Saturday, January 30, 2021

DECLARATIONS OR QUESTIONS (Round 4)

How to Play:

Each entry is either a declaration or a question containing a single blank space. Fill in the blank with a word choice that will logically complete the declaration or question and at the same time reveal a living or dead well-known person. Clues are listed as a solving aid, and homonyms and puns are allowed.

Example:

Declaration:

➤ TOM _______ for no one when he's ready to go.

(Gruff-voiced musician)

[Answer: "TOM WAITS" for no one when he's ready to go.]

Question:

➤ Is JANE _______ her boyfriend or going cold on him?

(Member of famous acting family)

[Answer: Is "JANE FONDA" her boyfriend or going cold on him?]

Round 4:

Question:

➤ Why was JANET _______ across the table at someone who disagreed with her?

(New cabinet secretary)

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

Declaration:

ETHEL _______ and fertilizers her garden regularly.

(Jazz, swing and pop diva of old)

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

Declaration:

RALPH _______ people who illegally park their cars.

(English actor whose full last name includes "Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-")

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

Question:

➤ Would DAN _______ be a novelist or a pundit?

(One-time king of CBS News)

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

Declaration:

PETE _______ from his chair when asked to stand up.

(Number 1 in all-time hits)

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

Question:

➤ 
Why did DANNY _______ over with anger when confronted with a sensitive topic?

(Director of "Trainspotting")

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


PAST ROUNDS (For your solving pleasure!):



Wednesday, January 27, 2021

CONSARNED CONSONANTS (Round 4)

How to Play:

Based on the given clue, figure out the mystery word. Each entry is a 7- or 8-letter word containing a single vowel.

Example:

➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ E ___ ___

(Literature genre)

[The answer is "MYSTERY", a 7-letter word containing a single vowel.]

Round 4:

➤ ___ ___ E ___ ___ ___ ___

(Describing someone or something as suspect)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


E ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

(Convert data into a code)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ I ___ ___

(Branch of science dealing with how things work at the macro and micro level)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ O ___ ___

(Meretricious cheap taste)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ ___ ___ ___ A ___ ___ ___ ___

(Descriptive of a wind-beaten tree in harsh soil or a lame beard)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


Tuesday, January 26, 2021

SPOONERIZED MONIKERS IMAGINARY QUOTIENT (IQ) TEST (Round 9)

How to Play:

Fill in the two blanks in each entry to come up with a goofy "Spoonerized Moniker" and its resulting 2-word rhyming phrase. The correct answers will complete a sentence where each set of blanks is a spoonerism of the other.

Example:

➤ PETE ________ works in a slaughterhouse as a ________ PACKER.
 
[The answer to the first blank is "MACKER" (which rhymes with "PACKER"), while the answer to the second blank is "MEAT" (which rhymes with "PETE"). Thus, the answer to the riddle is "PETE MACKER works in a slaughterhouse as a MEAT PACKER."]

Round 9:

➤ CORY ________ was sentenced to life in prison without parole for his________ CRIMES.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ GAYLE ________ refuses to do any more nude acting scenes because of what she calls the ________ GAZE.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ LENNY ________ moved to Liverpool and now resides at 108 ________ LANE.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ BILLY ________ is the newest Senate member opposed to ending the ________ BUSTER.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ KAI ________ took up birding as a hobby and claims as his favorite the ________ CATCHER.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛



BRAINWRACK!: SPOONERIZED MONIKERS IQ* TEST: *IMAGINARY QUOTIENT* (Round 4)

BRAINWRACK!: SPOONERIZED MONIKERS IQ* TEST: *IMAGINARY QUOTIENT* (Round 5)

BRAINWRACK!: SPOONERIZED MONIKERS IQ* TEST: *IMAGINARY QUOTIENT* (Round 6)


Monday, January 25, 2021

2-WORD RHYMING PHRASES (Round 3)

How to Play:

Each entry is a common phrase consisting of 2 rhyming words. Clue are given as a solving aid. 

Example:

➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___

(Exclamation used to express surprise or dismay)

[The answer is "HOLY MOLY".]

Round 3:

➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

(2-way short-distance communication devise)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

(Minor blemish to the front or back of your vehicle)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

(A sketchy person, perhaps, who engages in some kind of scheming)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

(Snarky term for a faux aesthetic)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

(Implement used to clear a sidewalk of canine excreta)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


PAST ROUNDS (For your solving pleasure!):

BRAINWRACK!: 2-WORD RHYMING PHRASES (Round 1)

BRAINWRACK!: 2-WORD RHYMING PHRASES (Round 2)

Sunday, January 24, 2021

+/- FACTOR (Round 7)

How to Play:

Each entry comes with a +/- clue and a missing +/- letter in parentheses at the beginning or ending of the series of blank spaces. Using the +/- clue as a solving aid, fill in the blanks and the missing +/- letter will reveal either a longer / shorter common word, or a longer / shorter well-known person's last name.

