February 2024 Newsletter

Welcome to February's edition of Philosopher's Tone! I'm your host, Professor Rebus, and I'm delighted to have you aboard the Pitcherwits™ Express. What can you expect? A monthly dose of bonus puzzles, wisdom and snippets about the English language! I hope you enjoy this month's publication.

A quick reminder that the puzzle PDF downloads are now fillable, meaning you can fill them out on your computer instead of having to print them. Before you try to fill them in, save the file to your desktop first instead of opening the file in your internet browser, otherwise they won't work properly.

Onwards!

  • What is freedom? Surely a chance to do better?

  • Good to do what the wise do – even better to work at getting what they’ve got.

  • Being able to laugh at yourself when you deserve it, is a sign of real maturity and self-worth.

  • Easy to be overwhelmed by all the evil in the world, but remember that there is still much good and kindness in it too. You might have to look harder for it though.

  • High achievers – in any aspect of life – can because they think they can.

  1. Gibberellin (a) hobgoblin (b) plant hormones (c) rubbish-talker

  2. Importunate (a) very awkward (b) incongruous (c) persistent

  3. Proboscidean (a) elephant (b) hard stone (c) pointed

  4. Soutache (a) braid (b) side-whiskers (c) stubble

From the initials and the clue, what’s the phrase?

  1. H.M.B.M.F. Know this, capable one!

  2. A.M.T.H.G.F. Love ‘em more at a distance.

  3. A.A.A.D.K.T.D.A. Stay healthy with this one of your five-a -day.

  4. A.M.I.A.G.A.A.M. Just getting close gets you no score.

  5. A.S.I.A.T. Big fuss over triviality.

What are the rhyming phrases suggested by these clues?

  1. C.D. Cuddly toy for the sheepdog

  2. D.L. Well-dressed dog at his bowl

  3. H.L. With which to cut the chute down?

  4. B.D. More reliable one who owes you

  5. O.B. Alternative sibling

Chuckle Lines

  • ‘The early bird may get the worm, but it’s the second mouse that gets the cheese.’ Jeremy Paxman

  • ‘I’d like to go there. But if Jeffrey Archer is there I want to go to Lewisham.’ Spike Milligan on Heaven

  • ‘You’re so gorgeous, I bet even the bags under your eyes are made by Gucci.’ Kenny Everett

  • ‘So I was getting into my car, and this bloke says to me, ‘Can you give me a lift?’ I said, ‘Sure, you look great, the world’s your oyster, go for it.’ Tommy Cooper

  • ‘How long was I in the army? Five foot ten.’ Spike Milligan

  • ‘I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don’t know the answer.’ Douglas Adams

 

Signing off until next time...

Professor Rebus

Solve clues with us on Instagram at @pitcherwits

Answers:

What’s the meaning?
1. b
2. c
3. a
4. a
5. b

What’s that phrase?
1. How many beans make five?
2. Absence makes the heart grow fonder
3. An apple a day keeps the doctor away
4. A miss is as good as a mile
5. A storm in a teacup

Rhyme time
1. Collie dolly
2. Dapper lapper
3. Hopper lopper
4. Better debtor
5. Other brother

Professor Rebus