Close but No Cigar
Advice vs. advise: the noun
What is advice? To advise (the verb) is to give advice.
On March 10, