HUMANIMALS (Round 4)

How to Play:

Based on the clue (an initial is provided as a solving aid), each correct answer will reveal a "HUMANIMAL" - a well-known personality whose first or last name is a bird, mammal, amphibian, reptile or insect. Homophones, nicknames and pseudonyms are allowed.

Example:

➤ W. ["crumby" bird] =

__________ * __________

[The answer to the clue is "PIGEON" revealing the "Humanimal" named WALTER * PIDGEON.]

Round 4:

➤ A. [long-eared, sad-eyed hound] =

__________ * __________

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ S. [load of crap] =

__________ * __________

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ G. S. [long-legged marsh hunter] =

__________ * __________ * __________

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ [big-time sporting fish] B. =

__________ * __________

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ J. [salutation opener with "Sir"] =

__________ * __________

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ [nickname for Joseph] B. =

__________ * __________

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ [unclothed] G. =

__________ * __________

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

PAST ROUNDS (For your solving pleasure!):

BRAINWRACK!: HUMANIMALS (Round 1)

BRAINWRACK!: HUMANIMALS (Round 2)

BRAINWRACK!: HUMANIMALS (Round 3)

SUBSTITUTION RULE (Round 6)

How to Play:

This brainteaser has two variations, both involving well-known persons.

Variation 1 entries are made-up names resulting from substituting a random letter in both the first and last name of a well-known person. Solving each entry requires a bit of guessing (or reverse substituting) to figure out the real identity of the well-known person.

Variation 2 entries are silly 2-word phrases resulting from substituting a random letter in both the first and last name of a well-known person. Solving each entry requires a bit of guessing (or reverse substituting) to figure out the real identity of the well-known person.

Example:

Variation 1:

➤ TOBY GILL = ____________ 

[The answer revealing the well-known person is TONY BILL, arrived at by substituting "N" for "B" in the first name, "TOBY", and substituting "B" for "G" in the last name, "GILL".]

Variation 2:

➤ MAD PEST = ____________ 

[The answer is MAE WEST, arrived at by substituting "E" for "D" in the first word, "MAD", and  substituting "W" for "P" in the last word, "PEST".]

Round 6:

Variation 1:

➤ JOAN PAYNE = ____________

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ BORIS GAY = ____________

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ RICK JUDSON = ____________

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ DAVE EGANS = ____________

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ JILLY LANE = ____________ 

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

Variation 2:

➤ MATH DEMON = ____________

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ WARDEN BEASTY = ____________ 

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ TOY HANKY = ____________ 

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ CARP GIANT = ____________

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ SICK NAGGER = ____________

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

PAST ROUNDS (For your solving pleasure!):

BRAINWRACK!: SUBSTITUTION RULE (Round 1)

BRAINWRACK!: SUBSTITUTION RULE (Round 2)

BRAINWRACK!: SUBSTITUTION RULE (Round 3)

BRAINWRACK!: SUBSTITUTION RULE (Round 4)

BRAINWRACK!: SUBSTITUTION RULE (Round 5)

SPOONERISM SHENANIGANS (Round 5)

How to Play:

Each entry contains two blanks that when properly filled in will complete a silly "double spoonerism" sentence. Solving hint: figure out the answer to one blank and that answer will rhyme with the corresponding opposite capitalized word in the sentence; alternately, use one of the capitalized words to find a rhyme which works in the corresponding opposite blank.

Example:

➤ PLAIN DRUGS might not do the trick if your DRAIN PLUGS up beyond repair.

[Answer: "PLAIN DRUGS" and "DRAIN PLUGS" are spoonerisms of each other.]

Round 5:

➤ Riddle: The crumbly components of ________ TARTS are also their TASTY ________!

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ Is too much SCREEN ________ the worst of a ________'s CRIME?

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ When you GOTTA ________, you're certain to produce a ________ GOOP!

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤  Did you get that BUMP on your ________ during that erotic ________ on the BED?

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ Sick joke: does the policeman eat POP ________ while masturbating to ________ PORN?

