June 28, 2009 · Every answer is a familiar three-word phrase. The clues are two-word phrases. The first word of each phrase rhymes with the first word of the answer. The last word of the phrase rhymes with the last word of the answer. For example, if the clue is, "Split this," the answer would be, "Hit or miss."
()June 21, 2009 · There are three four-letter words. Think of three letters that can precede each of them to complete familiar seven-letter words. For example, for "each," "rove" and "lode," the answer is "IMP": impeach, improve and implode.
()June 14, 2009 · Today's puzzle is called "test." Every answer is a familiar two-word phrase, in which the first word starts with "te" and the second word starts with "st." For example, if the clue is "cut of beef that is often grilled or barbecued," the answer would be "tenderloin steak."
()June 7, 2009 · Each clue is a list of three things. The answer is what they all have in common. For example, if the clues are: "a college graduate, a thermometer and longitude," the answer would be "degrees." Hint: Every answer, like "degrees," is a seven-letter plural.
()May 31, 2009 · Each clue is a pair of words. For each pair, find a word that can follow the first word and precede the second one so that, in each case, it will complete a familiar two-word phrase. For example, given "hand" and "talk," the answer would be "jive," as in "hand jive" and "jive talk."
()May 24, 2009 · Each clue is a pair of four-letter words. Each can be found inside the first and last names, respectively, of a famous person. For example, given "rend" and "rase," the answer would be "Brendan Fraser," the actor.
()May 17, 2009 · Change one letter in each of two words of a sentence to name birds. For example: "Is actor Dennis Quaid afraid of the dark?" The answer: Quail and Lark (Change the "d" in "quaid" to make "quail" and change the "d" in "dark" to make "lark."). It's always the same letter of the alphabet that changes — twice for each sentence, and the letter it changes to is also the same.
()May 10, 2009 · This week's puzzle is an assortment of brainteasers that all have to do with the word "mother." The first challenge: Rearrange the letters of "mothers" to name something you might drink from. The answer: "thermos."
()May 3, 2009 · Every answer is the name of a famous person whose first and last names start with the same letter and end in the same letter. For example, given "the poet who wrote poems about imaginary gardens with real toads in them" and the letters M and E, the answer would be "Marianne Moore."
()April 26, 2009 · For each sentence given, change just one letter in one word to reverse the sentence's meaning. For example, given "The guard will not let you through the gate," you would change the T in "not" to a W for, "The guard will now let you through the gate."
()April 19, 2009 · Every answer is the name of a popular magazine. Name the title of the magazine from the anagram. For example, given "weird," the answer would be "Wired."
()April 12, 2009 · Every answer is a familiar phrase in the form "_____ in _____," in which the first and last words given as clues are rhymes. For example, given "hide in spots," the answer would be "tied in knots."
()April 5, 2009 · Every answer is a familiar two-word phrase, in which each word has a short "A" vowel sound. For example, given the clue "A pest weed in lawns," the answer would be "crab grass."
()March 29, 2009 · Puzzle master Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home. (This week's winner is Albert Tumpson from Beverly Hills, California. He listens to Weekend Edition on member station KPCC in Pasadena, California.)
()March 22, 2009 · Each clue is three words. For each set, think of a fourth word that can follow each clue to complete a compound word or familiar two-word phrase. For example, given "cat," "cattle" and "telephone," the answer would be "call," as in "catcall," "cattle call" and "telephone call." Hint: Each answer ends in two L's, like "call."
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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.
