
Oh, crabgrass.
Yes, crabgrass.
Oh, wow.
Okay.
Very good.
This is two words, three A’s.
It’s S-shaped and about two and one-third miles long, or 3,800 meters.
S-shaped, two and one-third miles long?
Right.
And it’s very, very wet.
Some kind of canal?
Yes.
Oh.
What canal, though?
Oh, Panama Canal?
No.
I was going to say, that’s a lot of A’s.
Yeah, it’s a lot longer.
Why won’t anyone invite me to Italy so I can visit this major Venice waterway?
The Grand Canal.
The Grand Canal is correct.
Very good, Martha.
Now we’re going to move on to some three-word phrases.
Three words, three A’s.
It’s a medieval term for a soldier,
Usually a well-equipped and well-trained member of a knight or a lord’s retinue.
Something at something?
Yeah.
Well, I got the at part, Grant.
At arms.
One-third.
Yes, that’s two-thirds.
This was also the primary title of Duncan, who was a formidable ally of He-Man in the Masters of the Universe cartoon series.
That was after my time.
That was too much for that.
So what do you have?
At arms.
It’s very simple, actually.
Sergeant?
No, no, no.
Master?
No, that doesn’t work out.
Man.
Man.
Man at arms.
Men-at-arms is used interchangeably with knight, though while all knights were men-at-arms, not all men-at-arms were knights.
That’s just a little thing for you.
Here’s another one.
Three words, three A’s.
This term refers to a host of activities that involve making things with your hands.
Arts and crafts.
Yes, very good.
Nice.
There’s also a late 19th century design, reform, and social movement.
Very good.
They had popsicle sticks back then?
I’m sure.
Originally, they were for the arts and crafts, and then later they thought about putting them in nice popsicles.
Here’s our last three word.
This term means to flail about wildly looking for answers, as you might be doing right now.
Grab at straws?
Grasp at straws.
I would bring them up.
Very good.
Grab at straws.
Okay.
Let’s try four words.
This is similar to grasp at straws.
This term means to get whatever you are able to get.
Catch is catch can.
Very good.
Catch is catch can.
Nice, fast one, Martha.
I love it.
Finally, let’s try a seven-word phrase.
Whoa.
Seven words, ten A’s.
This is a very well-known palindrome.
A man, a plan, a canal, Panama.
Panama.
You got it, my friend.
Very, very good.
A man, a plan, a canal, Panama.
And that’s it.
Ten A’s, seven words.
That’s super different.
Great quiz.
Thanks very much.
You get an A plus, John.
Wonderful.
Thank you.
Well, if you have a question about language, give us a call.
The number is 1-877-929-9673 or send an email to words@waywordradio.org.
