1206Why is a rabbit not required to take the temperance pledge?為什麼兔子不用簽戒酒承諾?⌄
答案:He never drinks. — 牠never drinks。 drink在戒酒語境指喝酒,不是喝水;不可把玩笑讀成兔子不需飲水。
Q01207英文雙關
1207My first is an article of clothing; my first and second combined form a trade; my third is a conjunction; my whole is the name of a cape.前半是衣物,前兩段合起來是職業,第三段是連線詞,完整的是海角名。是什麼?⌄
1213What stream of water contains, (1) a chart, (2) an animal, (3) a toy, (4) two kitchen utensils, (5) three nicknames, (6) an article of clothing, (7) two articles of furniture, (8) a river, (9) a bird, (10) a ditch, (11) a preposition, (12) to strike, (13) quick, (14) a resting-place for troops.哪條河的英名裡能重排出地圖、動物、玩具、兩件廚房工具、三個暱稱、衣物、兩件傢俱、河、鳥、壕溝、介系詞、擊打、靈巧與軍營?⌄
1214When are children in danger of forming bad habits?孩子什麼時候容易養成壞習慣?⌄
答案:When they linger round the bars. — 當他們常徘徊在bars附近。 bars可指欄杆,也可指酒吧;答案把靠近欄杆偷換成流連酒吧。
Q01215英文雙關
1215Why is a boy crying to be helped over a rail fence like a lawyer?男孩哭著求幫忙跨越柵欄,為什麼像律師?⌄
答案:He pleads at the bar. — He pleads at the bar。 plead是懇求或辯護;bar既是柵欄橫桿,也可指法庭,雙重用法把求助變成出庭。
Q01216英文雙關
1216I am in the men, but not in the boys. I am in the playthings, but not in the toys. I am in the north, but not in the south. I am in the nose, but not in the mouth. I am in the minister, but not in his hat. I am in the kitten, but not in the cat. I am in the barn, but not in the floor. I am in the window, but not in the door. I am in the county, but not in the state. I am in the pencil, but not in the slate.我在men不在boys,在playthings不在toys,在north不在south,在nose不在mouth,在minister不在hat,在kitten不在cat,在barn不在floor,在window不在door,在county不在state,在pencil不在slate。是什麼?⌄
答案:The letter N. — 字母N。 每組前詞都含n,後詞都不含n;詩句中的「在」是拼字位置,不是物理位置。
Q01217英文雙關
1217Why is a side-saddle like a four-quart measure?為什麼側坐式馬鞍像四誇脫的量器?⌄
答案:It holds a gal on. — It holds a gal on。 gal on是女孩坐在上面,與gallon(加侖)近音;四誇脫是一加侖。
Q01218英文雙關
1218Why is "i" the happiest of the vowels?為什麼i是最快樂的母音?⌄
答案:Because “i” is in the midst of bliss, “e” is in hell, and all the others in purgatory. — i在bliss中央,e在hell,其他母音在purgatory。 bliss含i,hell含e,purgatory含a、o、u;情緒和死後世界的詞被改讀為字母的居住地。
Q01219英文雙關
1219My first, though originally an animal, now-a-days often goes by steam; though commonly used for eating, is now much used to punch holes with; though hitherto considered rather sheepish than otherwise, in these times goes to war. My second lies before you; waits to do your bidding; is both black and white at the same time; can draw tears or provoke laughter; carry messages and convey instruction. Entire, I imply a disturbed state of mind, which has extended itself to the body, leading a looker-on to indulge great expectations that something is going to happen.前半原本是動物,卻也能由蒸汽驅動、吃、撞孔或上戰場;後半就在你面前,黑白兼有,可使人笑或哭、傳話和教學;合起來是激烈失控的狀態。是什麼?⌄
