Blaine's Puzzle Blog

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 25, 2011): Unusual, Uncommon Entertainer

2011-12-29T12:19:00.000-08:00

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 25, 2011): Unusual, Uncommon Entertainer:

Q: Name an occupation in nine letters. It's an entertainer of sorts — an unusual and uncommon but well-known sort of entertainer. Drop the third letter of the name, and read the result backward. You'll get two four-letter words that are exact opposites. What are they?

I'm sorry for the late post of the puzzle. There was some problem with our internet where it would be up for a little bit, but before I could finish a post, it would come back down. Anyway, it seems to have sorted itself out and my elder son is just grateful that he can get online with his Xbox again.

Edit: Okay, so our internet wasn't really dead (we were just busy with Christmas), but I did like the visual of something going up for a little bit and back down, like a daredevil jumping a canyon or a row of buses. The other hints were Grateful (Dead) and Xbox (Live) which are the antonyms.

A: DAREDEVIL --> LIVE + DEAD

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 3, 2011): Famous Film Director Puzzle

2011-07-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 3, 2011): Famous Film Director Puzzle:

Q: Think of a common four-letter adjective. Then take its opposite in French. (It's a French word that everyone knows.) Say the two words out loud, one after the other, and you'll name a famous film director. Who is it?

It's déjà vu, all over again.

Edit: I used the comment "déjà vu" recently on the post entitled Same Puzzle: True or False?. In addition, a very similar form of this puzzle appeared back in January 2007.

A: TRUE + FAUX --> François TRUFFAUT

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 29, 2011): Same Puzzle: True or False?

2011-06-02T12:30:00.000-07:00

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 29, 2011): Same Puzzle: True or False?:

Q: Think of two five-letter words that are exact opposites, in which the first two letters of each word are the same as the first two letters of the other, only reversed. Hint: The fourth letter of each word is A. What two words are these?

Déjà vu. Okay, so time for some open discussion. What do you think of Audie being the regular host of NPR: Weekend Edition Sunday? Is she doing a good job? How does she compare to Liane? How is Will with a new puzzle partner? Do you even listen to the puzzle on-air or do you read it online only? What do you think of them repeating a puzzle? Do you have a better puzzle?

A: Same as last week

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 22, 2011): Five Letter Opposites

2011-05-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 22, 2011): Five Letter Opposites:

Q: Think of two five-letter words that are exact opposites, in which the first two letters of each word are the same as the first two letters of the other, only reversed. Hint: The fourth letter of each word is A. What two words are these?

I don't know what they mean... for about two months now.

Edit: The lines above are from a funny YouTube clip. Try not to laugh too loudly! Newlywed Game: Urban or Rural

A: URBAN and RURAL

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 4, 2010): Good Child / Bad Child

2010-07-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 4, 2010): Good Child / Bad Child:

Q: Take an eight-letter term that's often used to mean 'a good child.' Remove the first two and last two letters, and reverse what remains to get a four-letter word meaning 'a bad child.'

This may be the worst clue I've given recently: Brumby

Edit: The two clues were "worst" (as in BRATwurst) and "Brumby" (the Australian version of the Subaru BRAT). Working backwards you should have gotten the original 8 letter term.

Q: ALTAR BOY --> BRAT

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 20, 2010): Fathers' Day trip to the Hardware Store

2010-06-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 20, 2010): Fathers' Day trip to the Hardware Store:

Q: Think of a product for sale at a hardware store. It's a generic two-word name. Replace the first letter of the first word with an S, and replace the first two letters of the second word with an S, and the result will be two new words that are opposites. What are they?

Hints: Black Turtleneck or Black Lady

Edit: Both my clues were musical hints. One of the members of Black Turtleneck is Jason Amm who goes by the alias "Solvent". Charles Mingus had an album entitled "The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady".

A: PAINT THINNER --> SAINT, SINNER

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 14, 2010): Tasty Opposites

2010-03-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 14, 2010): Tasty Opposites:

Q: Think of two words that are opposites, beginning with the letters 'H' and 'M.' Change the 'H' to an 'M.' Say the result out loud, and you'll have the name of something nice to eat. What is it?

