Archive for November, 2007

Hexed

Friday, November 30th, 2007

The answer to each clue below is a six-letter word that encircles its number in the hex grid. The indicator by each number shows where that answer starts, but you’ll have to figure out if the word should go clockwise or counterclockwise. When the grid is complete, the top and bottom rows will spell out a common phrase.

1. Increments on a ruler
2. Give a hard time to
3. Alternative to the elevator
4. Item in a baby bag
5. Is the same as
6. Croquet need
7. Video game with falling blocks
8. King’s son
9. Oscar, for one
10. Team spirit
11. Small amount, as of food
12. Elaborately decorated

You can download this puzzle for easier solving.

Answer

Letterboxes

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007

The answer to each of the clues is a phrase consisting of two five-letter words. Each answer can be written lowercase into a set of blanks so that the vowels always appear in a yellow square, and consonants always appear a blue box of the appropriate shape. (A key to which letters can appear in which boxes is shown.) Can you answer all the clues and place them in the correct blanks? Here’s a hint: Answers can be placed in the blanks, from top to bottom, in alphabetical order.

(Click to enlarge the image.)

Answer

Curses!

Monday, November 26th, 2007

Cartoon characters like to curse with symbols: &$*%!#. I prefer to turn those symbols into a puzzle. The symbols below represent a code. Figure it out to spell the end of this quote from Napoleon: “Ability is nothing without…”

 

Answer

Leftovers

Friday, November 23rd, 2007

Each of the words in the list below can be found in the word seek grid, either forwards, backwards, up, down, or diagonally. However, one letter in each word is a leftover—it was left behind when the rest of the word was placed in the grid. These letters, taken in order reading down the list, spell the answer to the question, “Why don’t turkeys ever have leftovers?”

BURRITO
CHICKEN
SPAGHETTI
SUKIYAKI
RIGATONI
FONDUE
MEATBALLS
RHUBARB
CHILI
FILLET
HOT DOG
CHOP SUEY
BERRIES
KNISH
CREPE
STIR FRY
LOBSTER
GAZPACHO
TOSTADA

For easier solving, download this puzzle here.

Mmm… Thanksgiving stuffing

Wednesday, November 21st, 2007

You can pair up the words below, “stuffing” a word from List One into a word from List Two to make the name of a food or drink. (One answer is two words.) Happy Thanksgiving!

LIST ONE

ANGER
CALL
HALL
HERB
REAMS
RISK
STAR
URN

LIST TWO

BET
CODA
MUD
SET
SOPS
SOT
TINE
TIP

Answer

Mixed Vegetables

Monday, November 19th, 2007

You can’t have your Thanksgiving turkey without a side of mixed vegetables! In each puzzle below, you can find the names of two different vegetables. Both read from left to right, but the letters have been intertwined. If you can’t find them all, then no dessert for you.

  1. BCOERENT
  2. CREADLEIRSYH
  3. SCAQBUABASGHE
  4. SCAPRINRACOHT
  5. OPNEIPPOENR
  6. BASROPACRACGOLUIS
  7. CAURTCIUCMHBOEKRE

Answer

Plus One / Minus One

Friday, November 16th, 2007

Starting at the 1 in the upper left corner, can you make your way to the 10 in the lower right? On each turn, you can move to any space in the same row or column, as long as the number you move to is one greater or one less than your current number.

Answer

From A To Z

Wednesday, November 14th, 2007

You can complete this crossword grid by placing each letter from A to Z in one of the blanks. Each letter will be used exactly once.

You can also download this puzzle for easier solving.

Answer

Ten Steps

Monday, November 12th, 2007

The answer to each clue below can be formed by taking the answer that precedes it, adding a letter, and scrambling all the letters. So, the answer to the first clue has one letter, the answer to the second clue has two letters, and so on. When an answer has two words, I’ll show you the lengths of both words in the answer. Getting all the way to ten is going to be tough — can you do it?

  1. Fifteenth letter of the alphabet
  2. Exclamation of surprise
  3. Long-handled gardening tool
  4. It might be high-heeled
  5. Racetrack animal
  6. NBC drama about people with special powers
  7. Retort akin to “Take that!” (2, 5)
  8. Residence for the elderly (4, 4)
  9. Covered; deprived of oxygen, like a fire
  10. Women in the Boy Scouts (3, 7)

Answer

Diamond Words

Friday, November 9th, 2007

This puzzle will have you saying lots of four-letter words. Start at any letter and follow the lines to spell out a word. Letters cannot be repeated within a word — for instance, BLAB can’t be used. How many words of exactly four letters can you find? Consider yourself a genius if you find fourteen of them.

Answer