Before and After Word Game With Hidden Answers: how it works
This before and after word game deals one puzzle at a time and keeps the answer hidden. Press Next question, let the room call it out, then tap Show answer. There are 402 puzzles of two kinds: 258 linking words, such as BOOK ___ HOLE, and 144 overlapping phrases built from clues, from peanut butterfly to school bus stop sign. Every half is a real dictionary entry.
Run a round from one phone
Choose a reader and hand over the phone. Press Next question and read the card aloud: BOOK ___ HOLE is read as "book, blank, hole", and the first player to call the missing word wins it. Tap Show answer to see the word and the two results it makes, here bookworm and wormhole, then tap +1 under Scores. For timed play, press Start round and one team clears as many cards as it can in 60 seconds. Skip puts a card back for later.
Two kinds of puzzle, and the rule that settles arguments
A linking card hides one word that finishes the first word and starts the second: RAIN ___ TIE is bow, for rainbow and bow tie. An overlap card gives clues joined by plus signs, and the answer runs the phrases together on the word they share, so a frozen scoop in a cone plus what you spread on a bagel is ice cream cheese. Three-phrase chains have three clues and a four-word answer. House rule: a different word that makes two real dictionary entries earns the point.
The printed list and what the phone remembers
Tap Show all 402 puzzles under the tool and the whole deck opens, grouped by kind, with each answer beside its puzzle. Cover the answers if you print it for players. With No repeats tonight ticked, a played card stays out until you press Start over, and the played list clears itself after twelve hours without a card. Team names and scores are kept on this phone, so locking the screen between rounds loses nothing.
Tips
Playing with kids under ten? Tap Compound links and Easy. Cards like SUN ___ POT and SNOW ___ HOLE use words they already read at school.
Read a linking card the same way every time: first word, "blank", second word, then all three again. Players solve by ear.
Save Three-phrase chains for the final round and score them double with two taps of +1. Coffee table tennis elbow takes some untangling.
With twelve or more players, make teams of three or four, set the timer to 90 seconds and change the reader every round.
For a second act, each team writes three puzzles on paper and swaps with a rival. A homemade puzzle counts only if both halves are in a dictionary.
Questions and answers
How do you play the before and after word game?
One word or phrase ends where the next begins, and players find the join. In the linking version you hear two words and name the one that fits between them: book, blank, hole is worm. In the overlap version you hear two clues and run the answers together on their shared word, which is how you get peanut butterfly.
How many players do you need, and what ages does it suit?
Two players can trade cards across a table, and the scoreboard takes up to four teams. Easy cards use words most eight-year-olds know, such as cupcake, doghouse and snowman. Hard cards lean on idioms and office phrases, such as glass ceiling, bottom line and net worth, so keep those for teens and adults.
What if a player gives an answer that is not on the card?
Give the point if it works. The card shows the answer the puzzle was written around. SUN ___ TIME is day on the card, for Sunday and daytime, but down also fits, for sundown and downtime. When the table disagrees, look up both halves in any dictionary. If each has its own entry, the answer stands.
Can I use these puzzles in a classroom or with a seniors' group?
Yes. Every card is clean, and the puzzles use everyday words with no film, song, show or brand names. In a classroom, a linking card makes a compound word warm-up: write the two outer words on the board and take answers by raised hand. The word games for seniors page has more rounds for an activity group.
Where do the puzzles come from?
They were written for this page, not lifted from a television game show or a puzzle book. The language only offers so many joins, so a few will look familiar. A puzzle stayed only if every half has its own entry in English Wiktionary and in a second dictionary, either Dictionary.com or the Cambridge Dictionary.
APPLE ___ PANAnswer: Sauce. Applesauce and saucepan.
ARM ___ LIFTAnswer: Chair. Armchair and chairlift.
BACK ___ HOGAnswer: Ground. Background and groundhog.
BACK ___ STICKAnswer: Yard. Backyard and yardstick.
BARE ___ PRINTAnswer: Foot. Barefoot and footprint.
BASKET ___ ROOMAnswer: Ball. Basketball and ballroom.
BED ___ MATEAnswer: Room. Bedroom and roommate.
BIRD ___ TUBAnswer: Bath. Birdbath and bathtub.
BIRTH ___ DREAMAnswer: Day. Birthday and daydream.
BLACK ___ WALKAnswer: Board. Blackboard and boardwalk.
BLUE ___ HOUSEAnswer: Bird. Bluebird and birdhouse.
BODY ___ RAILAnswer: Guard. Bodyguard and guardrail.
BOOK ___ DOWNAnswer: Mark. Bookmark and markdown.
BOOK ___ HOLEAnswer: Worm. Bookworm and wormhole.
BULL ___ WOODAnswer: Dog. Bulldog and dogwood.
BUMBLE ___ HIVEAnswer: Bee. Bumblebee and beehive.
BUTTER ___ CAKEAnswer: Cup. Buttercup and cupcake.
CAMP ___ PLACEAnswer: Fire. Campfire and fireplace.
CART ___ CHAIRAnswer: Wheel. Cartwheel and wheelchair.
CHEST ___ CRACKERAnswer: Nut. Chestnut and nutcracker.
CHILD ___ WINKAnswer: Hood. Childhood and hoodwink.
COME ___ STAGEAnswer: Back. Comeback and backstage.
COOK ___ STOREAnswer: Book. Cookbook and bookstore.