Example(common words)

➤ 
Legal +/- Terrible =

( ___ ) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

[The missing +/- letter is "L"; the answer to the clue is “(L)AWFUL", with “LAWFUL” being the + answer to the clue “Legal”, and “AWFUL” being the - answer to the clue “Terrible”.]

Example: (well-known person's last name)

➤ New York Times Crossword Puzzle Editor +/- "Small" comedian =

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ( ___ ) 

[The missing +/- letter is "Z"; the answer to the clue is “SHORT(Z)”, with SHORTZ" being the answer to the clue “New York Times Crossword Puzzle Editor” (Will Shortz), and SHORT” being the - answer to the clue "'SmallComedian” (Martin Short).]

Round 7:

Common Words:

➤ Sparkle, as a dewdrop on a leaf +/- Practice attentiveness in hearing =

( ___ ) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ Human liquid waste sac +/- If you unrung this, it would collapse =

( ___ ) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 
___


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ Cause to be humbled or restrained +/- Be quick to do something =

( ___ ) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


Well-known Persons:

➤ Oscar-winning South African-born actress +/- American soul and jazz poet (with Scott) =

( ___ ) ___ ___ ___ 
___ ___


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ Famous lawyer, defender of O.J. +/- African-American choreographer and activist =

( ___ ) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ "Rendezvous with Rama" author +/- "Downtown" songstress =

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ( ___ )


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


Thursday, January 21, 2021

PRIME TIME RHYME (Round 3)

How to Play:

Each entry lists a sentence with two clues to help reveal the correct blank * blank answer. The first clue hints at a well-known personality (initials given as a solving aid), and the second clue embedded in the sentence hints at the 2-word answer that rhymes with the well-known person.

Example:

 Zany "Laugh-In" regular [G.H.] who never took care of the mildewed grass in her yard ended up with a ________ * ________.

[Answer: Based on the clue "mildewed grass", the blank words to fill in are "MOLDY * LAWN", which rhymes with the "Laugh-In" clue answer, "GOLDIE * HAWN".]

Round 3:

 "White Rabbit" songstress [G.S.] whose sloppy-tongued dog gave her a big ________ * ________ upon seeing her.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


 Famous drummer from yesteryear [B.R.] ran his car off the road in the rain one day and ended up in a ________ * ________.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


 Chester Goode portrayer in "Gunsmoke" [D.W.] once attended all four major opens because he had a severe case of ________ * ________.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


 Former First Lady [B.F.], during rehab, briefly lost her faith and declared her trivial God a ________ * ________.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

 Female comedian once named one of the 25 funniest people in America [W.S.] owned a shop that competed with Toyota selling electric ________ * ________.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

PAST ROUNDS (For your solving pleasure!):


Wednesday, January 20, 2021

EMBEDDED U.S. PRESIDENTS (Round 4)

How to Play:

The objective of this executive stumper is to figure out which U.S. president is embedded in a logical or silly 2-word phrase. Based on each entry's correct answer, the embedded president's identity will be hinted at through the first 2 letters of his first and last name. (Note: presidential middle names are not used.)

Example:

➤ SEWA ___ ___ * ___ ___ STE

(This president figured out what to do with the White House's excess excreta)

GEORGE WASHINGTON

[Answer: Fill in the blanks with the letters "GE" & "WA" to complete the answer to the clue: "SLUDGE WASTE" - revealing the 2-letter first and last name initials of the embedded president, "GEORGE WASHINGTON".]

Round 4:

MO ___ ___ * ___ ___ PARTISANSHIP

(This president is determined to summon every ounce of this "magical spell" to reach across the divide to heal the nation)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


BALK ___ ___ * ___ ___ ZZ

(This president loved a certain genre of music from a Southeast European peninsula)

= ____________________


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


ORIGA ___ ___ ___ ___ SH 

(This president was adept at the art of folding paper into shapes of bass and perch)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


UNCOU ___ ___ * ___ ___ GUE

(This president was, despite his reputation, an uncultivated scoundrel)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


AMERI ___ ___ * ___ ___ NQUERS

(This president came up with an aggressive, jingoistic slogan to scare the world)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


BONUS! BONUS! BONUS! BONUS!

