August 2024 Newsletter

Welcome to August’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!

  • You get success in cans, not can’ts’

  • Once you’ve said it, you cannot unsay it, so engage brain before operating mouth.

  • Why on Earth is it that we all so often underestimate the power of the mind?

  • We all make mistakes, but only the wisest learn well from them.

  • When you hit rock bottom it’s horrible, but it makes the bouncing back up all the sweeter.

  1. Congeries (a) processions (b) disordered collection (c) skin infection

  2. Idiopathy (a) folly (b) undiagnosable illness (c) unique medicine

  3. Stabile (a) abstract structure (b) steady (c) wing trim

  4. Dicynodont (a) tooth extractor (b) skeletal node (c) fossilised mammal

  5. Telic (a) with a purpose (b) very old (c) wordy

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

  1. A.F.I.L.A.W. Terrible justification for wickedness

  2. M.H.M.L.W. Success in cooperation

  3. T.M.C.S.T.B. Failure in non—cooperation

  4. T.B.F.Y.B. Plain arrogant and conceited?

  5. B.T.S. Where the real hard graft happens

What are the rhyming phrases suggested by these clues?

  1. B.F. Not quite equitably done

  2. H.P. Lusty type

  3. G.D. Novice faculty head

  4. C.T. Navel of one sloppily eating cake?

  5. G.R. Soft hiring?

Chuckle Lines

Sport:

  • ‘I never comment on referees, and I’m not going to break the habit of a lifetime for that prat.’ Ron Atkinson

  • ‘Being thick isn’t an affliction if you’re a footballer, because your brains need to be in your feet.’ Brian Clough

  • ‘Rugby is a game for the mentally deficient… That is why it was invented by the British. Who else but an Englishman could invent an oval ball?’ Peter Pook

  • ‘Every time I went to tackle Phil Horrocks-Taylor, Horrocks went one way, Taylor went the other, and all I got was the bloody hyphen!’ Nick England

  • ‘My doctor told me I should have a complete break from football so I became manager of Wolves.’ Tommy Docherty

  • ‘An atheist is a person who watches a Liverpool versus Everton match and doesn’t care who wins.’ Bill Shankly

  • ‘Don’t tell those coming in now the result of that fantastic match. Now, let’s have another look at Italy’s winning goal.’ David Coleman

  • ‘We haven’t had any more rain since it stopped raining.’ Harry Carpenter

 

Signing off until next time...

Professor Rebus

Solve clues with us on Instagram at @pitcherwits

Answers:

What’s the meaning?
1. b

2. b

3. a

4. c

5. a

What’s that phrase?
1. All’s fair in love and war

2. Many hands make light work

3. Too many cooks spoil the broth

4. Too big for your boots

5. Behind the scenes


Rhyme time
1. Barely Fairly
2. Hearty Party
3. Green Dean
4. Crummie Tummy
5. Gentle Rental

Professor Rebus