COPY ___ NAPAnswer: Cat. Copycat and catnap.
CORK ___ DRIVERAnswer: Screw. Corkscrew and screwdriver.
CORN ___ WEBAnswer: Cob. Corncob and cobweb.
COTTON ___ SPINAnswer: Tail. Cottontail and tailspin.
COUNT ___ STAIRSAnswer: Down. Countdown and downstairs.
COUNTRY ___ KICKAnswer: Side. Countryside and sidekick.
COW ___ FRIENDAnswer: Boy. Cowboy and boyfriend. Girl works too: cowgirl and girlfriend.
CROSS ___ BLOCKAnswer: Road. Crossroad and roadblock.
CROSS ___ SMITHAnswer: Word. Crossword and wordsmith.
CRY ___ SITTERAnswer: Baby. Crybaby and babysitter.
DAY ___ FASTAnswer: Break. Daybreak and breakfast.
DAY ___ HOUSEAnswer: Light. Daylight and lighthouse.
DEAD ___ BACKERAnswer: Line. Deadline and linebacker.
DOG ___ FLYAnswer: House. Doghouse and housefly.
DOOR ___ LADDERAnswer: Step. Doorstep and stepladder.
DOWN ___ HOUSEAnswer: Town. Downtown and townhouse.
DRAGON ___ PAPERAnswer: Fly. Dragonfly and flypaper.
DRAIN ___ LINEAnswer: Pipe. Drainpipe and pipeline.
DRIFT ___ LANDAnswer: Wood. Driftwood and woodland.
DRIVE ___ SIDEAnswer: Way. Driveway and wayside.
DUMB ___ HOPAnswer: Bell. Dumbbell and bellhop.
EAR ___ STICKAnswer: Drum. Eardrum and drumstick.
EAR ___ TONEAnswer: Ring. Earring and ringtone.
EGG ___ FISHAnswer: Shell. Eggshell and shellfish.
FARM ___ MARKAnswer: Land. Farmland and landmark.
FINGER ___ OUTAnswer: Print. Fingerprint and printout.
FIRE ___ PAPERAnswer: Wall. Firewall and wallpaper.
FIRE ___ WHEELAnswer: Fly. Firefly and flywheel.
FOOT ___ BOOKAnswer: Note. Footnote and notebook.
FOOT ___ PARKAnswer: Ball. Football and ballpark.
FORE ___ BANDAnswer: Arm. Forearm and armband.
FRIEND ___ YARDAnswer: Ship. Friendship and shipyard.
GINGER ___ CRUMBAnswer: Bread. Gingerbread and breadcrumb.
GINGER ___ SHOTAnswer: Snap. Gingersnap and snapshot.
GOLD ___ HOOKAnswer: Fish. Goldfish and fishhook.
GRAND ___ BOARDAnswer: Mother. Grandmother and motherboard.
GREEN ___ BOATAnswer: House. Greenhouse and houseboat.
HAIR ___ STROKEAnswer: Brush. Hairbrush and brushstroke.
HAIR ___ WHEELAnswer: Pin. Hairpin and pinwheel.
HAND ___ CASEAnswer: Book. Handbook and bookcase.
HAND ___ FITAnswer: Out. Handout and outfit.
HAND ___ ROADAnswer: Rail. Handrail and railroad.
HAND ___ STILLAnswer: Stand. Handstand and standstill.
HEAD ___ SHIELDAnswer: Wind. Headwind and windshield.
HEAD ___ STANDAnswer: Band. Headband and bandstand.
HEAD ___ UPAnswer: Line. Headline and lineup.
HEDGE ___ WASHAnswer: Hog. Hedgehog and hogwash.
HOME ___ SHOPAnswer: Work. Homework and workshop.
HONEY ___ DROPAnswer: Dew. Honeydew and dewdrop.
HONEY ___ WALKAnswer: Moon. Honeymoon and moonwalk.
HORSE ___ GROUNDAnswer: Play. Horseplay and playground.
HORSE ___ LACEAnswer: Shoe. Horseshoe and shoelace.
JACK ___ LUCKAnswer: Pot. Jackpot and potluck.
KICK ___ BYAnswer: Stand. Kickstand and standby.
KICK ___ SHOREAnswer: Off. Kickoff and offshore.
LEAP ___ MANAnswer: Frog. Leapfrog and frogman.
LIFE ___ LINEAnswer: Time. Lifetime and timeline.
LIVE ___ PILEAnswer: Stock. Livestock and stockpile.
LOVE ___ SEEDAnswer: Bird. Lovebird and birdseed.
LUMBER ___ KNIFEAnswer: Jack. Lumberjack and jackknife.
MAIL ___ CARAnswer: Box. Mailbox and boxcar.
MAKE ___ TOWNAnswer: Up. Makeup and uptown.
MID ___ MAREAnswer: Night. Midnight and nightmare.
MILE ___ WALLAnswer: Stone. Milestone and stonewall.
MOTOR ___ LOADAnswer: Boat. Motorboat and boatload.
MOUNTAIN ___ SOILAnswer: Top. Mountaintop and topsoil.
MOUTH ___ CLOTHAnswer: Wash. Mouthwash and washcloth.
NECK ___ BREAKERAnswer: Tie. Necktie and tiebreaker.
NEWS ___ AWAYAnswer: Cast. Newscast and castaway.
