| Author | Message | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3555 Registered: 4-2010 |
My first attempt at an idiomuzzle, a puzzle where the answer is always an idiom (or a proverb, slang phrase, etc.). I am copying the rules of an idiomuzzle from TommyP's "Idiomuzzle 7: Einstein" in the December 2009 archives: RULES for Idiomuzzles: -The puzzle statement is presented using black and green words (and occasionally red). -The words in black are only "fillers" to complete the statement, they are of no use more than to separate the green words from each other. -The green words are the words to be decoded into the solution idiom. One or more (if adjacent) green words are decoded to one word in the solution. -Red words don't need any decoding, they are moved to the solution "as is". -Decoding the green words is done by finding "synonyms, near-synonyms or sound-alikes (or sometimes a bit less obviously related connections)" for them - and finding the synonyms is done by standard lateral questions. -Only "real" lateral questions should be asked - don't ask grammar questions like if the second word should be a noun, how many letters in a word... (but we neither have minus points nor IP bans, so don't be too afraid to ask... -If nothing else is stated, the words in the solution comes in the same order as in the puzzle statement. (Otherwise, it's an "Idiomuzzle/Scrambled") PUZZLE STATEMENT: With the vigor of Caesar's army coming from the North, Bob stirred the batter in a particular spiral manner. | ||
| Whirligig (Whirligig)
New member Username: Whirligig Post Number: 169 Registered: 8-2010 |
Are particular and spiral different words in the answer? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3556 Registered: 4-2010 |
Are particular and spiral different words in the answer? Yes | ||
| Whirligig (Whirligig)
New member Username: Whirligig Post Number: 173 Registered: 8-2010 |
What about coming and from? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3565 Registered: 4-2010 |
What about coming and from? Those are one word in the idiom. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3566 Registered: 4-2010 |
REVISED PUZZLE STATEMENT (to avoid confusion): With the vigor of Caesar's army coming from the North, Bob stirred the batter in a particular, perfect spiral. This should clear things up. Sorry for the confusion. | ||
| Whirligig (Whirligig)
New member Username: Whirligig Post Number: 174 Registered: 8-2010 |
So the idiom is: "The [vigor] [coming from] [particular] [spiral]." Unless it's not a complete sentence, but I won't ask that. Can we use a thesaurus? Particular as in specific, special, fussy, or detail? Spiral: is this a mathematical term? Like a one-to-one function mapping theta to r? (e. g. r = 2 * theta, r = theta ^ 2) | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3567 Registered: 4-2010 |
So the idiom is: "The [vigor] [coming from] [particular] [spiral]." Yes - see my revised puzzle statement, and the third rule. Unless it's not a complete sentence, but I won't ask that. Take a look at some of the other idiomuzzles in the archives for an idea of what to expect. Can we use a thesaurus? I suppose so, but try to avoid it if you can. If you have to, go ahead. Particular as in specific, Yope, No to rest special, fussy, or detail? Spiral: is this a mathematical term? Noish Like a one-to-one function mapping theta to r? (e. g. r = 2 * theta, r = theta ^ 2) Not this | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 2799 Registered: 1-2007 |
Comes from - Hails? Originates? | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1822 Registered: 3-2006 |
Is the answer a French phrase? There's one I have in mind. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3572 Registered: 4-2010 |
Comes from - Hails? No Originates? This is closer, but no Is the answer a French phrase? There's one I have in mind. It is indeed - please email to confirm. | ||
| Mattiel (Mattiel)
New member Username: Mattiel Post Number: 237 Registered: 6-2005 |
I took a look at the past similar puzzles, if I got it right each green word has to be "translated" into a red one, which is a sort of synonym of the green one, right? Let's give it a try... vigor: strength? energy? force? spiral: the @ symbol? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3577 Registered: 4-2010 |
I took a look at the past similar puzzles, if I got it right each green word has to be "translated" into a red one, which is a sort of synonym of the green one, right? Correct - see the fifth rule above Let's give it a try... vigor: strength? energy? force? None of these spiral: the @ symbol? No | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 3118 Registered: 9-2009 |
Spiral: an object? Symbol? Motion? Geometric figure? Trajectory? Situation? Spiraling out of control relevant? Spiral of violence? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3588 Registered: 4-2010 |
Spiral: an object? This, mainly Symbol? Motion? Geometric figure? Trajectory? Situation? Spiraling out of control relevant? No Spiral of violence? No | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 3120 Registered: 9-2009 |