1220Add a letter to a pronoun, and make a preposition; another, and make a noun; add another at either end, and make a verb; another, and make another noun.給代名詞加一字母成介系詞,再加一個成名詞;再從首或尾加字母成動詞,再加一個成名詞。怎麼變?⌄
答案:I, in, pin, spin or pine, spine. — I、in、pin、spin或pine、spine。 I→in→pin;pin可在前加s成spin,或在後加e成pine,最後補另一字母都成spine。
Q01221英文雙關
1221Add a letter to a man, and make a pearl.給一位男士的英文稱號加一字母,得到珍珠。怎麼變?⌄
1222To a word of consent join the first half of fright, Next subjoin what you never beheld in the night; Now, these rightly connected, we quickly obtain What numbers have seen, but will ne’er see again.表示同意的詞,加上「恐懼」的前半,再加夜裡見不到的東西,得到許多人見過卻不會再見的東西。是什麼?⌄
1223My first it is a curious thing, Of Nature’s own produce, And many who have lost a limb Have found it of great use. By my second’s wondrous power Ships are made with ease, To stem against both wind and tide Across the boundless seas. My whole is very often found Together with my first, And comes in very handy When you would quench your thirst.前半是自然產物,也可用於義肢;後半的力量可推船逆風逆水;完整的我常和前半一起出現,喝東西時很方便。是什麼?⌄
1235If a stupid fellow was going up for a competitive examination, why should he study the letter P?一個笨蛋要參加競爭性的考試,為什麼該研究字母 P?⌄
答案:Because P makes ass Pass. — 因為 P 能讓 ass 變成 pass。 ass 可指笨蛋;在 ass 前加 P,拼成 pass(透過),將考試透過轉成加字母。
Q01236英文雙關
1236Why is a Member of Parliament like a shrimp?國會議員為什麼像蝦子?⌄
答案:Because he has M. P. at the end of his name. — 因為他的名稱結尾是 M. P.。 Member of Parliament 常縮寫為 MP;shrimp(蝦)的最後兩個字母也正是 mp。
Q01237英文雙關
1237Why is a barn-door fowl sitting on a gate like a half-penny?停在門上的家禽,為什麼像一枚半便士硬幣?⌄
答案:Because its head is on one side and its tail on the other. — 因為頭在一邊,尾在另一邊。 家禽的 head、tail 是身體兩端;硬幣的 head、tail 則是正反兩面。相同的頭、尾稱呼成了比喻的關鍵。
Q01238英文雙關
1238Why is a chronometer like thingumbob?精密時計為什麼像「那個叫什麼來著的東西」?⌄
答案:Because it's a watch-you-may-call-it. — 因為它是 a watch-you-may-call-it。 thingumbob 是一時叫不出名字的東西,類似 what-you-may-call-it。把 what 換成 watch(錶),就得到原答的時計雙關。
Q01239英文雙關
1239Name in two letters the destiny of all earthly things?用兩個英文字母,說出世間萬物的命運。⌄
答案:D. K. — D. K.。 D、K 的字母名稱連讀近似 decay(衰敗),將兩個字母的讀音當成答案。
Q01240英文雙關
1240Why is the letter D like a wedding-ring?字母 D 為什麼像婚戒?⌄
答案:Because we cannot be wed without it. — 因為沒有它,我們就不能是 wed。 wed 表示結婚;拿掉 D,就不再拼成 wed。婚戒的傳統象徵與拼字所需的 D 被拿來相比,並非宣稱婚戒是合法結婚的必要條件。
Q01241英文雙關
1241Which tree is most suggestive of kissing?哪種樹最讓人想到接吻?⌄
答案:Yew. — Yew,紫杉。 yew 與 you 同音,答案聽起來像「你」:想到親吻你,而不是樹本身有親吻能力。
Q01242英文雙關
1242What letter is the pleasantest to a deaf woman?哪個字母最能讓聽不見的女士高興?⌄
答案:A, because it makes her hear. — A,因為它 makes her hear。 在 her 中間加 A,會拼成 hear(聽見)。笑點完全是字母位置變化,並非聲稱加字母能恢復聽力。
