Put the two words together and that's also something that you can buy. Who knew?Q: Name something in eight letters that's usually bought in pairs. Change the second letter to the letter two spaces later in the alphabet, and you'll get a new word that names something else that's usually bought in pairs. Both words are plurals. What are they?
Edit: You can buy Speakers for your Sneakers or even Sneakers made into Speakers
A: SNEAKERS/SPEAKERS (Will also accepted Slippers/Snippers)
Here's my standard reminder... don't post the answer or any hints that could lead directly to the answer (e.g. via a chain of thought, or an internet search) before the deadline of Thursday at 3pm ET. If you know the answer, click the link and submit it to NPR, but don't give it away here.
ReplyDeleteYou may provide indirect hints to the answer to show you know it, but make sure they don't give the answer away. You can openly discuss your hints and the answer after the Thursday deadline. Thank you.
Morning
ReplyDeleteNo problem! Not a bad puzzle, though. ---Rob
ReplyDeleteA musical clue: A somewhat early Beatles Album
ReplyDeleteGlad I could solve early and submit the answer well over the wire.
ReplyDeleteThey are sometimes used simultaneously.
ReplyDeleteI can’t think of a good clue right now that wouldn’t be close to a dead giveaway. Maybe later. I can state with near certainty that there is only one pair of words that works. So if you think you have the answer you almost certainly do.
ReplyDeleteI found a second pair.
DeleteI think I found that one first...
DeleteWS could have said two spaces forward or backward.
ReplyDeleteAre we really going to continue this back and forth thread?
DeleteI guess so.
DeleteShouldn't that be "I guess sew?"
DeleteStop needling...
DeleteAre you accusing me of being a prick?
DeleteHa ha...in stitches..
DeletePleats stop
DeleteI agree. You're tearing apart the fabric of this group.
DeleteWell I'll be darned!
DeleteThis seams silly. Does it knot?
DeleteYeah, so it's tailor-made for this blog.
DeleteBeing a man of the cloth, it seams to me there is a pattern unfolding here.
DeleteToo many knitwits here.
DeleteDon't be a spool sport. Allow us to selvedge our reputations from unraveling.
DeleteIt's all about the Seamsters Union, eh?
DeleteSeamsters are less stressed.
DeleteSeams like we meed to iron out our differences in this train of thought.
DeleteOtherwise we may just keep bobbin along.
DeleteEtui, Brute?
DeleteJust in case I have a notion to gather.
DeleteI gather you guys going to hem and haw over this all day long?!?! Lining and weaving new notions to your warped purls of wisdom?
DeleteIt'th thimble to thee what'th going on here.
DeleteHave you seen that people who sew are called sewists on PBS programs? Sewers are already taken, I guess. ;-)
DeleteWould you like to in crease our number and join our fold?
DeleteWe're running out of puns. The end is looming.
DeleteI think Sewers are beneath them at PBS.
DeletePlease don't tell me the end is looming. I've been on pins and needles all day.
DeleteTwill be sad when it's over.
DeleteOkay, that's awl for now.
DeleteYou have per-suede-d all of us.
DeleteBut weave just begun.
DeleteYou're just showing your bias now. We have a surplice of terms left.
DeleteHemming. . .Hawing. . .
DeleteSo, what's weft?
DeleteI suppose we could serge ahead.
DeleteI gusset is the end. Might as well face it.
DeleteDon't try and buttonhole me.
DeleteI yarn for the days when we just discussed puzzles!
DeleteI've heard that old yarn before.
DeleteNot sure how to stress this, but we seam to be caught up in stitches today.
DeleteAnd the red red robin goes bob bob bobbin' along, a l o n g. . .
Some of us have to toile for a living.
DeleteMaybe this is becoming a toile of two cities.
DeleteSurely weave all got better things to do.
DeleteSurely weft early.
DeleteThis top-notch humor is batting 1000, and it's really cotton. Wool put an end to the shear madness? Or at least take a nap?
DeleteButton a different topic, I wonder if Blaine's thinking:
"Eyelet this go too far, one pun's bad, but apparel make me bolt. Can iron fast enough?"