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

PAST ROUNDS (For your solving pleasure!):

BRAINWRACK!: SPOONERISM SHENANIGANS (Round 1)

BRAINWRACK!: SPOONERISM SHENANIGANS (Round 2)

BRAINWRACK!: SPOONERISM SHENANIGANS (Round 3)

BRAINWRACK!: SPOONERISM SHENANIGANS (Round 4)

4 X 4-ERS (Round 8)

How to Play:

Each correctly solved entry will reveal a well-known person whose first and last names consist of just four letters. A clue listing an appropriate "punny" anagram will help discern the mystery identity of each famous "4 X 4-ER" luminary.

Round 8:

➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___

(TV hubby had a particular sandwich fetish that became known as the "BLT CRAZE" around the film set of the "Donna Reed Show".)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___

(Australian singer / songwriter of the Bad Seeds was a human guinea pig for the new Korona virus "K VACCINE".)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___

(Beloved "M*A*S*H" actor had an alter ego feminine persona known as "ADA ALLAN")


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___

(Nine time NAACP Image Awards winner and actor excelled in writing "RAP POEMS" for leading hip hop artists.)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ * ___ ___ ___ ___

(Stinking libertarian senator who's also a physician is, in my book, an "ANAL DR - PU!")


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

PAST ROUNDS (For your solving pleasure!):

BRAINWRACK!: 4 X 4-ERS (Round 1)

BRAINWRACK!: 4 X 4-ERS (Round 2)

BRAINWRACK!: 4 X 4-ERS (Round 3)

BRAINWRACK!: 4 X 4-ERS (Round 4)

BRAINWRACK!: 4 X 4-ERS (Round 5)

BRAINWRACK!: 4 X 4-ERS (Round 6)

BRAINWRACK!: 4 X 4-ERS (Round 7)

PRIME TIME RHYME (Round 5)

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 5:

➤ After this actor [N.C.] left Las Vegas angry that he'd lost so much money, and his girlfriend, he fell into a ________ * ________.

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ Famed detective fiction writer [R.C.] moved to a Caribbean island with lots of alligators, learned to tame them, and became a famed ________ * ________.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ After this rock 'n roller's [B.H.] tragic plane crash death, he left behind a crazy Cheshire and a ________ * ________.

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ Baritone voice of The Love Unlimited Orchestra [B.W.] nearly perished in a plane crash on a very ________ * ________.

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ Actor who played Wes Hightower in "Urban Cowboy" [S.G.] secretly lusted after ________ * ________.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

PAST ROUNDS (For your solving pleasure!):

BRAINWRACK!: PRIME TIME RHYME (Round 1)

BRAINWRACK!: PRIME TIME RHYME (Round 2)

BRAINWRACK!: PRIME TIME RHYME (Round 3)

BRAINWRACK!: PRIME TIME RHYME (Round 4)

LOST CITIES (Round 4)

How to Play:

Each entry is a sentence that has buried within it a "Lost City" in ruins - meaning the name of the city is broken up between two or more words. Hints are dropped in the sentences to help figure out the answers. Dust off your archaeological skills and begin to uncover the world's Lost Cities.

Example:

➤ I easily tire now that I'm getting old and just hang around gambling at the sports bar.

[Answer: The hint is "gambling" which ties into the name of the "Lost City" - "RENO".]

Round 4:

➤ As a semipro volleyball player, the young Mormon girl hoped to eventually make it to the pro leagues.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ Larimer, Idaho, not the Yucatan, is a great place for retirees to settle.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ Mom to kids: No treats unless you eat your brussell sprouts!


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ Remember, I only eat vegetables when in that large South American country.


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ Who knew that eating oats was good for Indian goats?

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

PAST ROUNDS (For your solving pleasure!):

BRAINWRACK!: LOST CITIES (Round 1)

BRAINWRACK!: LOST CITIES (Round 2)

BRAINWRACK!: LOST CITIES (Round 3)

DOUBLIN' DOWN (Round 2)

How to Play:

Each entry is a sentence containing one or more blanks to fill in using words or phrases that repeat syllables. Single, double and hyphenated words, as well as common phrases and homonyms, are allowed.

Example:

➤ The ______ - ______ is the world's largest nocturnal primate.

[The answer is "AYE-AYE", an endangered species of lemur from Madagascar.]