NEWS ___ HEADAnswer: Letter. Newsletter and letterhead.
NEWS ___ WEIGHTAnswer: Paper. Newspaper and paperweight.
NIGHT ___ STYLEAnswer: Life. Nightlife and lifestyle.
OAT ___ TIMEAnswer: Meal. Oatmeal and mealtime.
PAD ___ SMITHAnswer: Lock. Padlock and locksmith.
PAN ___ BARAnswer: Handle. Panhandle and handlebar.
PAN ___ WALKAnswer: Cake. Pancake and cakewalk.
PASS ___ PLAYAnswer: Word. Password and wordplay.
PEA ___ SHELLAnswer: Nut. Peanut and nutshell.
PICK ___ STAIRSAnswer: Up. Pickup and upstairs.
PIGGY ___ PACKAnswer: Back. Piggyback and backpack.
PLAY ___ KNIFEAnswer: Pen. Playpen and penknife.
PONY ___ GATEAnswer: Tail. Ponytail and tailgate.
POP ___ BREADAnswer: Corn. Popcorn and cornbread.
POST ___ BOARDAnswer: Card. Postcard and cardboard.
POST ___ KINDAnswer: Man. Postman and mankind.
QUARTER ___ STROKEAnswer: Back. Quarterback and backstroke.
QUICK ___ BOXAnswer: Sand. Quicksand and sandbox.
RACE ___ SUITAnswer: Track. Racetrack and tracksuit.
RAIN ___ KICKAnswer: Drop. Raindrop and dropkick.
RATTLE ___ SKINAnswer: Snake. Rattlesnake and snakeskin.
RIVER ___ ROCKAnswer: Bed. Riverbed and bedrock.
RIVER ___ ROLLAnswer: Bank. Riverbank and bankroll.
SAIL ___ HOUSEAnswer: Boat. Sailboat and boathouse.
SAND ___ BACKAnswer: Paper. Sandpaper and paperback.
SAND ___ PIPEAnswer: Bag. Sandbag and bagpipe.
SAW ___ PANAnswer: Dust. Sawdust and dustpan.
SCARE ___ BARAnswer: Crow. Scarecrow and crowbar.
SEA ___ BAYAnswer: Sick. Seasick and sickbay.
SEA ___ LINEAnswer: Shore. Seashore and shoreline.
SEA ___ RADISHAnswer: Horse. Seahorse and horseradish.
SECOND ___ SHAKEAnswer: Hand. Secondhand and handshake.
SEE ___ HORSEAnswer: Saw. Seesaw and sawhorse.
SHORT ___ BOXAnswer: Bread. Shortbread and breadbox.
SHORT ___ LIGHTAnswer: Stop. Shortstop and stoplight.
SHORT ___ OUTAnswer: Cut. Shortcut and cutout.
SIDE ___ WAYAnswer: Walk. Sidewalk and walkway.
SIGN ___ MARKAnswer: Post. Signpost and postmark.
SLEEP ___ BOARDAnswer: Over. Sleepover and overboard.
SNOW ___ HOLEAnswer: Man. Snowman and manhole.
SOFT ___ HOUSEAnswer: Ware. Software and warehouse.
SPACE ___ WRECKAnswer: Ship. Spaceship and shipwreck.
SPIDER ___ SITEAnswer: Web. Spiderweb and website.
STAR ___ BOWLAnswer: Fish. Starfish and fishbowl.
STOP ___ TOWERAnswer: Watch. Stopwatch and watchtower.
STREET ___ POOLAnswer: Car. Streetcar and carpool.
SUN ___ PLAYAnswer: Screen. Sunscreen and screenplay.
SUN ___ POTAnswer: Flower. Sunflower and flowerpot.
SUN ___ TIMEAnswer: Day. Sunday and daytime.
SWEET ___ BEATAnswer: Heart. Sweetheart and heartbeat.
SWIM ___ CASEAnswer: Suit. Swimsuit and suitcase.
TEA ___ HOLDERAnswer: Pot. Teapot and potholder.
TEAM ___ BOOKAnswer: Work. Teamwork and workbook.
TOOTH ___ POCKETAnswer: Pick. Toothpick and pickpocket.
TOUCH ___ POURAnswer: Down. Touchdown and downpour.
TRAP ___ BELLAnswer: Door. Trapdoor and doorbell.
TURN ___ CLOTHAnswer: Table. Turntable and tablecloth.
TURTLE ___ LACEAnswer: Neck. Turtleneck and necklace.
UNDER ___ SLEDAnswer: Dog. Underdog and dogsled.
WATER ___ OUTAnswer: Fall. Waterfall and fallout.
WATER ___ READAnswer: Proof. Waterproof and proofread.
WATER ___ SHOWAnswer: Slide. Waterslide and slideshow.
WEEK ___ GAMEAnswer: End. Weekend and endgame.
WILD ___ FIGHTERAnswer: Fire. Wildfire and firefighter.
WILD ___ GUARDAnswer: Life. Wildlife and lifeguard.
WILD ___ WALKAnswer: Cat. Wildcat and catwalk.
WIND ___ STONEAnswer: Mill. Windmill and millstone.
WONDER ___ LORDAnswer: Land. Wonderland and landlord.
WORK ___ MARKAnswer: Bench. Workbench and benchmark.
WORK ___ SIDEAnswer: Out. Workout and outside.