It has been sew sew fun.
DeleteYou beat me to it. I was going to post:
DeleteTime for me to cap it you late. Eyelet yew awl off the hook.
Weevil half to do this again sumtime.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteBlaine may take drastic measures if this thread does not run out.
DeleteOr give us a belt. What a waist!
DeleteI thought we were suspending this.
DeleteCongratulations to Blaine on his decision not to enter this fray.
DeleteAnd just what makes you think he has even seen it?
DeleteHe needs to be dressed down.
DeleteThis seams to be a pattern... Just remember you reap what you sew.
DeleteIn home ec, we had seam rippers so we could rip what we sew. . .
DeleteGood thing not all have felt the need to pile on.
DeleteSeams to have been a good fit for some of us.
DeleteWhat does this fascination with "seamstressery" puns say about us?
DeletePerhaps it stresses the seamly.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteLeo:
DeleteJust remember that Thanksgiving is also Dressing Day.
And we should not forget the Hollywood maxim: Edith Head gives good costume.
Will someone clothes this loop?
DeleteWhat do you suggest we drape it with?
DeleteLet's just hang it up for a change!
DeletePlease don't hamper our style.
DeleteSew, are you telling me to zip it?
DeleteYes, and snap to it.
Delete" "
Delete? ?
Delete"__________"
Delete(There was supposed to be more space in previous post....IE..no comment...I zipped it.
"___________"
DeleteThe following posts occurred near the end of LAST WEEK'S thread:
ReplyDeleteCharles posted on Sun Apr 10, at 06:10:00 AM PDT:
I found two good answers.
Snipper then posted on Sun Apr 10, at 06:13:00 AM PDT:
I think I know it???
...and that got 3 replies:
Blaine replied on Sun Apr 10, at 06:48:00 AM PDT:
That might be an alternate answer, but I don't think it is the intended answer.
SuperZee replied on Sun Apr 10, at 07:05:00 AM PDT:
Darn. That's the one I came up with too. Back to the drawing board.
And I replied on Sun Apr 10, at 07:27:00 AM PDT:
Did you notice that the new 2nd letter of one of the answers is the original 2nd letter of the other of the answers?
I have "a PAIR of answers" also...
ReplyDeleteRegarding Blaine's clue:
ReplyDeleteUh, not quite. You must first depluralize one of the words before putting the two words together for the something also which you can buy.
Yes, if you want to get technical. :)
DeleteMy rebus clue from the end of last week's blog relates to Blaine's clue.
DeleteDo you suppose the manufacturer of this product is wondering why he's suddenly getting so many web hits this week?
DeleteFittingly, there is at least a pair of pairs that satisfy the answer.
ReplyDeleteI knew people will debate the answer(s).....quit horsing around!
ReplyDeleteAfter doing a little electric wiring, I put my feet up in the recliner, and the answer hit me.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think that was close to the line. Anyway, I was unhappy to see ice on the swamp on my bike ride this morning. I did see some of NJ's fearsome turkeys, a big tom displaying to a bunch of hens. I wasn't chased by any birds (or dogs).
ReplyDeletePolitical Clue: CLINTONS
ReplyDeleteI got both answers quickly, hours ago, and went back to sleep. Why do I even bother with these low quality puzzles anymore?
ReplyDeleteFor a much better puzzle, I would suggest you go on over to Lego's Puzzleria! and see if you can solve ron's offering for this week. I will have a much better one over there come next Friday too.
It was clever, Jan.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Natasha. Glad to see your sense of humor is in the pink.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteJan, Glad I saw your post before it was censored.
DeleteHello everyone. I've never visited this site before, and I rarely listen to the Sunday puzzle but I found time this morning, and have found an answer. Unfortunately, I'm fairly certain that it is not the correct one, but I'm wondering if it's acceptable... One of the words is fairly normal, but the other is a noun I know is a word, but not very often used. Any help?
ReplyDeleteI think the answer you have is not the intended one, though Will may accept it.
