If I score on myself, it's written in stone.
I will act badly when given a bone.
If it's handed to me, I'm likely to drop.
But if I'm allowed, I'll avenge my pop.
What am I?
In your answer, please explain each line and the title.
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$\begingroup$ Does this puzzle need the [knowledge] tag? $\endgroup$– shooverCommented Jan 8, 2019 at 6:48
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$\begingroup$ @shoover, good point. A little bit of specific knowledge is useful (although not a lot) and I've added the wordplay tag too. $\endgroup$– hexominoCommented Jan 8, 2019 at 9:32
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$\begingroup$ After reading the explanation for the "score on myself" part, I'd have to say this definitely requires the knowledge tag. $\endgroup$– user33097Commented Jan 9, 2019 at 13:16
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2 Answers
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Are you..
HAM? All the puzzle lines, including the title, refer to a word that contains the letters 'ham'.
If I score on myself, it's written in stone.
Scoring against yourself in football is an "own goal", abbreviated to 'OG' - and Ogham is an ancient form of writing consisting of lines which were engraved (or 'scored') into stone. Thanks to @Tom
I will act badly when given a bone.
"Hambone" is a slang word for a bad actor, sometimes abbreviated to simply "ham".
If it's handed to me, I'm likely to drop.
Someone who drops things easily is said to be "ham-handed" (or "ham-fisted" (from @Jafe)
But if I'm allowed, I'll avenge my pop.
"Let" means "allow", and the Shakespeare character Hamlet avenged the death of his father.
My Centre can be found in North Yorkshire
'Centre' is synonomous with 'middle', and Middleham is in North Yorkshire (also from @Jafe)
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1$\begingroup$ It's not correct but you are so so close. Keep thinking along these lines and think about using wordplay. $\endgroup$– hexominoCommented Jan 8, 2019 at 14:22
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$\begingroup$ +1 Yes, correct answer. The explanation for the first two lines is not quite right (the second is close to the mark but not bang on). $\endgroup$– hexominoCommented Jan 8, 2019 at 15:05
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$\begingroup$ Second line is now correct, first line is something different - think wordplay again. $\endgroup$– hexominoCommented Jan 9, 2019 at 0:05
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Partial, stolen from @Astralbee...
ham
If it's handed to me, I'm likely to drop.
ham-handed
But if I'm allowed, I'll avenge my pop.
Hamlet
My centre can be found in North Yorkshire
Middleham
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$\begingroup$ +1, yes, correct! The first two lines still need an explanation. $\endgroup$– hexominoCommented Jan 8, 2019 at 15:04