Golomb's Gambits: Speed writing

By

Published Spring 2020

The following puzzle first appeared in September 2000.

Pronouncing the names of letters, numbers, or other symbols in sequences will often sound like words or phrases. A familiar example is "N E 1 4 10 S?" (Anyone for tennis?). See how many of the individual words you can construct from the following clues.

A. In this section, we only allow letters of the alphabet. For example, "Rot or decompose _ _" would indicate DK (decay).

  1. Simple _ _
  2. Containing nothing _ _
  3. Affectedly esthetic _ _
  4. Run-down _ _
  5. Carnival doll _ _
  6. American Indian tent _ _
  7. One who got away___
  8. Poppy extract _ _ _
  9. Boredom _ _ _
  10. Turkish title of respect _ _ _
  11. English title of respect _ _ _ _
  12. Convenience, sometimes amoral _ _ _ _ _

B. In this section, we allow letters and numbers, where the heavy dash indicates a number. Thus, "Prior to _ _" would indicate B4 (before)

  1. Not harmful _ _
  2. Southern state _ _ _
  3. Pilot a plane _ _ _
  4. Diverge _ _ _
  5. Atone _ _ _
  6. Narcotic _ _ _
  7. Brainstorm _ _ _
  8. Unspecified person _ _ _
  9. Rental occupancy _ _ _
  10. Issue from a source _ _ _
  11. Member of a certain Emirate _ _ _
  12. Reduce the seriousness _ _ _ _

Golomb's Answers

A.

  1. EZ (easy)
  2. MT (empty)
  3. RT (arty)
  4. CD (seedy)
  5. QP (kewpie)
  6. TP (tepee)
  7. SKP (escapee)
  8. OPM (opium)
  9. TDM (tedium)
  10. FND (effendi)
  11. XLNC (excellency)
  12. XPDNC (expediency)

B.

  1. B9 (benign)
  2. 10SC (Tennessee)
  3. AV8 (aviate)
  4. DV8 (deviate)
  5. XP8 (expiate)
  6. OP8 (opiate)
  7. ID8 (ideate)
  8. NE1 (anyone)
  9. 10NC (tenancy)
  10. MN8 (emanate)
  11. Q8E (Kuwaiti)
  12. X10U8 (extenuate)