WRIST ___ DOGAnswer: Watch. Wristwatch and watchdog.
ZOO ___ SAKEAnswer: Keeper. Zookeeper and keepsake.
Phrase links 92
AIR ___ BOOKAnswer: Pocket. Air pocket and pocketbook.
BACK ___ FLOPAnswer: Flip. Backflip and flip-flop.
BAND ___ TRAINAnswer: Wagon. Bandwagon and wagon train.
BAY ___ SILLAnswer: Window. Bay window and windowsill.
BELL ___ MINTAnswer: Pepper. Bell pepper and peppermint.
BELLY ___ DOWNAnswer: Button. Belly button and button-down.
BIRTH ___ MATAnswer: Place. Birthplace and place mat.
BLACK ___ DOGAnswer: Sheep. Black sheep and sheepdog.
BLACK ___ WAYAnswer: Belt. Black belt and beltway.
BRAIN ___ CLOUDAnswer: Storm. Brainstorm and storm cloud.
BRIEF ___ STUDYAnswer: Case. Briefcase and case study.
BUBBLE ___ ROBEAnswer: Bath. Bubble bath and bathrobe.
BUNK ___ TIMEAnswer: Bed. Bunk bed and bedtime.
BUTTON ___ PUNCHAnswer: Hole. Buttonhole and hole punch.
CHECK ___ GUARDAnswer: Point. Checkpoint and point guard.
CHOP ___ SHIFTAnswer: Stick. Chopstick and stick shift.
CLASS ___ SERVICEAnswer: Room. Classroom and room service.
COBBLE ___ AGEAnswer: Stone. Cobblestone and Stone Age.
COCONUT ___ SHAKEAnswer: Milk. Coconut milk and milkshake.
COFFEE ___ KEEPERAnswer: Shop. Coffee shop and shopkeeper.
CORN ___ TRIPAnswer: Field. Cornfield and field trip.
COTTAGE ___ CAKEAnswer: Cheese. Cottage cheese and cheesecake.
COURT ___ SALEAnswer: Yard. Courtyard and yard sale.
CUCKOO ___ WORKAnswer: Clock. Cuckoo clock and clockwork.
DAISY ___ MAILAnswer: Chain. Daisy chain and chain mail.
DRESS ___ NAMEAnswer: Code. Dress code and code name.
DRY ___ CUBEAnswer: Ice. Dry ice and ice cube.
EGG ___ FOODAnswer: Plant. Eggplant and plant food.
EVER ___ THUMBAnswer: Green. Evergreen and green thumb.
EYE ___ STANDAnswer: Witness. Eyewitness and witness stand.
FAN ___ HOUSEAnswer: Club. Fan club and clubhouse.
FIELD ___ TRAPAnswer: Mouse. Field mouse and mousetrap.
FINGER ___ BRUSHAnswer: Paint. Finger paint and paintbrush.
FINGER ___ FILEAnswer: Nail. Fingernail and nail file.
FLASH ___ YEARAnswer: Light. Flashlight and light-year.
FLEA ___ PLACEAnswer: Market. Flea market and marketplace.
FOOD ___ HOUSEAnswer: Court. Food court and courthouse.
FROST ___ SIZEAnswer: Bite. Frostbite and bite-size.
FULL ___ LIGHTAnswer: Moon. Full moon and moonlight.
GAS ___ WAGONAnswer: Station. Gas station and station wagon.
GRAPE ___ FLYAnswer: Fruit. Grapefruit and fruit fly.
HAIR ___ PAINTAnswer: Spray. Hair spray and spray paint.
HALF ___ OUTAnswer: Time. Halftime and time-out.
HARD ___ RIGHTAnswer: Copy. Hard copy and copyright.
HEAD ___ BOOTHAnswer: Phone. Headphone and phone booth.
HIGH ___ YARDAnswer: School. High school and schoolyard.
HIP ___ SCOTCHAnswer: Hop. Hip-hop and hopscotch.
HOME ___ AWAYAnswer: Run. Home run and runaway.
HOME ___ TURNERAnswer: Page. Home page and page-turner.
HORSE ___ PLANTAnswer: Power. Horsepower and power plant.
HOT ___ BOARDAnswer: Spring. Hot spring and springboard.
ICE ___ BOARDAnswer: Skate. Ice skate and skateboard.
JACK ___ HOLEAnswer: Rabbit. Jackrabbit and rabbit hole.
JELLY ___ BAGAnswer: Bean. Jelly bean and beanbag.
JET ___ LINEAnswer: Stream. Jet stream and streamline.
JUNK ___ MANAnswer: Mail. Junk mail and mailman.
LAP ___ NOTCHAnswer: Top. Laptop and top-notch.
LEAP ___ BOOKAnswer: Year. Leap year and yearbook.
MOVIE ___ LIGHTAnswer: Star. Movie star and starlight.
NICK ___ TAGAnswer: Name. Nickname and name tag.
OFF ___ BREAKAnswer: Spring. Offspring and spring break.
OUTER ___ WALKAnswer: Space. Outer space and spacewalk.
OVER ___ HANGERAnswer: Coat. Overcoat and coat hanger.
PAPER ___ BOARDAnswer: Clip. Paper clip and clipboard.
PEN ___ PLATEAnswer: Name. Pen name and nameplate.
PIG ___ PALAnswer: Pen. Pigpen and pen pal.
PRICE ___ LINEAnswer: Tag. Price tag and tagline.
RAIN ___ TIEAnswer: Bow. Rainbow and bow tie.
ROAD ___ WIREAnswer: Trip. Road trip and tripwire.
SAFETY ___ CUSHIONAnswer: Pin. Safety pin and pincushion.
SALAD ___ CODEAnswer: Bar. Salad bar and bar code.
SALT ___ MELONAnswer: Water. Salt water and watermelon.
SEA ___ CHAINAnswer: Food. Seafood and food chain.
SHOE ___ BEANAnswer: String. Shoestring and string bean.
SHOE ___ SPRINGAnswer: Box. Shoebox and box spring.
SHOOTING ___ DUSTAnswer: Star. Shooting star and stardust.
SKI ___ OFFAnswer: Lift. Ski lift and liftoff.
SLOW ___ PICTUREAnswer: Motion. Slow motion and motion picture.
SPELLING ___ LINEAnswer: Bee. Spelling bee and beeline.
STAIR ___ BEINGAnswer: Well. Stairwell and well-being.
STORE ___ DESKAnswer: Front. Storefront and front desk.
STRING ___ CLOTHAnswer: Cheese. String cheese and cheesecloth.
SUMMER ___ SITEAnswer: Camp. Summer camp and campsite.
TABLE ___ FEDAnswer: Spoon. Tablespoon and spoon-fed.
TAD ___ VAULTAnswer: Pole. Tadpole and pole vault.
TALENT ___ CASEAnswer: Show. Talent show and showcase.
THEME ___ BIRDAnswer: Song. Theme song and songbird.
THUMB ___ POLISHAnswer: Nail. Thumbnail and nail polish.
WASTE ___ CASEAnswer: Basket. Wastebasket and basket case.
WATER ___ BLINDAnswer: Color. Watercolor and color-blind.
WILD ___ BEDAnswer: Flower. Wildflower and flower bed.
WISH ___ DRYAnswer: Bone. Wishbone and bone-dry.
Two-phrase overlaps 112
A ballpark frank in a bun + the stickiest stretch of summerAnswer: Hot dog days. Hot dog and dog days.
A battered, deep-fried circle + where a wedding band goesAnswer: Onion ring finger. Onion ring and ring finger.
A boot with four wheels + ramps and rails for boardersAnswer: Roller skate park. Roller skate and skate park.
A camper's zip-up bed + a sandwich packed in brown paperAnswer: Sleeping bag lunch. Sleeping bag and bag lunch.
A chart of your ancestors + a kids' hideout up in the branchesAnswer: Family tree house. Family tree and tree house.
A coin jar shaped like a farm animal + where your paycheck is depositedAnswer: Piggy bank account. Piggy bank and bank account.
A crisp treat with a paper message inside + where the sweets are kept on the counterAnswer: Fortune cookie jar. Fortune cookie and cookie jar.
A cuddly stuffed toy + an almond pastry shaped like a pawAnswer: Teddy bear claw. Teddy bear and bear claw.
A driver checks it to see behind + an exact copy, flipped left to rightAnswer: Rearview mirror image. Rearview mirror and mirror image.
A driver, a putter or a nine iron + three slices of toast stacked with turkeyAnswer: Golf club sandwich. Golf club and club sandwich.
A dyed or chocolate springtime treat + a small kitchen clock for boilingAnswer: Easter egg timer. Easter egg and egg timer.
A fairground ride built for crashing + soap, brushes and a giant dryerAnswer: Bumper car wash. Bumper car and car wash.
A flat pan for baking a dozen at a time + the printed notes a pianist readsAnswer: Cookie sheet music. Cookie sheet and sheet music.
A four-leaf clover or a horseshoe + jewelry with tiny dangling trinketsAnswer: Lucky charm bracelet. Lucky charm and charm bracelet.
A frozen scoop in a cone + what you spread on a bagelAnswer: Ice cream cheese. Ice cream and cream cheese.
A giant spinning ride at the fair + a one-wheeled garden cartAnswer: Ferris wheelbarrow. Ferris wheel and wheelbarrow.
A gray ball of fluff under the bed + the gentle hill for brand-new skiersAnswer: Dust bunny slope. Dust bunny and bunny slope.
A habit so deep you do it without thinking + a marked path through the woodsAnswer: Second nature trail. Second nature and nature trail.
A hockey blast with a big windup + throwing a heavy metal ballAnswer: Slap shot put. Slap shot and shot put.
A homer with the bases loaded + a basket jammed in from above the rimAnswer: Grand slam dunk. Grand slam and slam dunk.
A lozenge for a sore throat + the sheet painters spread over the floorAnswer: Cough drop cloth. Cough drop and drop cloth.
A note to your sweetheart + a dull desk blade for envelopesAnswer: Love letter opener. Love letter and letter opener.
A party dance in single file + a baseball hit hard and lowAnswer: Conga line drive. Conga line and line drive.
A party game where nobody wants to be left holding it + a thin, salty, crunchy snackAnswer: Hot potato chip. Hot potato and potato chip.
A passenger who bosses whoever is at the wheel + the ID you earn after a road examAnswer: Backseat driver's license. Backseat driver and driver's license.
A plush toy you sleep with + every creature on Earth, as a groupAnswer: Stuffed animal kingdom. Stuffed animal and animal kingdom.
A promise to do it another time + what a teacher puts beside a right answerAnswer: Rain check mark. Rain check and check mark.
A race so close the camera decides it + the tape a runner breaksAnswer: Photo finish line. Photo finish and finish line.
A sandwich spread that goes with jelly + an insect that starts as a caterpillarAnswer: Peanut butterfly. Peanut butter and butterfly.
A shape you make lying in fresh powder + a flat, striped aquarium swimmerAnswer: Snow angelfish. Snow angel and angelfish.
A skating pattern shaped like a number + the black one on a pool tableAnswer: Figure eight ball. Figure eight and eight ball.
A small, squeaky pet + a playground code where hello becomes ello-hayAnswer: Guinea pig Latin. Guinea pig and pig Latin.
A spirit who watches over you + a tall, airy white sponge dessertAnswer: Guardian angel food cake. Guardian angel and angel food cake.
A spot in space where even light cannot escape + a golfer's perfect tee shotAnswer: Black hole in one. Black hole and hole in one.
A steaming mug with marshmallows + a cold brown carton at school lunchAnswer: Hot chocolate milk. Hot chocolate and chocolate milk.
A street with no way through + where a touchdown is scoredAnswer: Dead end zone. Dead end and end zone.
A striped inflatable for the sand + a floor-length formal dressAnswer: Beach ball gown. Beach ball and ball gown.
A sure-footed climber with horns + a tangy white crumble on a saladAnswer: Mountain goat cheese. Mountain goat and goat cheese.
A tangy white spoonful on a baked potato + a light round pastry with a soft fillingAnswer: Sour cream puff. Sour cream and cream puff.
A three-scoop sundae in a long dish + a tiny sliver of timeAnswer: Banana split second. Banana split and split second.
A track event that ends in a sandpit + a playground toy you skip overAnswer: Long jump rope. Long jump and jump rope.
A week of scorching weather + the distance from one crest to the nextAnswer: Heat wavelength. Heat wave and wavelength.
A white giant of the Arctic + a big, tight squeezeAnswer: Polar bear hug. Polar bear and bear hug.
A wooden toy a toddler rides in place + a gallop around an oval trackAnswer: Rocking horse race. Rocking horse and horse race.
An abandoned Old West settlement + where the council meetsAnswer: Ghost town hall. Ghost town and town hall.
An actor's filmed tryout + the first person to fly a brand-new planeAnswer: Screen test pilot. Screen test and test pilot.
An ID worn on a collar or a soldier's chain + wrestlers who take turnsAnswer: Dog tag team. Dog tag and tag team.
An odd object that gets guests talking + something very easyAnswer: Conversation piece of cake. Conversation piece and piece of cake.
Cars crawling bumper to bumper + musicians playing together with no planAnswer: Traffic jam session. Traffic jam and jam session.
The chart of all the elements + what is in the shaker next to the pepperAnswer: Periodic table salt. Periodic table and table salt.
Chatting about the weather + a host, a couch and famous guestsAnswer: Small talk show. Small talk and talk show.
Chips, candy and soda + a messy cafeteria battleAnswer: Junk food fight. Junk food and food fight.
Colored church windows + an unseen barrier that blocks a promotionAnswer: Stained glass ceiling. Stained glass and glass ceiling.
Empty talk + an inflatable bed for guestsAnswer: Hot air mattress. Hot air and air mattress.
Endless official paperwork + a carpenter's roll-up rulerAnswer: Red tape measure. Red tape and tape measure.
The evening hours when TV audiences peak + a vehicle for visiting the pastAnswer: Prime time machine. Prime time and time machine.
Everyone files outside for practice + the loudest voice in basic trainingAnswer: Fire drill sergeant. Fire drill and drill sergeant.
Everyone hides and yells when you walk in + someone who spoils the funAnswer: Surprise party pooper. Surprise party and party pooper.
The extra wheel in the trunk + the steel bar that loosens the lug nutsAnswer: Spare tire iron. Spare tire and tire iron.
For 49, it is 7 + a fizzy brown soda poured over vanilla ice creamAnswer: Square root beer. Square root and root beer.
Freezing rain that coats every branch + the grate at the curb where runoff goesAnswer: Ice storm drain. Ice storm and storm drain.
Ignoring someone on purpose + a purse with one long strapAnswer: Cold shoulder bag. Cold shoulder and shoulder bag.
It hauls away your broken-down car + a highway rest spot for big rigsAnswer: Tow truck stop. Tow truck and truck stop.
It lives in a borrowed shell + a tiny, sour orchard fruitAnswer: Hermit crab apple. Hermit crab and crab apple.
It opens many different locks + a tart, pale yellow Florida dessertAnswer: Skeleton key lime pie. Skeleton key and Key lime pie.
The level you walk in on + an architect's drawing of the roomsAnswer: Ground floor plan. Ground floor and floor plan.
Looking at store displays without buying + what you push down the grocery aisleAnswer: Window shopping cart. Window-shopping and shopping cart.
Loud music with electric guitars + sugar crystals grown on a stickAnswer: Hard rock candy. Hard rock and rock candy.
The lowest possible point + the final total, or the thing that really mattersAnswer: Rock bottom line. Rock bottom and bottom line.
The machine that made books cheap + reporters firing questions at a podiumAnswer: Printing press conference. Printing press and press conference.
Many cultures blending into one + a slow-cooked family dinnerAnswer: Melting pot roast. Melting pot and pot roast.
The mayor's building + where a sport honors its legendsAnswer: City hall of fame. City hall and hall of fame.
Metal stairs on the outside of a building + a performer who slips out of chainsAnswer: Fire escape artist. Fire escape and escape artist.
The one who catches the worm + a backyard seed stationAnswer: Early bird feeder. Early bird and bird feeder.
Paper-thin precious metal for gilding + a loud yard tool in the fallAnswer: Gold leaf blower. Gold leaf and leaf blower.
Plastic you pay with + a folding square for game nightAnswer: Credit card table. Credit card and card table.
Pointed-toe Western footwear + tough basic trainingAnswer: Cowboy boot camp. Cowboy boot and boot camp.
Roller coasters and costumed characters + a guide in a flat-brimmed hatAnswer: Theme park ranger. Theme park and park ranger.
School is closed because of the weather + the work that pays the billsAnswer: Snow day job. Snow day and day job.
The signal that means go + the glass thing you screw into a lampAnswer: Green light bulb. Green light and light bulb.
Silly mischief + a small rectangle printed with your name and phone numberAnswer: Monkey business card. Monkey business and business card.
The silver sticky roll that fixes anything + an old machine that saved sound on cassettesAnswer: Duct tape recorder. Duct tape and tape recorder.
The soft, dark sweetener in cookie dough + a little block you drop into teaAnswer: Brown sugar cube. Brown sugar and sugar cube.
Someone glued to the sofa and the TV + a creamy picnic side dishAnswer: Couch potato salad. Couch potato and potato salad.
Someone who makes a big scene over little things + the ruler of the hiveAnswer: Drama queen bee. Drama queen and queen bee.
The spot on your elbow that tingles when bumped + fine white dishes for guestsAnswer: Funny bone china. Funny bone and bone china.
The springy plank above a pool + checkers, for oneAnswer: Diving board game. Diving board and board game.
Ten minutes off with a warm mug + spinning on your back to hip-hopAnswer: Coffee break dance. Coffee break and break dance.
Ten pins and rented shoes + a stray that prowls behind buildingsAnswer: Bowling alley cat. Bowling alley and alley cat.
Thin sheets stuffed in a gift bag + a kid's early-morning job on a bikeAnswer: Tissue paper route. Tissue paper and paper route.
Things to do while you still can + what the sticker says before any discountAnswer: Bucket list price. Bucket list and list price.
Volunteers looking for someone who is lost + a small gift guests take homeAnswer: Search party favor. Search party and party favor.
What a fortune teller gazes into + nine innings, for exampleAnswer: Crystal ball game. Crystal ball and ball game.
What comes out of the kitchen faucet + a place full of slides and splash poolsAnswer: Tap water park. Tap water and water park.
What hangs under a trapeze act + everything you own minus everything you oweAnswer: Safety net worth. Safety net and net worth.
What hits when you gulp a slushy drink + one still picture paused from a videoAnswer: Brain freeze-frame. Brain freeze and freeze-frame.
What you refill at the fountain + the small twist-off topAnswer: Water bottle cap. Water bottle and bottle cap.
What you say at bedtime + a person who stays up lateAnswer: Good night owl. Good night and night owl.
What you toss lettuce in + a college football postseason matchupAnswer: Salad bowl game. Salad bowl and bowl game.
What you wave to surrender + the no-tackle version of a fall sportAnswer: White flag football. White flag and flag football.
When the words just will not come + the whole street closes for a cookoutAnswer: Writer's block party. Writer's block and block party.
Where the musicians sit below the stage + a quick tire change in a raceAnswer: Orchestra pit stop. Orchestra pit and pit stop.
Where the trash goes + a kitchen gadget for tins of soupAnswer: Garbage can opener. Garbage can and can opener.
Where volunteers serve free hot meals + where the dirty dishes pile upAnswer: Soup kitchen sink. Soup kitchen and kitchen sink.
Where you do laps + green felt with six pocketsAnswer: Swimming pool table. Swimming pool and pool table.
Where you mail a package + when a professor's door is open to studentsAnswer: Post office hours. Post office and office hours.
Where you type a question online + the noisy heart of a shipAnswer: Search engine room. Search engine and engine room.
The white-headed national bird of the United States + very sharp visionAnswer: Bald eagle eye. Bald eagle and eagle eye.
Why it is earlier in California than in New York + guarding an area, not a playerAnswer: Time zone defense. Time zone and zone defense.
Working overnight + the button that makes capital lettersAnswer: Graveyard shift key. Graveyard shift and shift key.
You play it with a controller + a serious look before a big matchAnswer: Video game face. Video game and game face.
Your main source of income + a dull blade for spreadingAnswer: Bread and butter knife. Bread and butter and butter knife.
Three-phrase chains 32
A bouncy toy on a spring + a person drawn in a few straight lines + spins and jumps on iceAnswer: Pogo stick figure skating. Pogo stick, stick figure and figure skating.
A builder's helmet + three goals in one game + a riddle meant to fool youAnswer: Hard hat trick question. Hard hat, hat trick and trick question.
A craving for candy + she pays for what is under your pillow + once upon a timeAnswer: Sweet tooth fairy tale. Sweet tooth, tooth fairy and fairy tale.
