Rebus Redux
Rebus brain teasers use words or letters in interesting orientations to represent common phrases.
The below is progressive, top to bottom and left to right.
What's the rebus?
we ourselves
w ourseelves
ouwrselvees
ourselwvese
ourselvews e
ourselves we
HintTwo letters of one of the words in the body went somewhere. Where did they go?
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Answer
Answer: we got ahead of ourselves. The two letters in the word "we"; "w" and "e", advanced to the right toward the head of the word "ourselves", therefore got "ahead" of "ourselves".
"We got ahead of ourselves" is an expression, commonly used, to convey that a discussion or activity had advanced beyond a reasonable limit of control, management, logic, or other necessary supporting resources.
And, sorry, but it isn't "we are beside ourselves" because the rebus body BEGINS with that and progresses AWAY from that before it, again, resuming the progression to end up BESIDE "ourselves" again. So, if one takes that logic-trail toward the answer you would end up with "we are beside ourselves twice" which, to my knowledge anyway, is not only not a common expression, but is hardly a sensible one at all.
Here's an example (in active, first person, voice and tense):
"Hey, folks, we are making a mistake in trying to design the rebus before we even understand a rebus and if we get ahead of ourselves then surely we will "trip up"* on it and "crash and burn"*."
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Comments
HarryPutter   
Mar 12, 2011
| Fun teaser! 
Oddly long explanation though  |
BadBunnee02
Mar 12, 2011
| to Harry P:
"Odd", perhaps. Perhaps maybe not. Based on my Dad's (BadBunnee) and my experience here on the B. site, as well as some reject-loaded editor's comments, it is sometimes helpful to anticipate one or two of the most obvious "alternative" answers.
I just visited (and left a comment) on your teaser #36654 and noted that several comments there had thought it was "runnin' my life".
If you had anticipated this answer in your explanation of your correct answer, then it might have reduced some of the kerfuffle one gets when some contributors insist on the "wrong" answer.
I'm not saying it should become standard practice for rebus-writers, but to sometimes do it might help.
Don't know for sure. Just sayin'.
Thanks for your visit and comments. Much appreciated !!
BBjr  |
BadBunnee02
Mar 12, 2011
| To Harry P.
I just revisited, here, to check amd see if my comment made it and got a good little laugh.
Sometimes the B. software seems to have an "editor life of its own" and omits things. At least that was the case when Dad was "retired" from B. a couple years ago.
Speaking of such, it seems the "wetware" has toughened up, also. I get about one out of FIFTEEN approved currently.
It's like the guy who was buying mules for 10 and selling them for 5. His buddy asked, "How can you come out on that?" and the guy said ... "Well, I guess it's 'cause I sell so many."
uh-OH ... JOKE JOKE ...
Better skip over to "wocka-wocka" ....
So ... I guess the only reason I get ANY rebuses through is because I submit so many. And I submit a LOT of them.
What's your track record? Any better? If so, what's your secret?
BBjr |
BadBunnee02
Mar 12, 2011
| Back again.
Meant to add that the reason for the "little laugh" is that you and I are, apparently, the only ones caring to make ANY comments on this one.
And, of course, here I am running up the "comment count" so other folks will think there's something here to talk about !!
l   |
HarryPutter
Mar 12, 2011
| !!!
This is hilarious. You're right, though, having long answers may be necessary. I've had quite a few rejected or disputed on those grounds. But yeah... LOL |
spikethru4 
Apr 18, 2011
| Isn't "the head of the word" the start? In which case 'we' started out at the head of 'ourselves' and moved to the tail.
Maybe it's an American thing; if so, a little help for the outside world would be appreciated. |
TallTimber 
Sep 03, 2011
| Well done, extremely well thought out. I, for one, enjoyed it. |
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