DeleteI don't think this puzzle would fly in England, but U.S. kids should have no trouble.
Hmmmm, wonder who will show up this week. . .
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBonus Puzzle - sounds a little quirky, I hope it's harder:
ReplyDeleteTake the first name and initial letter of the last name of a well-known singer, change one of the letters to the letter three spaces later in the alphabet to name a famous city.
In my intended answer the group most associated with the singer has a connection to the country.
And Ron, I hope you can hold off buzzing in the answer and give some other folks a chance to think about it.
Piggyback to ecoarchitect’s bonus puzzle:
DeleteTake the first name and initial letter of the last name of a well-known singer, change one of the letters to the letter three spaces earlier in the alphabet to name a famous city.
In my intended answer the group most associated with the singer has a connection to the city’s country.
LegoTooMuchOfACoincidence,eco?
Actually I think Lego has stated my puzzle correctly; the city's name is 3 letters earlier. Some day I will learn the aphlateb.....
DeleteIn that case, eco, I shall give a hint:
DeleteThe first name and initial letter of the last name of the well-known singer is also the first name and initial letter of the last name of a major league ballplayer who ought to be enshrined in Cooperstown. (The first name and initial surname-letter was also his nickname.)
LegoL(WhoIsNowSippingAMaiTaiOnTheBeachInLegoi
I now have the intended answer but my earlier answer was a fun one. The second word of the intended answer has been in the news recently.
ReplyDeleteWell, of all things!
DeleteI came up with this pair pretty quickly - not sure if there is more than one answer, but I'm glad I'm not going to have to spend the whole week untangling it. --Margaret G.
ReplyDeleteI now have two pairs of answers - and they conform to EaWAF's hint.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rob… not a bad puzzle. And, I can use the alphabet I wrote down last week to see which letters are two spaces apart in the alphabet.
ReplyDeleteI have the answer Blaine hinted at, which I believe is Will’s intended, and the alternative pair also. All four words begin with the same letter. What would impress me – and likely Will – is if someone comes up with a pair that begins with a different first letter.
At first listen, I misheard the puzzle; I thought I heard Will say, “Change the third letter (not the second) to the letter two spaces later in the alphabet.”
My knowledge of the Bible led me to the following “false-start” answer. Noah, the 2-by-2-animals guy – who I believe used 2-by-4’s, however, to construct his floating zoo – wanted to ensure each species of critter was comfortable during the 40-days-and-nights deluge (plus roughly 190 days of receding). So he built a pair of “person”al spaces for each species – cubby holes for the bears, crannies equipped with scratching posts for the cats, nooks stocked with cookies for the Wookiees (ancestors to the Cookie Monster), and, of course, stables furnished with tables for the zebras.
Noah called these spaces “Arkrests.”
Incidentally, thanks to skydiveboy for the Puzzleria! shout-out. We have assembled some challenging but fun puzzles over there this week.
And, speaking of “false starts,” I apologize to Blaine and Blainesvillians for my two deleted posts.
LegoWhoJustFlewInFromJerseyAndAreHisArmsTired
>And, I can use the alphabet I wrote down
Delete> last week to see which letters are two
> spaces apart in the alphabet.
I did exactly that myself! ---Rob
This would have been a good challenge to ask for two pairs of pairs.
ReplyDeleteThe ones I have bear some interesting interconnectedness.
Google doesn't really seem to want to deal with one of the words.
Was last week's puzzle easy enough to have expected 2000 entries?
One of my answers I intend to use in just a few moments. They match, of course, being the pair they are.
ReplyDeleteMusical clue: Steely Dan
ReplyDeleteThe NPR Ministry of Truth has changed the puzzle web page to remove "waned" from the list of valid solutions to last week's puzzle. (But the error remains in the audio.)
ReplyDeleteMOTley crew there at NPR. . .
DeleteJay North
ReplyDeleteThe two words are rhymed in a fairly well known pop song.
ReplyDeleteThe Lincoln-Douglas debates come to mind.
ReplyDeleteDR, you know what they say about people who live in glass houses...