Q01243英文雙關
1243Why does a duck put his head under water?鴨子為什麼把頭伸到水下?⌄
答案:For divers reasons. — For divers reasons。 divers 是各種各樣的舊式用詞;divers 又可指潛水者。原答把各種理由與潛水連在一起。
Q01244英文雙關
1244Why is the letter W like a maid of honor?字母 W 為什麼像宮廷侍女?⌄
答案:Because it is always in waiting. — 因為它總是在 waiting 裡。 waiting 一詞含有 W;宮廷侍女的職責是服侍,與 in waiting(待命、侍從身分)的用法相連。原題採用宮廷 maid of honor 的舊義。
Q01245英文雙關
1245Why is the letter F like a cow's tail?字母 F 為什麼像牛尾巴?⌄
答案:Because it is the end of beef. — 因為它是 beef 的末端。 beef(牛肉)的最後一個字母是 F;牛尾位於牛的後端。把動物身體的末端換成英文字的末端。
Q01246英文雙關
1246What is Majesty, deprived of its externals?Majesty 去掉最外面的部分,會剩下什麼?⌄
答案:A jest. — A jest,一個玩笑。 MAJESTY 去掉首尾的 M、Y,留下 AJEST;分開讀成 A JEST(一個玩笑),由威嚴轉成笑話。
Q01247英文雙關
1247If a man gets up on a donkey, where should he get down?一個人騎上驢子後,要去哪裡 get down?⌄
答案:From a swan's breast. — 從天鵝的胸部取。 get down 通常讓人想到下來;down 也可指細軟絨羽。原答改按取得絨羽來理解,並未回答如何下驢。
Q01248英文雙關
1248My first, gentle lady, you give to the youth Who now breathes the fond wish of his soul; Whom with ardent affection, and honor and truth, You perceive is needed in my whole. In my snug little second, secure from the storm, We the helpless and innocent find; And my whole, when a contract or bargain you form, You should give, the agreement to bind.溫柔的女士,你把第一部分給了正在傾訴心願的青年;他帶著熱烈情意、榮譽與真誠,讓你明白整體所需的認真。在我舒適的第二部分裡,無助與天真的生命躲開風暴;訂立契約或交易時,你也應交付整體,以確定協議。猜哪個英文詞?⌄
答案:EARNEST — EAR(耳)+NEST(巢)=EARNEST(認真的;定金)。 give an ear 是傾聽;nest 是可避風雨的巢。EARNEST 既有認真、真誠的意思,也可作訂約定金,讓前半的情意與後半交易連起來。
Q01249英文雙關
1249Perhaps you may know That centuries ago My name the world was unknown; But now 'tis allow'd In the midst of a crowd I am met with in every town. Though varied each lot, In life I have got, Yet nothing my course e'er endangers; And wherever I go So familiar I grow That I am nodded to even by strangers. I am cunning and bold, For young or for old I fear not, but bawl out aloud; Pugnacious, you'll say, For I knock down by scores in a crowd. I lie and mislead, So I pray you take heed; My art's like a point of a thistle; Be nice in your choice, Take Franklin's advice, And don't pay too much for your whistle.你也許知道,多個世紀前世人不認識我的名字,如今各城人群中都有我。我遇到不同的 lot,行程卻不受阻;連陌生人也向我點頭。我機敏大膽,面對老少都大聲喊叫;你會說我好鬥,因為我在人群中成批 knock down。我也可能說謊誤導,你得慎選,記住富蘭克林的勸告,別為哨子付太多錢。猜原詩說的是誰?⌄
答案:AUCTIONEER — Auctioneer,拍賣師。 lot 可以是人生際遇,也可指一批拍品;點頭能出價,knock down 除了擊倒,也指拍板成交。原詩以打架般的語言藏起拍賣場景;其人物自述與開頭修辭不是拍賣職業起源或所有從業者品行的事實證明。
Q01250英文雙關
1250Why is a game of tennis like a party of children?網球比賽為什麼像一群孩子的聚會?⌄
答案:There is always a racket. — 因為總有 racket。 racket 可指網球拍,也可指吵鬧聲;兩種場景各用其中一個意思。
Q01251英文雙關
1251A hundred and fifty, when joined to a tree, Makes a fine garment that warms you and me.一百五十接上一棵樹,便成了能替你我保暖的衣服。猜哪個英文詞?⌄
