Questions tagged [wordplay]
A form of wit in which the used words become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement.
1,303 questions
4
votes
1answer
65 views
Words pair up, unzip, and produce children
Watch in this example as the words PARLOUS and MANIAC pair up and unzip to produce PROSAIC and ALUMNA:
...
7
votes
2answers
402 views
I'm back! With a film recommendation
Wow, it's been a long time since I posted a puzzle here... Sorry about that!
I asked a friend the other day what was his favourite film, but he'd reply only in riddles. I don't remember how he ...
0
votes
0answers
90 views
Clues For A Trip
Every year, we go on a trip to somewhere in the continental USA and we are given hints as to where we are going. This is the first clue:
You may not marvel at
this clue, you may
think that it's ...
10
votes
5answers
1k views
A Thematic Riddle
in history, it was assumed
i possessed only five
a change in tense, a compound word
you'll see me come alive
a skyward gun, but don't be scared
your judgement's preconceived
the best in life appears ...
5
votes
2answers
124 views
Accidentally A Riley [first attempt]
This is my first time attempting to create a Riley Riddle. Feel free to give any suggestions.
My head travels constantly at the velocity of the product of setting ablaze.
My body is the head of ...
9
votes
1answer
187 views
Interlaced Word Pairs
There are pairs of words which can be interlaced or interleaved to form new words.
For example, PRIG and URN can be interlaced to form the word PURRING:
...
17
votes
2answers
398 views
Seven levels through Europe
Let's take a little trip through Europe, shall we?
Each level forms a word chain. Even-numbered levels (yellow) go clockwise, odd-numbered ones (white) go anticlockwise.
Each level has ...
2
votes
1answer
70 views
Cryptic Connect-Wall: -lit+! (3)
1) Angel takes away her part in a fruit, alternatively (2)
2) Down-to-ground option to HOH (5)
3) Excerpt of argument onwards is high-class matter (5)
4) Failure in audio hack is gonna be ...
29
votes
1answer
1k views
A notable collapse
Larry Leprechaun was dancing on a table,
but keeping balance, he was not able.
Falling, he nearly did _____ himself,
and wailed "__ __!" while some guy said "Give this __ __" .
Find one word, ...
1
vote
2answers
148 views
Cryptic stickers, possible riddle?
I have found these very weird stickers around my town. I followed a trail of these and found around 30 of them. They look handmade and are in different sizes, some roughly cut. The text is flipped ...
13
votes
4answers
1k views
Dress up a ship's surface
Boss turns blind eye to knife user (4)
Charge with first-degree larceny makes sense (4)
Recite backwards about king computer worm (6)
Start donning trousers, topless educators (5)
Initial ...
4
votes
1answer
98 views
What does “seeivgehnt” mean?
A few weeks earlier, I thought of this rebus:
seeivgehnt
and it could be interpreted as:
What common phrase does it mean?
7
votes
1answer
140 views
A Worthless Piece of Ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ley
Disclaimer: Absolutely no offense to @Riley. Sorry if triggered.
And now... (music), O.K. Productions proudly presents... the Worthless Ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ley!
My head is worth nothing, a piece of ...
18
votes
1answer
746 views
A puzzling conversation
“I’m thinking of a word,” said Lionel. His hands moved quietly while he spoke, setting pieces in their accustomed places. “It has two zeds in it.”
“How puzzling,” said Adolf, allowing himself a ...
5
votes
1answer
216 views
What goes up, but not down? (Please don't say a balloon)
What or who could I be? :)
What goes up, but not down.
Around, but not back.
Forward, but not fast.
Two steps to the right, and not usually to the left.
You don't know me, but I ...
2
votes
1answer
397 views
Sentence that consists of identical words [duplicate]
I recently read this:
Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo
It deploys the fact that "Buffalo" has different meanings:
The animal buffalo.
To buffalo somebody, e.g. ...
