Brain Teasers
Tom Swifties Return Again
Language
Language brain teasers are those that involve the English language. You need to think about and manipulate words and letters.Language
A Tom Swifty is a play on words. Tom speaks, and the way he is said to speak is a pun. Both meanings of the pun could be true.
e.g. "Really! You don't know how to start a model-T Ford?" asked Tom crankily.
- Crankily describes his tone of voice and suggests how it might be done (with a crank handle!)
Choose one of the listed words below to fill each gap.
** CLUES **
1. I've been sacked from office," said Tom _____.
2. "Another week begins," sighed Tom _____.
3. "I really need to use a different font," said Tom _____.
4. "Who was it that discovered radium?" asked Tom _____.
5. "I've been feeding the crocodile," explained Tom _____.
** WORD LIST **
audaciously, abstractly, boldly, curiously, deeply, disappointedly, happily, mundanely, offhandedly, seriously
Remember that Tom Swifties don't have to make perfect grammatical sense!
e.g. "Really! You don't know how to start a model-T Ford?" asked Tom crankily.
- Crankily describes his tone of voice and suggests how it might be done (with a crank handle!)
Choose one of the listed words below to fill each gap.
** CLUES **
1. I've been sacked from office," said Tom _____.
2. "Another week begins," sighed Tom _____.
3. "I really need to use a different font," said Tom _____.
4. "Who was it that discovered radium?" asked Tom _____.
5. "I've been feeding the crocodile," explained Tom _____.
** WORD LIST **
audaciously, abstractly, boldly, curiously, deeply, disappointedly, happily, mundanely, offhandedly, seriously
Remember that Tom Swifties don't have to make perfect grammatical sense!
Answer
1. disappointedly2. mundanely
3. boldly
4. curiously
5. offhandedly
And, for those who need an explanation ...
1. Tom has been "dis"-appointed.
2. It sounds a bit like "Monday".
3. Bold font
4. This echoes the scientists' name, "Curie".
5. What did the crocodile eat?
Note:
Tom Swift was an adventure hero created by American writer Victor Appleton. In the books, almost all of Tom's remarks were written with an adverb or adverbial phrase. From this style, the term "Tom Swifty" has come to be used for this form of word play.
Hide Answer Show Answer
What Next?
View a Similar Brain Teaser...
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
Solve a Puzzle
Comments hidden to avoid spoilers.
Follow Braingle!