archive

Sunday, November 04, 2012

What's In A Name?

November 4, 2012 Every answer today consists of the names of two famous people. The last name of the first person is an anagram of the first name of the last person. Given the nonanagram parts of the names, you identify the people.

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Answer Me These Words Three

October 28, 2012 Every answer is a three-word phrase, in which each word has four letters. All three words end in the same three letters, and they rhyme. For example, given the clue, "Series of offerings of excellent chardonnays and Rieslings," the answer would be "fine wine line."

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday, October 21, 2012

'Poked' And 'Tummy' Become 'Poker' And 'Rummy'

October 21, 2012 You will be given two words. Change one letter in each of them to make two new words that name things that are in the same category. (Hint: In each pair, the letter that you change to — that is, the new letter — is the same in each pair.)

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Where, 'O' Where Shall I Put You?

October 14, 2012 Every answer is a two-word phrase in which the letter "O" is added at the end of the first word to make the second word. For example, given the clue "pack animal owned by Thomas Jefferson's first vice president," the answer would be "Burr burro."

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday, October 07, 2012

Frog Stuck In Your C-R-O-A-T?

October 7, 2012 You'll be given a category, and you name something in the category starting with each of the letters in the word "Croat." For example, if the category were "boy's names," you might say Chris, Roger, Otto, Adam and Terry.

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Seeing Double

September 30, 2012 Every answer today is a six-letter word or name that has a repeated two-letter pair, like "eraser," which has E-R twice, or "regret," which has R-E twice. The repeated pair of letters can appear anywhere in the word. You'll be given the pair of letters and a clue, and you provide the words.

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Finding Consecutively Good TV Shows

September 23, 2012 Every answer is the name of a TV show past or present. Each can be found in consecutive letters in the sentences read. Name the TV shows. For example, in the sentence "We watched the acrobat many times," the hidden TV show is BATMAN. Hint: Each answer has at least six letters.

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Missing In Action

September 16, 2012 Every answer is a familiar phrase in the form of "___ and ___." You'll be given the two missing words, each with a letter removed, and you give the phrases. For example, given "lot and fund," the answer would be "lost and found."

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday, September 09, 2012

Drawing A Blank (Or Two)

September 9, 2012 You are given sentences with two blanks. Put a word starting with R in the first blank. Then move that R to the end to make a new word that goes in the second blank to complete the sentence.

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday, September 02, 2012

An 'Amusing' Set Of 19th Century Riddles

September 2, 2012 Without a bridle or a saddle, across a thing I ride astraddle. And those I ride, by help of me, though almost blind, are made to see.

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday, August 26, 2012

What Hat Holds The Answer?

August 26, 2012 Every answer is a two-word phrase in which one of the words starts with W, and the other word is the same with the W removed. For example, given the clue "desires scurrying insects," the answer would be "wants ants."

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Shuffle The Anagram, K?

August 19, 2012 This week's puzzle is called "Anagram K-pers." Every answer is a familiar word starting with the letter "K." You identify the words from their anagrams. For example, K + vane will make "knave."

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday, August 12, 2012

In The End, There Will Be Chemistry

August 12, 2012 You are given the ends of the names of three things that are all in the same category. You name the category.

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday, August 05, 2012

Put Two Up Front For Two New Words

August 5, 2012 You are given two five-letter words. Put the same pair of letters in front of each of them to complete two familiar seven-letter words.

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Name That (Former) Olympic Sport

July 29, 2012 Every answer is the name of a former Olympic sport. Given an anagram, you name the sport. For example, "flog" becomes "golf."

Transcript

On Weekend Edition SundayPlaylist

Sunday Puzzle 2 col

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.

Submit Your Answer
Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Please include a phone number where we can reach you Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.

NPR thanks our sponsors

Become an NPR Sponsor

Podcast + RSS Feeds

Podcast RSS

  • Games & Humor
     
  • Sunday Puzzle