Brain Teasers
Hyp-hens IV
Newspapers sometimes hyphenate words in the wrong place with humorous results. Even placed correctly, some hyphens can twist the meaning of a sentence.
Each of the sentences below has a missing hyphenated word. The numbers in parentheses give the length of the hyphenated word parts. See if you can figure them out!
For example:
The mime had to permanently retire after he was accused of (4-8).
The answer is "mans-laughter"; the sentence makes sense with either "manslaughter" or "man's laughter".
1. On karaoke night, the Yankee pitcher sang a (4-2) that was good enough for television.
2. I find the (5-4) relaxing; this invention will cure my restless legs.
3. The farmer posted a pretty sign saying he would persecute any trespassers! Isn't that (5-4)?
4. The (4-6) railings by the waterfall prevented many tourists from getting close.
Each of the sentences below has a missing hyphenated word. The numbers in parentheses give the length of the hyphenated word parts. See if you can figure them out!
For example:
The mime had to permanently retire after he was accused of (4-8).
The answer is "mans-laughter"; the sentence makes sense with either "manslaughter" or "man's laughter".
1. On karaoke night, the Yankee pitcher sang a (4-2) that was good enough for television.
2. I find the (5-4) relaxing; this invention will cure my restless legs.
3. The farmer posted a pretty sign saying he would persecute any trespassers! Isn't that (5-4)?
4. The (4-6) railings by the waterfall prevented many tourists from getting close.
Hint
Here are additional clues to both the complete word and the two hyphenated parts.A clue for mans-laughter is: murder = male's-humour
1. song = sphere-commercial
2. finding = nightclub-extreme
3. put on trial = writing-pretty
4. doubted = spray-oxidated
Answer
1. ball-ad2. disco-very
3. prose-cute
4. mist-rusted
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