1252I with a pen my first display; My next increases day by day. My whole is fraught with anxious fears For those who'd hope for many years.第一部分可以用筆寫出;第二部分天天增加。整體則讓盼望長壽的人感到憂慮。猜哪個英文詞?⌄
1253The Catholic Church my first maintains; My next consists of poles and chains. Distinctive whole—may'st thou ne'er brand With foul disgrace our native land.天主教會舉行第一部分;第二部分與 poles、chains 的土地測量有關。願整體所指之事永遠不要使我們的家鄉蒙羞。猜哪個英文詞?⌄
答案:MASSACRE — MASS(彌撒)+ACRE(英畝)=MASSACRE(屠殺)。 mass 是彌撒;acre 是土地面積單位,測量可用 pole、chain 等傳統單位。兩段相接卻轉成暴行名稱,與宗教儀式或土地本身不同。
Q01254英文雙關
1254Add two-thirds of an inn to a couple of asses, You'll then see a brute that all other surpasses.把 inn 的三分之二接到兩隻驢後面,就會看到比其他野獸更殘暴者。猜哪個英文詞?⌄
答案:ASSASSIN — ASS+ASS+IN=ASSASSIN(刺客)。 一隻驢的英文是 ass,兩個 ASS 接在一起;IN 是 INN 前三分之二的字母。合成 ASSASSIN 後,動物轉成人的稱謂。
Q01255英文雙關
1255My first denotes a company, of any art or trade, My second is a holy maid, whose vows to God are made; My third, though hollow in the head, can make a wondrous sound, My whole creates a cheerful laugh when mirth and wit go round.第一部分表示公司,不論行業;第二部分是向上帝宣誓的女子;第三部分的頭雖中空,卻能發出美妙聲音。整體在人們談笑時讓人開懷。猜哪個英文詞?⌄
1256My whole a poet's name displays, Whose fame will last for evermore; Decapitate, and what remains Does it express what goes before; Curtail my last, and mark the pains Of industry to hoard a store. Curtailed again, my head replace, And you will greet a boyish face.整體是一位名聲長存的詩人。去頭後,剩下的表示「之前」;再去尾,可看見辛勤儲存的生命;再次去尾,把原來的頭接回前面,就見到一個男孩名字。猜哪個英文詞?⌄
答案:DANTE — DANTE(但丁);各步是 ANTE、ANT、AN、DAN。 DANTE 去頭 D 得 ANTE(拉丁文的之前),去尾 E 得 ANT(螞蟻),再去尾 T 得 AN;把原來的 D 接回前面,成 DAN。所有操作由原詩的去頭、去尾及還頭指示得出。
Q01257英文雙關
1257I dwell where mighty billows roar, Though sometimes cast upon the shore; Beheaded, then, alas! you'll find A name terrific to the mind; Behead once more, if 'tis your pleasure, And I become a simple measure.我住在巨浪轟鳴的地方,有時被沖到岸上。去頭後,成了令人驚懼的名字;再去頭,就變成一個度量單位。猜這組英文詞?⌄
1258My first, my second, and my whole, Are every one the same; In point of meaning, each and all, An oft repeated name.第一部分、第二部分與整個詞,每一個意思都一樣,都是常常重複的稱呼。猜哪個英文詞?⌄
答案:Charade: Mama or papa. — Mama 或 papa。 MA+MA=MAMA 都表示媽媽;PA+PA=PAPA 都表示爸爸。兩段及整體的意思相同。原書給兩個同機制答案,只計一題。
Q01259英文雙關
1259Four jolly men sat down to play, And played all night till break of day; They played for gold and not for fun, With separate scores for every one, Yet, when they came to square accounts, They all had made quite fair amounts! Can you the paradox explain? If no one lost, how could all gain?四個快樂的男人坐下來 play,一直持續到天亮。他們為錢而 play,不只是取樂,而且各自都有 scores。結算時,人人都賺了不少;若沒有人輸,怎麼人人都能贏?⌄
答案:The players who all won were fiddlers in the German band and gained $5 per night. I did not intimate they were card players. — 他們是德國樂團的小提琴手,每晚收入5美元;原書並沒有說他們在打牌。 play 同時可以是玩遊戲與演奏,scores 可以是比分與樂譜。題目誘使人想到互相輸贏的賭局,原解卻是靠演奏賺收入,所以人人都能有所得。