At least this week's challenge doesn't involve anagrams. (However, if you miss them and want to hear some more, listen to the on-air puzzle; it's all about anagrams.) Just like a couple weeks ago, I think the wording of the puzzle is a little misleading. If you want something nice to eat, don't take a small bite. You want the whole thing.

Edit: My hint was "some more" as in "s'more"

A: HARSH + MELLOW --> MARSHMALLOW

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 15): How About Tele-Commuting?

2009-11-19T19:34:00.000-08:00

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 15): How About Tele-Commuting?:

Q: Name an auto manufacturer and a telecommunications company, both well-known companies, whose names are exact opposites of each other.

I'm still going through the following lists so I think I'll quickly step out of the way and let others provide their clues.
List of Automobile Manufacturers
Telecommunication Companies

Edit: It's after the deadline, so I'll reveal my hints (going through = wading, quickly step = sprint). I'm not sure my answer meets the "exact opposites" criteria. If you have a different answer, add it to the comments.

A:
FORD - to cross a body of water by wading (moving or proceeding with difficulty or labor)
SPRINT - to run or go at top speed especially for a short distance.

Update: I'm 99.9% sure that Ken has the intended answer. It fits the criteria of being tricky and also *exact* opposites.

A: KIA and NOKIA

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 17): Back to Words

2009-05-22T12:30:00.000-07:00

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 17): Back to Words:

Q: Think of a 6-letter word in which the third letter is 'S'. Remove the 'S' and you'll be left with a 5-letter word that means the opposite of the 6-letter one. What is it?

For anyone that gave up on the difficult puzzle last week, don't worry. This week's puzzle is so easy that it sounds like NPR will be deluged with answers.

Edit: We have a synonym for "give up" and a homonym for "deluge".

A: RESIGN --> REIGN

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 21): Opposites Attract

2008-09-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 21): Opposites Attract:

Q: Take a common two-word phrase with four letters in each word. Each word has a single O as its vowel. If you add an R somewhere in the second word, the two words become opposites. What is the phrase?

Well at least Will is leaning toward puzzles that take more than 30 seconds to solve...the last one took several days for some people. Your solving time will be quicker if you remember the words are opposites once you add the 'R' (I started searching for synonyms.) Don't give away the answer before the Thursday deadline, but feel to take a shot at posting some "hints".

Edit: My hints weren't very good, but there were some references to Will (Shortz), length of time (long and short), and the obvious inclusion of the word "shot".

A: LONG SHOT --> LONG, SHORT

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 28): Is that really how you pronounce it?

2007-01-26T06:45:00.000-08:00

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 28): Is that really how you pronounce it?:

Q: Name a famous film director, whose last name has two syllables. Phonetically these two syllables sound like words that are opposites of each other. What are the words and who is the director?

I was looking through a list of Oscar nominees and winners for Best Director... I think I found the answer, but if that's it, it's really bogus.

Edit: Did you get the hint? Real --> TRUE, Bogus --> FAUX

A: François Truffaut (prounounced trū-fō') leading to the opposite words TRUE and FAUX.

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 31): As the Year Comes to an End...

2006-12-29T07:37:00.000-08:00

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 31): As the Year Comes to an End...:

Q: Think of two words, one starting with O, the other starting with R. Both end with ING, and they have the same number of letters. In one sense the words are synonyms and in another sense they're antonyms. What are the words?

The only clue I'll give is the title.

Edit: 2006 is leaving us... it is the outgoing year, or the retiring year, is it not?

A: OUTGOING and RETIRING
Synonyms in the sense of leaving a position, as in the OUTGOING or RETIRING person.
Antonyms in the sense of having an OUTGOING (extroverted) versus RETIRING (introverted) personality.

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 13) - Roadside brand = phonetic opposites

2005-11-11T15:42:00.000-08:00

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 13) - Roadside brand = phonetic opposites

Q: Take a familiar brand name, seen along roads and highways in the United States. It has five letters, two syllables. The first syllable, phonetically, is a word that is the opposite of the word spelled by the second syllable. What brand name is it?

We know the answer isn't Burma Shave. What else is popular along roadways? It must be a restaurant name or gasoline brand... I'll let you know my answer after the deadline.
Edit: Okay, it's after the deadline, so here is my answer:

A: CITGO (Sit, Go)