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In each row of the table below, a word* is missing (in Column B). This word can be paired separately with the two either side of it (in Columns A and C) to form another English word or phrase, preserving the column order. (For example, BOTTLE could be inserted between BLUE and BANK to make BLUEBOTTLE and BOTTLE BANK.)

Once deduced, these sixteen words can be divided into two equal groups, where words in the same group share a particular connection. The two groups are themselves closely related - you need to explain how.

TASK: Identify the sixteen words* represented by question mark icons. Divide them into two groups of eight connected words, and explain the three-word phrase that connects these two groups.

* NB One 'word' is actually a two-word unit.

A B C
SIXTEEN ? TICK
CABLE ? PET
COPY ? FLAP
GLASS ? FAN
CHECKPOINT ? BROWN
HARD ? RED
PONTYPOOL ? TRENCH
STEP ? STITCH
INTER ? KUNDERA
NEW YORK ? MINUTE
COCKTAIL ? ANIMAL
TIGHT ? BRIDGE
BARNEY ? PILE
TOILET ? IBIZA
HAWAIIAN ? TAIL
GREEN ? LEAVES
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1 Answer 1

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The answer phrase is

Right Said Fred

The missing words, sorted into two groups are:

First group:
GREEN       tea      LEAVES
CHECKPOINT  charlie  BROWN
SIXTEEN     candles  TICK
TOILET      seat     IBIZA
GLASS       ceiling  FAN
TIGHT       rope     BRIDGE
STEP        ladder   STITCH
BARNEY      rubble   PILE

Second group:
HAWAIIAN    shirt    TAIL
INTER       milan    KUNDERA
NEW YORK    new york MINUTE
PONTYPOOL   japan    TRENCH
COCKTAIL    party    ANIMAL
CABLE       car      PET
HARD        hat      RED
COPY        cat      FLAP

Thanks to Jeremy Dover for supplying the two that I was missing.

The groups are:

1. Words occurring in the lyrics of Right Said Fred, a comedy song by the legend that is Bernard Cribbins.
2. Words occurring in the lyrics of I'm Too Sexy, by Right Said Fred. More specifically, the words are things the lyrics say they're too sexy for. The band actually took their name from Bernard Cribbins' song, which is a strange source of inspiration for a band name.

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    $\begingroup$ NEW YORK _ MINUTE fills with rot13(arj lbex), and fittingly PONTYPOOL _ TRENCH is filled with rot13(wncna). $\endgroup$
    – Jeremy Dover
    Sep 13, 2021 at 13:46
  • $\begingroup$ @JeremyDover Thank you! I'm kicking myself for the first one. I've edited those answers in. $\endgroup$
    – Jaap Scherphuis
    Sep 13, 2021 at 13:52
  • $\begingroup$ Great job, Jaap :) You can in fact be even more specific about the words in your first group... (not that anything you've said is wrong) Also, can you explain the title? I wasn't talking about my own inspiration here... :) $\endgroup$
    – Stiv
    Sep 13, 2021 at 13:55
  • $\begingroup$ I wouldn't kick myself...was very clever on Stiv's part. $\endgroup$
    – Jeremy Dover
    Sep 13, 2021 at 14:06
  • $\begingroup$ Exactly right. I heartily approve of your use of 'the legend that is' - one of my faves - and this fact is one of my favourite pieces of trivia; it just seems so at odds that rot13(gur onaq gung tnir hf 'V'z Gbb Frkl', 'Erynk', naq bguref fubhyq unir gnxra gurve anzr sebz n purreshy, vaabprag pbzrql ahzore!). $\endgroup$
    – Stiv
    Sep 13, 2021 at 19:46

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