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

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.

Christmas Puzzle 2006 Now Uploaded

Our Annual Christmas Puzzle is now available. The theme is "Close but No Rhyme".

If you are stumped, you can check out the answer key.

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 24): Plural + S makes Plural

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 24): Plural + S makes Plural:

Q: Think of a five-letter word starting with T. The word is plural. Add an S at the end, and you'll get a six-letter word that is also plural. What words are these?

Indeed, what are these words? I can only think of one at the moment... I'll give you the second word after the session expires.

Edit: If you read the question carefully, I found it already contained a clue to the first word ("What words are these?") and then there were some hints in my comments. In case you missed them, read the following: "I'll give you the second word after the session expires." Did you catch those hints?

A: THESE (plural of "this")
THESES (plural of "thesis")

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 17): Swans, Geese, Calling Birds, etc.

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 17): Swans, Geese, Calling Birds, etc.:

Q: Take the names of two birds, four letters each. Place these names side by side, then move the first letter of the string to the end and you'll get an eight-letter word that describes where birds fly. What are the birds and where do they fly? Hint: the first bird is a common one everyone knows. The second bird is seen mainly in crossword puzzles.

Obviously I started with the crossword puzzle bird. It's not ANIS, NENE or KIWI. I won't say anything more but I'm sure you'll get the two birds if you think about it...
Edit: The title should make you think of the 12 Days of Christmas. Counting down there are 7 Swans, 6 Geese, 4 Calling Birds, 3 French Hens and 2 Turtle *Doves* That was a clue...

A: DOVE + RHEA --> OVERHEAD

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 10): T for Two (or Five)...

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 10): T for Two (or five)...:

Q: There's a familiar five-word saying in which one of the words ends in the letter T and the other four words all start with T. What is the saying?

I couldn't have solved this week's puzzle without the help of my wife. We kept trying answers ("The best things take time", "Taking it to the top", etc.) and we finally stumbled upon what we believe to be the intended answer.
Edit: You caught the hint about not being able to do this without my wife, right? What's a saying that might echo that sentiment? And notice how our wrong answers kept including 'take' in them; that was another clue.

A: IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO