May 08 2011
Circle Work [BB309]
Today we run around in tight verbal circles. By way of explanation, follow this chain: jackhammer – hammerhead – headstone – stone blind – blind side – sidecar – carjack – jackhammer…. Dig the ring? Where every compound word or phrase overlaps its tail with its successor’s opening. Now try to make a circular chain of seven links (one less than our example) from TABLE TENNIS to CARD TABLE. More than one solution will exist.
Wish to make your own circle for the gang to steer? Then it might be kinder to supply an oblique clue per step.
SOLUTION NEXT WEEK
BB208 SOLUTION: Landslide, Hurricane, Whirlpool, eruption, Cyclone, fire, Flood, Tornado, Twister, earthquake, Typhoon
Comments
DC — 08 May at 12:52AM
I've found a circle of 6 -- though it does rely on a term I'm familiar with, but may not be counted as well-known just yet.
It's also not very interesting, just being a mix of game terms. This is more interesting, but one too long.
tt
tm
mg
gs
sm
mc
ct
tt
Rupert — 08 May at 06:33AM
@DC I think yours is the right length. Mine is two too long, with nine different terms.
I could merge tc, cc, and ct into tt, and hit the length requirement, but tt may be a bit obscure.
te
em
mc
cs
sp
pt
tc
cc
ct
RK — 08 May at 09:48AM
tt
tm
md
dl
lg
gc
ct
RK — 08 May at 09:59AM
Or -
tt
te
eg
gm
mb
bc
ct
DC — 08 May at 10:06AM
According to DA's example, the seed word has to be counted twice.
RK — 08 May at 10:15AM
Ok, here it is in seven with tt in twice:
tt
tc
cc
cn
nc
ct
tt
RK — 08 May at 10:21AM
Here's another 7 with a brand name included:
tt
tc
ch
hm
mc
ct
tt
DC — 08 May at 10:26AM
I'm thinking of a completely different list, of 8 different entries. It includes these, not necessarily in the same order:
beauty
a cat
a common ingredient
Galeocerdo cuvier
Mississippi
something hidden
a tough material
a wind
What is it?
DC — 08 May at 10:34AM
@RK, I think I have your last list, and I used the same brand in mind. Also your second list, which is neat.
RK — 08 May at 10:54AM
skin deep
deep south
south easter
easter egg
egg white
white tiger
tiger shark
shark skin
skin deep
Great one DC!
RK — 08 May at 12:09PM
Another 8, with clues out of order -
Kate's wedding dress
some walls
where one takes off
rattled cage?
Krakauer went into this
where one takes off?
government report
it gives nothing away
DA — 08 May at 02:41PM
A lot tougher with clues out of order. I can see one potential sequence:
...white/white paper/paper thin/...?
Then I have runway, strip club and ivory lace bouncing in my head. Cruel and unusual.
— 08 May at 02:44PM
Sorry, DC, I skipped over the "one less than our example" bit. How about (with an assist from my 15 year old):
tt
tc
cm
ma
ac
ct
tt
Rupert — 08 May at 02:44PM
That was me.
RK — 08 May at 04:29PM
Sorry, a couple of my clues are a bit bizarre. Change 'rattled cage?' to 'showdown.' And think of another word for runway, DA. You're so close...
dg — 08 May at 06:33PM
Of course TABLE TENNIS could become TENNIS COURT becoming COURT CARD becoming CARD TABLE. But this isnt about minimalism :)
DA — 08 May at 06:36PM
...white paper - thin air - air strip - strip club...
RK — 08 May at 07:26PM
Not club. It's more of an activity than a place.
DC — 08 May at 08:18PM
strip poker
poker face
face off
off white
white paper
paper thin
thin air
air strip
DA — 08 May at 08:20PM
Props, DC. And a neat puzzle RC. Do I get half points for groundwork?
DC — 08 May at 08:51PM
You certainly do, since I couldn't have done it without your start.
SK — 08 May at 11:42PM
A smaller turning circle of six, with clues out of order (just following protocols...)
Dylan in the US?
Tidy take in advertising back-brace
Complete stretch
China stock is rubbish
Blitzed Rudy Pro-Am in Steamboat
John dated Laurie
LD — 09 May at 01:41AM
house proud
proud mary
maryland
landfill?
Am i on the right track?
Nib — 09 May at 01:41AM
Ah, poker face has already been done, I see. I'll just alter my effort slightly:
Social profile: FB
Library staff hold it? BC
Talipes: CF
Shoe shining: FL
Buzz from a distance: LY
Perennial: YR
Indirect traffic circle: RA
U-turn: AF
Social profile: FB
LD — 09 May at 01:54AM
fill out
outhouse?
SK — 09 May at 07:22AM
You got it, LD. Nicely circled.
DA — 09 May at 09:17AM
Another circle, keeping the sequence, but opting for twistier clues:
My kinda puzzle...
(...and its doco)
Get on with the game
Indoor playground feature
Ill-renowned hound
Picador's field
Make sense
This show sucks!
The Gory of O?
Survivor revivers
RK — 09 May at 09:44AM
crossword
wordplay
play ball
ball pit
pit bull
bull ring
ring true
true blood
blood red
red cross
RK — 09 May at 09:45AM
I don't think the spam filter likes one of your answers
DA — 09 May at 10:12AM
Just freed your answer list now, RK. Well done - too quick. And curious to speculate on what phrase offended the filter...?
LD — 09 May at 06:59PM
sk, are those your own clues? The first one is brilliant, but i have a sneaking feeling i've seen it before. The last clue is also very good, if you accept laurie as house, which i can't quite decide if i do! Also, i don't get the wordplay for the second clue
SK — 09 May at 10:50PM
Yes LD, they were my own motley creation (mostly), as I have to admit stealing the DYLAN = MAR-YLAND idea from another storm several moons ago (can't remember who the contributor was)
Tidy take in advertising back-brace
Tidy = def
take in = HOUSE
advertising = PR
back-brace = DUO (reversed)
And I agree that house = Laurie is a bit of a stretch, but I had to find somebody for John to go out with!
DA — 11 May at 07:47AM
Clues in alphabetical order only:
Coventry address?
Domestic coat
Nib variation
Security with bite
Skirmish
Zone defender
RK — 11 May at 08:09AM
Got it DA, but I will give others a chance to wake up and have a go. I particularly like your first clue.