➤ DESPERA ___ ___ * ___ ___ ICKS

(This president, criminal through and through, has a bagful of 'em)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


PAST ROUNDS (For your solving pleasure!):



Tuesday, January 19, 2021

BODY DOUBLE (Round 4)

How to Play:

Each entry requires a solution that uses two body parts to create a common phrase, word or usage. Clues are provided as a a solving aid.

Example:

➤ __________ of _________

(Inner core or bud of coconut tree)

[The answer is HEART of PALM.]

Round 4:

➤ __________ up your ________

(Harsh way of saying one is completely off-base and clueless)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ __________

(Type of tennis swing)

(This single word answer actually is a Body Double!)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ __________

(Oblong objects used in a field game)

(This single word answer actually is a Body Double!)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ __________ to _________

(Two parties confronting one another over disagreements go . . . ?)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ __________ over _________

(How you might fall in love at first sight)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


Sunday, January 17, 2021

HIGHFALUTIN CIRCUMLOCUTIONS (Round 8)

How to Play:

Translate the highfalutin circumlocutory language of each entry to distill a common adage, apothegm, aphorism, axiom, maxim, phrase, proverb, saw, or saying.

Example:

➤ It is not necessary to shed lacrimal drops over toppled bovine secretions.

"_____ _____ _____ _____ _____."

(5 word phrase)

[Answer: "Don't cry over spilled milk."]

Round 8:

➤ A stovetop container observed without surcease fails to agitate the molecules of its aqueous contents.

"_____ _____ _____ _____ _____."

(5 word phrase)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


 Partake of viands in order to sustain biological viability; do not endeavor to maintain such a state simply by doing the former.

"_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____."

(7 word phrase)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ In the event you find yourself in a recumbent position with a canine, you arise in the company of tiny biting pests.

"_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____."

(11 word phrase)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ It is possible to end the life of a male human being and yet be unsuccessful in eradicating a mental construct.

"_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____."

(11 word phrase)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


 It is best that diminutive adolescents only be visible and not within audible range of the senses.

"_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____."

(7 word phrase)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


Saturday, January 16, 2021

SPANGLISH CONNECTIONS (Round 7)

How to Play:

Each entry consists of a Spanish word surrounded by blank spaces. Your job is to fill in the blank spaces with appropriate letters to solve a new word - in English!

Example

➤ ___ PIE ___

[The answer is "SPIED", solved by filling in "S" and "D" in the blank spaces.]

Round 7:

 ___ PAN ___ ___ ___ ___


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


 PALMA ___ ___


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


 META ___ ___ ___ ___


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ ___ ___ ___ CINE


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


 ___ PIDE ___


Friday, January 15, 2021

2-WORD RHYMING PHRASES (Round 2)

How to Play:

Each entry is a common phrase consisting of 2 rhyming words. Clue are given as a solving aid. 

Example:

➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___

(Exclamation used to express surprise or dismay)

[The answer is "HOLY MOLY".]

Round 2:

➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

(Sexual or otherwise dubious behavior considered mildly improper)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


 ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___

(Cigarette brand)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___  * ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

(Fowl expression meaning relaxed or unfettered)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

(Twice the problems)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

(Loss of intellectual capital from a nation to another)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


PAST ROUNDS (For your solving pleasure!):

BRAINWRACK!: 2-WORD RHYMING PHRASES (Round 1)

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

INITIAL PUBLIC PERSONAE (Round 5)

How to Play:

Each entry lists a made-up organization or association whose acronym is the initials of a well-known person. Who might these initial findings reveal? Clues are given as a solving aid to help expose the initial public personae responsible for the fictionalized concerns.

Example:

➤ Society for Literature and Comedy = ________ ________ ________

(This American humorist would be a good candidate to head up the SLC.)

[The answer is SAMUEL LANGHORNE CLEMENS.]

Round 5:

➤ Leftist Hitmen Organization = ________ ________ ________

(Whether he did it or not, this notorious defector and CIA asset is a Hall of Fame member of the LHO.)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ Blacks for Hope and Optimism = ________ ________ ________

(#44 founded BHO as a brother and sister organization to Black Lives Matter.)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


 
Martyrs of the Lord's Kingdom = ________ ________ ________

(Revered minister / activist is a charter member of the MLK.)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ 
Masters of Theater and Movies = ________ ________ ________

(One of America's favorite stars was elected to the MTM on the first ballot.)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ Disastrous Justice Tribunal = ________ ________ ________

(#45 turned the DOJ into the DJT.)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ Registry of Miscreants and Nincompoops = ________ ________ ________

(#37 is a prominent member of the Rogue's Gallery, otherwise known as the RMN.)

BURIED TREASURE (1 Round Only)

How to Play : Buried within each sentence entry is a precious gemstone for you to find. Upon finding all ten, re-arrange the sentences order...