ReplyDeletepatjberry. It's a good line too.
DeleteDon't ask me why, but you may be right.
Delete???
ReplyDeleteAlluding to Snipper's early comment. And the thread just above.
DeleteTime to cut out the sewing puns. What do victory, a big cat and a little goat have in common?
ReplyDeletejan:
DeleteDid we get you goat, a little?
Let's not buttheads.
DeleteOkay Beavis.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePaul Ryan says he doesn't want to be President.
ReplyDeleteDid you happen to notice if his lips were moving when he said it?
DeleteI miss The Far Side.
ReplyDeleteSNEAKERS, SPEAKERS (also, maybe, SLIPPERS, SNIPPERS)
ReplyDelete> A rebus clue: BEAM monarchs tardigrade.
Besides being an acronym for Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, "beam" is also a synonym for "ray". "Monarchs" is a synonym for "kings". And a dessicated tardigrade is a "tun", a homonym for "ton". Put them all together to get Ray Kingston, creator of the Sneaker Speaker.
My deleted clue was "Wendy Davis's filibuster". She was a speaker in pink sneakers.
> I wasn't chased by any birds (or dogs).
No tweeters or woofers were after me.
> I don't think this puzzle would fly in England, but U.S. kids should have no trouble.
Brits call sneakers "trainers". Reference to U.S.Keds.
> Time to cut out the sewing puns.
Use snippers.
> What do victory, a big cat and a little goat have in common?
Nike, Puma, Reebok.
> Paul Ryan says he doesn't want to be President.
So, if the Speaker's running, he's gonna need sneakers.
> I miss The Far Side.
Lots of slippers there.
Intended answer: sneakers --> speakers
ReplyDeleteLast Sunday I said, “I can state with near certainty that there is only one pair of words that works.”
When – before the publication of this week’s puzzle – did you use the word “snippers” in a conversation? The only other possibility for a puzzle answer that even comes close is
slippers --> snippers
This is so inferior to the intended answer (IMHO) it’s not even worth mentioning. I don’t consider this to be a 2-answer puzzle. I consider it to be a 1-answer puzzle with a footnote. Perhaps Will will feel more magnanimous :)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion*, there are two good answers:
ReplyDeleteSLIPPERS-SNIPPERS and SNEAKERS-SPEAKERS.
But, I may just be putting my unshod foot (feet) into my mouth.
*I was going to say humble opinion, but I don't think anyone would believe that.
I said, "No problem!" The N and the P are the two letters exchanged in the sneakers / speakers answer. ---Rob
ReplyDeleteSNEAKERS, SPEAKERS or SLIPPERS, SNIPPERS
ReplyDeleteI first got to the SLIPPERS answer; hence "Morning."
"Hmmmm, wonder who will show up this week. . ." referred to our very own SNIPPER!
The SNEAKERS, SPEAKERS answer snuck up on me later.
So, first thing in the morning, you put on slippers, grab snippers, and tend to the cosmos?
DeleteI do. Though my garden cosmos may be under two feet of snow by Sunday.
DeleteSNEAKERS & SPEAKERS
ReplyDeleteI first came up with slippers & snippers, but didn't like it. It took a few more minutes to get the intended answer because I never have used the word, sneakers.
Speakers sneakers
ReplyDeleteJay North played Dennis the Menace.
Young Dennis wore his bibs and sneakers.
The modern day Dennis is a creeper sneaker speaker (exspeaker).
While Alan Hale wore the Skipper's slippers.
DeleteThanks Word Woman for the call out. I clearly thought it was "me" and slippers before realizing sneakers and speakers. My reference to recent news was former Speaker Hastert.
ReplyDelete1. SNEAKERS>>>SPEAKERS
ReplyDeleteAs Blaine indicated you can purchase some SNEAKERSPEAKERS.
2. SLIPPERS>>>SNIPPERS.
Quite presciently I wrote that "people will debate the answer(s)", and of course people who debate are speakers. I added "quit horsing around" to follow up on Blaine's SneakerSpeakers with Snippers Slipper, a thoroughbred quarter horse.