Round 2:

➤ Almira Gulch snatched ______ and stuffed him in a picnic basket.

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ Island group in French Polynesia: ______  ______.

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ Notorious correctional facility in Ossining: ______  ______.

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ African dwarf antelope known as the ______ - ______ might be cause for a ribald joke.

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ Only a bird nerd would know that a ______ belongs to the family, Pycnonotidae, of medium-sized passerine songbirds.

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

PAST ROUNDS (For your solving pleasure!):

BRAINWRACK!: DOUBLIN' DOWN (Round 1)

INITIAL PUBLIC PERSONAE (Round 6)

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 6:

➤ Directorate of White Guilt = ________ ________ ________

(To atone for his racist imagery, pioneering film director founded the DWG.)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ Psycho-Kinetics Division = ________ ________ ________

(Tripped out sci-fi author led dual life as researcher at the PKD.)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ Society of Theologians and Critics = ________ ________ ________

(English poet and founder of the Romantic League also was an influential member of the STC.)

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ Jurisprudence and Extrajudicial Headquarters = ________ ________ ________

(After leaving the FBI, repressive, paranoid law enforcer joined the JEH.)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ Federation of Lawyers and Barristers = ________ ________ ________

(Legal luminary was a stand-up and stand-out member of the FLB.)

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

PAST ROUNDS (For your solving pleasure!):

BRAINWRACK!: INITIAL PUBLIC PERSONAE (Round 1)

BRAINWRACK!: INITIAL PUBLIC PERSONAE (Round 2)

BRAINWRACK!: INITIAL PUBLIC PERSONAE (Round 3)

BRAINWRACK!: INITIAL PUBLIC PERSONAE (Round 4)

BRAINWRACK!: INITIAL PUBLIC PERSONAE (Round 5)

3-LETTER WORD SWITCHBACKS (Round 3)

How to Play:

Each entry contains two mystery words, and each mystery word begins and ends with common 3-letter words that are the reverse (switchbacks) of one another. Clues are given to help solve the mystery words.

Example:

➤ SUB ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

(Below the threshold of sensation, consciousness or awareness)

➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ BUS

(Supernatural seductress)

[Answer: "SUBLIMINAL" and "SUCCUBUS" are the two mystery words, with "SUB" and "BUS" being the 3-letter word switchbacks.]

Round 3:

➤ BAT ___ ___ ___

(Wage war)

➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ TAB

(Double-cross with a knife, so to speak)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ BUT ___ ___ ___

(Used with "up", to curry favor)

➤ ___ ___ ___ TUB

(In movie title, with "Time Machine")


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ BUD ___ ___ ___ ___

(Pals)

➤ ___ ___ ___ ___ DUB

(Pretentious nonsense; airs)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ DAM ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

(Colorful darner)

➤ ___ ___ MAD

(Peripatetic one)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


➤ PAN ___ ___ ___ ___

(Flapjack)

➤ ___ ___ ___ NAP

(Quick mid-day snooze)


⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

PAST ROUNDS (for your solving pleasure!):

BRAINWRACK!: 3-LETTER WORD SWITCHBACKS (Round 1)

BRAINWRACK!: 3-LETTER WORD SWITCHBACKS (Round 2)

HOMONYMITY (Round 2)

How to Play:

A rose is a rose is a rose . . . unless it's a rose that sounds like a rose but has a different meaning or spelling. Each entry in this puzzler requires you to complete a logical sentence by filling in the blanks with a first name and its homographic or homophonic iterations.

Example:

➤ ________ was quite ________ because she was about to ________ her beau.

[The answers are "MARY", "MERRY" and "MARRY".]

Round 2:

➤ ________ got down on her knees in the garden to snip the miniature red ________ and then ________ to her feet with her fragrant prize.

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ ________ had a certain ________ or elegance about her when it was time to say ________ at supper time. 

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ ________ ate so many ________ nuts that her eyes turned ________ in color. 

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ ________ loved the color ________ which is why she planted so many ________ flowers in her garden. 

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛

➤ The mafia ________ ordered ________ to ________ a tuxedo at the funeral.

⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛⌛


PAST ROUNDS (For your solving pleasure!):

BRAINWRACK!: HOMONYMITY (Round 1)