alphabetics question

[dale_grass]

Just make sure they're actually homophones...

[Mike Tennant]

On a related note, has anyone on Password ever gotten away with a clue for a homophone of the word? For instance, a clue for "flower" when the word is "flour"?

There's nothing to get away with. You can say any single word (within the boundaries of a legal clue) that you want. Nowhere in said boundaries does it say that it must be a logical clue for the word inside of the wallet.

I think the surprise is more in the fact that a homophone is a legal clue to begin with.  I, for one, wouldn't have thought so until you told me otherwise.

Not quite. The question is whether one can give a clue that leads to a homophone of the password. In the example given, if the password is "flour," the giver might choose to say "tulip" in hopes that his partner would reply "flower," which is a homophone of the password.

[Mr. Armadillo]

Ah, so I was the one that misread.  Not the first time that's happened, and certainly far from the last.

Carry on.

[Jimmy Owen]

I agree, that's the flaw in Password Plus.  If the puzzle clue password is "fall" and the puzzle is "Humpty Dumpty," the word fall does not refer to the season of fall but the action.

I fail to see where that's a flaw, if you're capable of mentally disconnecting the clue-giving and puzzle-solving parts of the game, which I would suggest is a quality a good P+ player should have.

Here's a hypothetical-The password is "reign."  The clue given is "sunshine"  Would that merit a buzz from the judge?

[Kevin Prather]

Here's a hypothetical-The password is "reign."  The clue given is "sunshine"  Would that merit a buzz from the judge?

I would say no. Now if the password was "sunshine", and the player tried to argue he was saying "reign", auto-buzz.

[trainman]

Wait, why would "rain" be the opposite of "sunshine"? For example, it's quite possible to encounter them both at the same time.

[Twentington]

Wait, why would "rain" be the opposite of "sunshine"? For example, it's quite possible to encounter them both at the same time.

Reason number whatever why the "no opposites" rule should never have been used, IMO. I don't buy cat/dog as opposites, either.

(The Harry/hairy thing reminds me — we had a discussion on the Jeopardy! forums this past week as to whether or not "don" and "dawn" are homophones. I've always said Harry and hairy the same way myself.)

[chrisholland03]

Wait, why would "rain" be the opposite of "sunshine"? For example, it's quite possible to encounter them both at the same time.

Reason number whatever why the "no opposites" rule should never have been used, IMO. I don't buy cat/dog as opposites, either.

(The Harry/hairy thing reminds me — we had a discussion on the Jeopardy! forums this past week as to whether or not "don" and "dawn" are homophones. I've always said Harry and hairy the same way myself.)

Along those lines, had an interesting conversation last night about the pronunciation of 'Barry' 'bury' and 'berry'.  And yes, they like 'Harry' and 'hairy' have different pronunciations.

[clemon79]

Reason number whatever why the "no opposites" rule should never have been used, IMO.

I am *so* glad we disagree on this.