Q01260英文雙關
1260To thee my first in days of yore, A king has kneel’d with feelings sore; His loss my next will bring to view, But hope my whole rests not on you.古時國王曾苦惱地跪在我的第一部分前;他的損失顯示我的第二部分,但希望整個詞不會落在你身上。猜什麼英文詞?⌄
1262Which is easier to spell—fiddle-de-dee or fiddle-de-dum?fiddle-de-dee與fiddle-de-dum,哪一個比較容易拼?⌄
答案:The former, because it is spelt with more e’s. — 前者,因為它有更多e’s。 e’s是字母e的複數,讀音近ease(輕鬆);前者有更多e,便被玩笑地說成更有ease。這不是判定學習難度的事實。
Q01263英文雙關
1263If you drive a nail in a board and clinch it on the other side, why is it like a sick man?把釘子打進木板,再在背面把釘尖彎緊,它為什麼像生病的人?⌄
答案:Because it is in firm. — 因為它in firm。 in firm說釘子牢牢釘進去,連讀近infirm(虛弱、病弱)。原文把固定狀態與人的健康形容詞借音對照。
Q01264英文雙關
1264What is that which is black, white and red all over, which shows some people to be green, and makes others look blue?什麼東西黑白相間、全身都是red,能讓有些人顯得green,讓另一些人看起來blue?⌄
1265Now, if you wish, Behead a fish. “To listen” you’ll discover; Once more behead, And find instead A small close chest, or coffer.一種魚的英文名稱去掉首字母,便是「聽!」;再去掉首字母,便是一個小箱子或匣子。是哪種魚?⌄
答案:Because it saw the lamb-chop. — 因為它看見lamb-chop。 wood-saw原是木鋸,題目又把saw讀成see的過去式「看見」;lamb-chop是羊排,另拆成「羊砍切」。這是複合詞拆讀的擬人笑話,並非木頭或羊真的會做那些動作。
Q01267英文雙關
1267Upon the check’rd battle field, I’m foremost in the ranks; My second makes a certain din ’Mongst railways, stocks and banks. My whole though sanctioned by the law To succor the distress’d, Is but, at least I think it so, A doubtful good at best.第一部分在方格戰場的隊伍前排;第二部分活躍於鐵路、股票和銀行。整體受法律允許,救濟困頓的人,但詩人仍認為它的好處可疑。猜哪個英文詞?⌄
1268Curtail me, and I’m what you use To do my whole, ’tis true, And which I’m sure few will refuse, Woe be to them who do!去掉我的最後一個字母,就得到你用來做原本那個動作的東西;很少有人拒絕這個動作,拒絕的人可不妙。猜什麼英文詞?⌄
答案:Breathe or Kneel. — Breathe(呼吸)或Kneel(跪下)。 Breathe去e成Breath(氣息);Kneel去l成Knee(膝蓋)。原書給兩個答案,保留為同一題,不分拆補數。末句對跪拜的態度是原詩歷史修辭。
Q01269英文雙關
1269I’m of little importance, so off with my head; To a foe I might then be the terror and dread. Decapitate twice, and reverse what remains. And lo! you’ve a wandering sprite for your pains.我本來微不足道;去頭後能使敵人恐懼。再去頭兩次,將剩下的字母倒轉,便得到遊走的小精靈。猜原詞。⌄
1270Entire I am capital; curtail me and I am capital still; but behead and transpose me and I am looking for capital.完整時我是capital;去尾後仍是capital;但去頭再重排,我就會去找capital。猜什麼英文詞?⌄
1271Though of my first the quack may boast, My next he cannot cure; Who do my whole along the coast Should punishment endure.庸醫可以吹噓我的第一部分,卻無法治好我的後一部分;若有人沿海岸做出整個詞的行為,便應受懲罰。猜什麼英文詞?⌄
1272My first, dear ladies, you will find, Is of my second made; My whole with pleasure is designed Upon my first to wait.親愛的女士們,第一部分是由第二部分made而成;整體欣然為第一部分服務。猜什麼英文詞?⌄