Spiral: s spiral shaped object? An object including a spiral shape? such as a screw? Or nut? Or snail shell? Or lamp filament? Is it manmade? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3592 Registered: 4-2010 |
Spiral: s spiral shaped object? Yes An object including a spiral shape? such as a screw? Or nut? Or snail shell? Or lamp filament? No to all of these Is it manmade? Yes | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1823 Registered: 3-2006 |
Emailed. | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 3126 Registered: 9-2009 |
Spiral: coil? Spring? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3595 Registered: 4-2010 |
Emailed. Exactly right (I just translated the phrase into English) - nice job. Spiral: coil? Spring? Neither | ||
| Whirligig (Whirligig)
New member Username: Whirligig Post Number: 175 Registered: 8-2010 |
Do we need to know French? :P Is the spiral a "flat" spiral shape (like a snail shell), a cylindrical helix (spring), or a conical helix (the spring thingy where you put a battery's - terminal)? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3609 Registered: 4-2010 |
Do we need to know French? :P No - for the purpose of the puzzle, the idiom is translated into English. Is the spiral a "flat" spiral shape (like a snail shell), a cylindrical helix (spring), This, but not a spring or a conical helix (the spring thingy where you put a battery's - terminal)? | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 3131 Registered: 9-2009 |
Is the helix: spiral stairs? A slide? A tube? Archimedes' screw? Bigger than a person? Is it a slinky? Is it metal? Does it rotate? Move? Vigor: zest? Forceful? Vital? Alive? | ||
| Mattiel (Mattiel)
New member Username: Mattiel Post Number: 240 Registered: 6-2005 |
Particular: special? uncommon? rare? abnormal? Vigor: is it intended as physical force, (e.g stamina)? Or is it more an "untouchable" force (e.g. energy)? Or none of the above? :-) Coming from: being born? generates? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3616 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is the helix: spiral stairs? Yes!! A slide? A tube? Archimedes' screw? Bigger than a person? Is it a slinky? Is it metal? Does it rotate? Move? See first answer Vigor: zest? Forceful? Vital? Alive? No, but OTRT Particular: special? uncommon? rare? abnormal? No to all Vigor: is it intended as physical force, (e.g stamina)? Or is it more an "untouchable" force (e.g. energy)? This, but not "energy" Or none of the above? :-) Coming from: being born? generates? Neither, but we now have With the vigor of Caesar's army coming from the North, Bob stirred the batter in a particular, perfect staircase. | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 3159 Registered: 9-2009 |
Vigor: life? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3643 Registered: 4-2010 |
Vigor: life? No | ||
| Whirligig (Whirligig)
New member Username: Whirligig Post Number: 178 Registered: 8-2010 |
Is "step" one of the words? "Particular": "the"? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3655 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is "step" one of the words? No "Particular": "the"? Yes!!! That gives us With the vigor of Caesar's army coming from the North, Bob stirred the batter in a the, perfect staircase. | ||
| Whirligig (Whirligig)
New member Username: Whirligig Post Number: 180 Registered: 8-2010 |
Coming from: of? Vigor: steps? Some variation of "step"? Some variation of "top"? "high"? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3675 Registered: 4-2010 |
Coming from: of? Yes!! Vigor: steps? Some variation of "step"? Some variation of "top"? "high"? No to all of these. But we've now got With the vigor of Caesar's army of the North, Bob stirred the batter in a the, perfect staircase. | ||
| Whirligig (Whirligig)
New member Username: Whirligig Post Number: 181 Registered: 8-2010 |
Strength? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3689 Registered: 4-2010 |
Strength? No but OTRT. "Force" and "zest" were close too. | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1015 Registered: 5-2007 |
L'esprit de l'escalier? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3698 Registered: 4-2010 |
L'esprit de l'escalier? Oui! **********SPOILER********** Have you ever had a time where you were insulted, and came up with the perfect comeback, but not until you had already left? Well, courtesy of the French, there's a name for that: The spirit of the staircase And our completed sentence: With the spirit of Caesar's army of the North, Bob stirred the batter in a the, perfect staircase. vigor -> spirit (as in a spirited debate) coming from -> of (can be from a location or an ancestry, for example) particular -> the (used to designate a particular, rather than general, object) spiral -> staircase (spiral stairs) Excellent work, everyone, most notably the three W's: Woodworm, who figured out the answer right off the bat; Whirligig, who did a vast majority of the legwork; and Woubit, who finished this one off. |
