Thursday, October 09, 2008

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 5): Anagram Interaction

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 5): Anagram Interaction:

Q: Rearrange the 11 letters of 'interaction' to make two closely related words. What words are they?
I seem to be in the habit of pretending I don't have a clue, when I really do. Is this week any different?

Edit: The hidden clue was "habit"
A: INTERACTION --> TAR and NICOTINE

26 comments:

hugh said...

I think I spotted a trap in this puzzle in the nick of time.

plummew said...

Yeah, right! And two excellent reasons to quit a bad habit!

Michael said...

"Interaction" is also an anagram of two words that represent opposites, more or less. Any guesses?

mandy said...

I think I solved it.

plummew said...

Michael,

One of those words you are referring to is a noun, but the other is an adjective. Not a very good pair of opposites!

Michael said...

plummew, I knew that - that's why I said "more or less" :) The principles are opposite.

carl said...

Thank you for not... being too obvious with your clues.

As for my clue: Google "favorite Jim Carrey quotes."

I think I've got it; just trying to figure out how reaction and tin are closely related to each other...

No wait, reaction and NIT. Now that makes more sense...

barrieau said...

I was out to dinner tonight thinking about this puzzle, fortunately I live in Massachusetts and didn't have to hold my breath thinking about a clue.

carl said...

barrieau, you reminded me of one of my very favorite cartoons by Wiley Miller. It involved patrons seated near the border between two different "sections" of a restaurant and featured a very obvious and funny violation of the laws of physics. If I knew how to find it and post a link to it, that would make a good clue.

hugh said...

Michael,

Your near words are what slowed me up. For a time I thought I had misremembered "interaction" for "interactive" in which case your noun/adjective related pair becomes related adjectives.

Mike said...

Well, I have the words Michael refers to, but I'm not getting the others.

Ben said...

At first I couldn't get this one. Then I took a quick break and POOF I got it.

- Ben

carl said...

Ben, isn't it a drag when the answer just won't come to you? Sometimes I just feel like the butt of my own joke when something so eludes me. I feel like my so-called intellect has become worthless as ashes in the wind... But hey, one day at a time, right? Maybe I can patch together some semblance of a normal life it I just don't go so hard on myself.

geri said...

Mandy, How did you do it?
Carl, Is DRAG a clue?
Ben, I lost my POOF this week.
WOE IS ME!

geri said...
This post has been removed by the author.
plummew said...

Geri, some of these puzzles are pretty tough, but if you keep at it, usually you can smoke 'em out!

Natasha said...

Geri,
I just went to an anagram solver and found it very quickly. Good luck.

geri said...

WHOOPEEeee! Thanks everybody.
I got it just in time. Answer
submitted!!

minncognito said...

i'm hooked on The Sunday Puzzle, though i was really in the black on this week's answer. who knows what it could be!?!?

carl said...

Minncognito, I'll bet Popeye the Sailor knows the answer. Those old seafarers learn a thing or two in their adventurous lives...

I love those scenes where he sucks his spinach through his pipe when it seems there's no way out of a jam. Seems like a lot better use of that pipe than, well, you know...

carl said...

I thought of Popeye early on because "tar" is a word for sailor; wonder if anyone got that hint?

Natasha said...

Carl,
I never knew that Tar was a word for sailor. Interesting.

carl said...

Natasha, Yes, and nicotine is a word for someone who repairs horse tack.

Just kidding. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

geri said...

Natasha, The word "TAR" is an
"old friend" to crossword puzzle
fanatics. It usually appears as
the answer to clues involving the
word "sailor." I think that is the
only venue where it is used nowadays.

Fahd Mirza said...

You may also like to try out this new puzzle Suduro which is a fun, elegant new variation on Sudoku, combining the challenges of Sudoku and Kakuro puzzles. I loved it and recommend it thoroughly. You may find that site on http://www.suduro.com/

Thanks and regards

Fahd Mirza

phredp said...

Actually sailors were called Jack Tars because they would put tar in their hair (pony tails) to keep the hair off their face. That's the reason sailor uniforms have that square flap of fabric on the back of the neck. It was to keep the tar from ruining the uniform.

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