Brain Teasers
Janus Words
Language
Language brain teasers are those that involve the English language. You need to think about and manipulate words and letters.Language
These words are their own opposites. They have contradictory meanings depending on the context in which they are used. They are also called contronyms. An example is "cleave" which means both "to stick to" and "to split apart". Ready?
1. This janus word can mean "moving quickly" or "not moving", as in "He was running ____ to help since his friend's tongue was stuck ____ to a pole."
2. This janus word can mean "to separate" or "to join", as in "____ the coupons you want from the Sunday newspaper and we'll ____ them together and take when we shop."
3. This can mean either "to have gone" as a verb past tense; as an adjective, it means "remaining". After we ___ there were only three people ____ in the theater.
4. This can mean either "a solution" or "a problem". We need a ___ for the broken car key or we'll really be in a ___ when it's time to go home.
5. This word means "to last under use" or "to erode under use". A well-made shoe will ____ well; only the soles will ____ a little.
1. This janus word can mean "moving quickly" or "not moving", as in "He was running ____ to help since his friend's tongue was stuck ____ to a pole."
2. This janus word can mean "to separate" or "to join", as in "____ the coupons you want from the Sunday newspaper and we'll ____ them together and take when we shop."
3. This can mean either "to have gone" as a verb past tense; as an adjective, it means "remaining". After we ___ there were only three people ____ in the theater.
4. This can mean either "a solution" or "a problem". We need a ___ for the broken car key or we'll really be in a ___ when it's time to go home.
5. This word means "to last under use" or "to erode under use". A well-made shoe will ____ well; only the soles will ____ a little.
Answer
1. fast2. clip
3. left
4. fix
5. wear
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