A fair treat on a stick + dessert with a lattice crust + a graph cut in slicesAnswer: Candy apple pie chart. Candy apple, apple pie and pie chart.
A first crush + a sofa for two + click it before you driveAnswer: Puppy love seat belt. Puppy love, love seat and seat belt.
A frontier house of stacked timber + going stir-crazy indoors + a state of wild excitementAnswer: Log cabin fever pitch. Log cabin, cabin fever and fever pitch.
A group of expert researchers + a sleeveless shirt + a magician pulls a rabbit from itAnswer: Think tank top hat. Think tank, tank top and top hat.
A guitar hero on tour + a tropical five-pointed slice + a bowl of melon and grapesAnswer: Rock star fruit salad. Rock star, star fruit and fruit salad.
A kid's midday meal carrier + where tickets are sold + coworkers celebratingAnswer: Lunch box office party. Lunch box, box office and office party.
A party before the birth + it keeps the bathroom floor dry + the cast's final bowAnswer: Baby shower curtain call. Baby shower, shower curtain and curtain call.
A shot after a foul + a small sofa cushion + a sleepover battleAnswer: Free throw pillow fight. Free throw, throw pillow and pillow fight.
A strip of stores + the spotlight position + nerves before performingAnswer: Shopping center stage fright. Shopping center, center stage and stage fright.
A surprise test + trivia on TV + the entertainment industryAnswer: Pop quiz show business. Pop quiz, quiz show and show business.
A yellow ride to class + where you wait for it + a red octagonAnswer: School bus stop sign. School bus, bus stop and stop sign.
An all-star lineup + someone who works well with others + it plays itselfAnswer: Dream team player piano. Dream team, team player and player piano.
Chilly air moving in + where guests knock + a gift drawn from ticket stubs at a partyAnswer: Cold front door prize. Cold front, front door and door prize.
The driving exam + a glass vial in a lab + a long one with no heelAnswer: Road test tube sock. Road test, test tube and tube sock.
The end of a joke + country steps done in rows + where the party movesAnswer: Punch line dance floor. Punch line, line dance and dance floor.
Grades sent home + go fish, for one + a coach's strategyAnswer: Report card game plan. Report card, card game and game plan.
Hard scrubbing effort + slang for a mechanic + playground rungs to swing acrossAnswer: Elbow grease monkey bars. Elbow grease, grease monkey and monkey bars.
It blares when there is smoke + it wakes you at seven + a tall home for a town's bellAnswer: Fire alarm clock tower. Fire alarm, alarm clock and clock tower.
It holds what starts the car + one event sets off the next + how fast you hit the brakesAnswer: Key chain reaction time. Key chain, chain reaction and reaction time.
It lives in your pocket + a fat printed directory + friends who read the same novelAnswer: Cell phone book club. Cell phone, phone book and book club.
Letters to a celebrity + who fills your box each day + a bird with a message tied onAnswer: Fan mail carrier pigeon. Fan mail, mail carrier and carrier pigeon.
Low furniture by the sofa + paddles and a tiny net + a player's sore arm jointAnswer: Coffee table tennis elbow. Coffee table, table tennis and tennis elbow.
Prospectors flooding west + the worst time to drive + the short pointer on a clockAnswer: Gold rush hour hand. Gold rush, rush hour and hour hand.
Savings for later + a crispy takeout appetizer + the teacher reads every nameAnswer: Nest egg roll call. Nest egg, egg roll and roll call.
School races and tug-of-war + where toddlers spend the workday + a box of treats from homeAnswer: Field day care package. Field day, day care and care package.
Someone who never throws anything out + the daily grind + it laps the speedwayAnswer: Pack rat race car. Pack rat, rat race and race car.
Spun sugar on a paper cone + a striped fall sweet + a battered frank on a stickAnswer: Cotton candy corn dog. Cotton candy, candy corn and corn dog.
Tiny cups and stuffed guests + someone who loves a big bash + a zoo-shaped snackAnswer: Tea party animal cracker. Tea party, party animal and animal cracker.
Two fingers in a V + talking with your hands + reading and writing classAnswer: Peace sign language arts. Peace sign, sign language and language arts.
How this list was compiled: Every puzzle was written for this site by the editors. None was taken from a television game show's puzzle archive, a puzzle book or another site's list. A puzzle is built from halves: BOOK ___ HOLE has the halves bookworm and wormhole, and an overlap has one half for each clue. On 2026-09-19 each of the 836 halves in the 402 puzzles was looked up as a headword of its own. All 836 have an English entry in Wiktionary (https://en.wiktionary.org, read through its MediaWiki API: the page exists and is filed under English lemmas, English non-lemma forms or English phrases). 804 of them also have an entry page of their own at https://www.dictionary.com, and the other 32 have one in the Cambridge Dictionary at https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/. A candidate with any half that failed this two-dictionary test was dropped. Merriam-Webster and Collins were the first choice for the check, but both refused automated requests on that date, so neither was used. Dictionaries disagree about whether a compound is written closed, open or hyphenated, and the line under each answer shows one accepted spelling. No puzzle contains a film, song, show or brand name, and every card is kept clean for mixed ages. The card shows the answer the puzzle was written around; another word may fit, and the page tells hosts to accept it when both results are dictionary entries. Levels are an editor's judgment: easy uses words most children of eight or nine can read, medium is everyday adult vocabulary, and hard leans on idioms, sports terms and workplace phrases. Licence: own work