7
votes
2answers
146 views
Word riddle about the word which wants more relevancy outside space science
Here's a riddle about an ambitious word which wants to be used more often
In space I am already
The problem is the lack of space in me
Chant me at the confectionary
Chant me at the ball ...
32
votes
1answer
1k views
12
votes
3answers
535 views
Cryptic clues with a common theme
Concealed Yugoslav introduces military cemetery (6)
Buddhist temple is top three watching photos (3 3)
Central square hides koala to observatory (3-3)
Thriller writer John adds three lines to ...
16
votes
1answer
475 views
What's my line?
I like pies, but I don't like pastries.
I like gents, but I don't like toffs.
I like reason, but I don't like rationality.
What have I been doing and how have I been punished?
Bonus question: ...
12
votes
5answers
1k views
Four place names from 12 cryptic clues
A1. Steps, Mister? Outside? Thank you (5)
A2. Aerial exercise outside, computer network inside (5)
A3. Canonized hollow fruit recurring (6)
B1. Light-hearted student at first sent back in ...
9
votes
2answers
310 views
You Can't See Me Coz I'm NOT John Cena!
As a pack, we pursue the pity, for power, on the flee.
As a king, I was a clashing knight, couldn't you see?
As a wolf, I am white without any whispers;
And just for fun, I'm first fish,...
39
votes
2answers
6k views
What crime have we committed?
We start in a city that rhymes with angina,
the masculine form, add in what's drunk in China,
then take phylum's first six, of the minor kind,
components will make what in our hand we find.
...
21
votes
1answer
1k views
My Prefix is Polish
My prefix is Polish
My postfix, just the opposite
My infix is easier to read
I can be anything you choose, but never, ever will I be a Tion.
What am I?
12
votes
1answer
1k views
It's sophisticated because I mentioned Silmarillion
Dwarf fellow with ring next to container leads to volcano (11)
Hamlet follows holy unity to rocky settlement (5 4)
Sacred five-peaker to hop onto Silmarillion creator after first of month (5 4)
...
9
votes
2answers
276 views
I'm like the hull of the sun. What am I?
I'm like the hull of the sun.
But I'm not a star.
I start with a kernel
And end like a keeper
But without opposing directions
What am I?
Hint
Edit
Changed the last line from <...
21
votes
6answers
2k views
A Masterpiece: A mirror or an ABC?
I have worked on this masterpiece for soooo long, hope you all like it!
The PUZZLE
A is for the adventurous who approached the door
B bragged his brilliant bronze when there isn't even one
C ...
19
votes
3answers
563 views
We solved the invisible maze
We did it! We finally solved the invisible maze! In case anyone else wants to try, I'll reproduce our steps here.
Here's the maze:
The rules:
All walls except for the outer ones are ...
8
votes
1answer
157 views
The security to [party 40]
The 40th party of the new year is being held at a local mansion. The host is very rich and his success is because of one thing — his famous recipe for Linguini! So rich indeed, that 39 parties have ...
6
votes
1answer
163 views
Bike Lock Word Ladders
We are going to construct word ladders, but unlike the classic word ladders in which only one letter can change per step, you may change as many letters as you like at each step. However, each letter ...
12
votes
2answers
742 views
Finally back on Puzzling… and I have a new kind of puzzle (I think)
Oh my God. Okay, I have a lot of things to catch up on. First, a belated HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! to everyone. Second, have any rules on Puzzling.SE vitally changed during the past three months? And last but ...
5
votes
2answers
170 views
Anime guess Riddle #9
Had not too much time to spend the last month, so here is the 9th part of the series
Like in my eighth part, I'm searching for the name of an anime. There is knowledge about this anime needed to solve ...
14
votes
1answer
332 views
She has a unique personality
Each square is one word, and each row also has a one-word answer.
The final answer is what I tell everyone whenever my sister is coming to town.
#1
Image credits: 1. Mickayyy, CC BY-SA 4.0; ...