ReplyDeleteThe bonus puzzle answer is Tony O(rlando)--->Tokyo, his most noted performances were with Dawn, and of course Japan is the "Land of the Rising Sun." I also noted this puzzle was quirky sounding, "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" is their most famous song, and oak trees are in the genus Quercus, somewhat quirky sounding.
Lego added a hint about Tony Oliva, aka Tony O., a very good baseball player from Minnesota in the 1960's/ 70's.
Eco, Quercus could be the theme genus for us Blainesvilleians. ;-)
DeleteWW, Yew might pine for that, but SDB will spruce up the blog with bad tree puns. And then the fir would fly.
DeleteI wood chip away at all your posts until you log off and then I'd spruce up this denizen of pulp fiction.
DeleteSorry, I just noticed I re-used spruce. Willow yew forgive me?
DeleteYew also re-yewsed yew, and need to make a yew turn. I maple your license.
DeleteI must have missed that one too. Oak A, but shouldn't that be a ewe turn since I feel sheepish?
DeleteI won't hound you over that. I'm sure you're just as poplar as ever; just glad I beech ya to it.
DeleteI'm glad you won't "hound" me. I don't know what a dogwood do.
DeleteSNEAKERS and SPEAKERS
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned in "It's Still Rock and Roll To Me" from Billy Joel's 1980 album "Glass Houses". Great album.
Musical clue: The Beatle's album, Rubber Soul - 'Rubber Sole'. I couldn't think of a good hint without giving the answer away.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. You thought of a great hint that didn't give the answer away.
DeleteWasn't Rubber Soul originally issued in mono? Wouldn't need a whole pair of speakers for that. (Just sneaked that in there.)
DeleteThanks! I thought that was one of their best albums, too!
DeleteHah! That's a good one!!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Delete68Charger, in stereo. . .with a mono in the middle. . .
DeleteI suddenly have a whole new perspective on the 'zebra crossing' thing.
Deletejan,
DeleteRe: "(Just sneaked that in there)" in your 5:50:00 PM PDT comment...
I think you meant to say "(Just snuck that in there)."
When Eskimos play buckets they wear snukluks. I believe "Windchill Jordans" are the most popular brand.
LegoWithANameLikeSnuckersTheyHaveToRunGood
I nu it!
DeleteWikipedia's Picture of the Day is a salute to our punfest.
ReplyDeleteJan, I thought it might be a picture of a "SINGER"!?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSnipper, My comment on Mon Apr 11,, was put there both because of your screen name, and because I thought you referring to the speaker of the Althing, Iceland's parliament.
ReplyDeleteSo one idiom meaning "Imagine that!"
And a speaker reference different than yours.
Puzzleria! is now uploaded.
ReplyDeleteYou just MUST try skydiveboy's wonderful global poser. It concerns a product associated and promoted with a particular "icon" of a particular geographic region. It is a challenge but the answer is satisfying.
Oh yes, there are 10 other puzzles also, half of which riff off and rip off Shortz.
Sunday's two long days away. Drop by.
LegoSays"ILikeIke(OnThe1970sEraDollarAndInAskydiveboyPuzzle)"
Next week's challenge: Here's a tricky challenge from Sandy Weisz of Chicago. Take the name of a famous musical. Write it in upper- and lowercase letters, as you usually would. Now turn one of the characters upside-down and move it to another place in the title. The result will be the last name of a well-known stage performer. What is the musical, and who is the performer?
ReplyDeleteI am not stirred by this puzzle.
DeleteActually, I thought it rather cute - if a little too cute.
DeleteThere's a difference between tricky and a cheat. If you follow the directions exactly, it doesn't work.
DeleteIn fact, when Will presents the puzzle on air, and then repeats it, he words it slightly differently. One form doesn't work at all.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteAgreed. I'm surprised that error wasn't edited edited out of the tape. Sloppy.
DeleteI did a double-take, SuperZee.
DeleteHey Marc! Letter?
ReplyDeleteOops , I forgot to say, 'Letter, please?'.
Delete