Sunday Puzzle
Each week, New York Times crossword puzzle editor and NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz presents an on-air quiz to one contestant and gives a challenge for Weekend Edition listeners at home.
Just Give It A Shot In The Dark()
Every answer is a phrase in the form "___ in the ___." You'll be given rhymes for the first and last words, and you give the phrases.
Initially Famous 2: Electric Boogaloo()
May 20, 2012 This week's on-air challenge is a twist on "Characteristic Initials." We will gives clues for some famous people, past and present. The initial letters of the clues are also the initials of the answers.
You Two, Move To The Back Of The Line()
May 13, 2012 The word "mother" has a surprising property. If you move the first two letters to the end, you get "thermo," the prefix for "heat." Every answer today is another six-letter word that, when you move the first two letters to the end, you get another word or phrase.
Brave Sir Robin Ran Away, But The Puzzle Is Still OK()
May 6, 2012 You'll be given a series of categories. For each one, name something in the category beginning with each of the letters of the word "robin." For example, given the category "two-syllable boys' names," the answers could be "Roger," "Omar," "Barry," "Isaac" and "Neville."
To Cross This Puzzle Safely, Look Left And Right()
April 29, 2012 Every answer today is a familiar three-word phrase in which the second word is "and" and the first word starts with the letter "L." You'll be given the last word of the phrase, and you must identify the first word, starting with "L." For example, given "master," the answer would be "lord," as in "lord and master."
A Puzzle Worthy Of Don Draper()
April 22, 2012 You'll be given classic advertising slogans and catch phrases in which the letters of the last word are scrambled. First, unscramble the word. Then name the product or company that is the advertiser. For example, given "Get a piece of the cork," the answer would be "Get a piece of the rock," which is a slogan of the Prudential Insurance Company.
A Challenge That Is Initially Famous()
April 15, 2012 You'll be given a two- or three-word description of a famous person. The initial letters of the description are also the initials of the person.
A Mix-Up At The Music Fest()
April 8, 2012 Every answer is the name of a popular music group, past or present. You'll be given clues in which two letters in the group's name have been changed. For example, given "The Bench Boss," the answer would be "The Beach Boys."
Testing Your Wits With Knowledge Of Spirits()
April 1, 2012 Today's challenges are from an old English book called Lateral Thinking Puzzles by Hannah Robson and Nick Hoare. They all have a drinking theme, and they'll test your wits.
Don't Be Lax With Your Answers()
March 25, 2012 Every answer to this week's puzzle is a word or phrase containing the consecutive letters A-X. You'll be given clues and anagrams to the answers.
If I Were An Animal, I'd Be An Alpaca()
March 18, 2012 Name something in a given category such that the last two letters of the category's name are the first two letters of your answer. For example, given "U.S. state," the answer would be either "Texas" or "Tennessee."