6
votes
4answers
810 views
I need help with this riddle. “Where is Jim?”
It's probably just an anti-riddle, but I'm still too dumb to figure it out.
14
votes
2answers
310 views
My Centre can be found in North Yorkshire
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, ...
19
votes
2answers
933 views
Why are these words suspicious?
Detective Jezerezeh has found a table of suspicious words:
list
teeth
actions
grammar
saying
information
engage
ballad
terror
Alabama
exam
What's so suspicious about them?
Hint 1:
I ...
13
votes
1answer
644 views
Love is a chore
There's a match in my pocket
And an ace up my sleeve
Yet I'm no magician
That you can conceive
I'm admired in New York
London and more
Yet I am no God
And love is a chore
You can set me on grass
Or ...
6
votes
3answers
158 views
Venetian word pairs — part 2
A previous posting introduced the concept of Venetian word pairs. Relaxing the rules a bit opens a whole new world of Venetian word pairs.
Let's allow the transformation to use sections which may ...
6
votes
5answers
365 views
Soar High for You? No Way!
Me and my fellows upon a time,
Have earned the championship in our prime.
Alas! That time has passed, my dearest fren',
But we are still often used, according to Ben.
Soar high for ...
2
votes
2answers
240 views
Strange letter puzzle [duplicate]
What has $4$ letters, sometimes $9$ letters, always $6$ letters and never $5$ letters. How?
15
votes
3answers
402 views
Venetian word pairs (i.e., sectioned word reversals)
It's fun to think about reverse word pairs. For example, STRESSED spelled backward yields DESSERTS. Or, my personal favorite: EVIAN spelled backward is NAIVE!
Reverse pairs have a long history and ...
20
votes
2answers
2k views
He told me to order plainly or leave
A shortened friend in German hell,
a youthful rose at speed of c.
I ask you, barman, can you tell:
What will my order likely be?
10
votes
3answers
243 views
May the Beginning and the End of Eternal Time be with You
I am:
The beginning of the outsider, the omitted, the omega,
and also of the most-able, the marking, the mega.
The middle of the vision, the view, the vector,
and also of the ribs, ...
4
votes
1answer
173 views
Alternating Audio Waves
Try solving this cipher from these strange memos:
Memo 1
Welcome Comet, today's Thisbe plus Russell here!
Memo 2
Reading outlaws loudness.
Memo 3
Retro memo: Berlin today upheld voting ...
9
votes
1answer
443 views
Hebrews, Muslims and Biblical men
The first among Hebrews, a beverage of barley,
the first among Muslims, a city with Ali,
share a relationship which is the same
as a Biblical man's English and Spanish name.
Who is the Biblical ...
13
votes
2answers
682 views
The Spirit of Christmas
Alice: Help, It's almost Christmas but my house is full of spirits!
Bob: But isn't that a good thing? Your family is joyful because it's the holiday season and they're excited for Christmas!
Alice: ...
29
votes
1answer
652 views
Three easy pieces
Cram. No Crete lust.
She. Who Kyle? Till.
Out! I'm dinner elder.
Find three objects beginning with an E, each described by one line, given they are clued similarly.
Hint:
18
votes
6answers
3k views
I am a Russian ay
I am a Russian ay,
ah, in the English way!
For many is to say,
the booty's ours, hooray!
I am an English ay,
ah, in the Russian way!
For many not to say,
and all is quite okay!
...
6
votes
3answers
231 views
True or False? Test it out!
Note:
This is just a story made up by me for the puzzle. This is NOT a real assignment. Therefore, please DO NOT close this question. Thanks!
The Puzzle:
So, one day, my Science teacher, who loves ...
4
votes
1answer
98 views
question of royal proportions
I dont know if this is going to be any good but this is my first attempt at on of these puzzles.
The following piece of code relates to a famous saying/phrase/article/piece.
...
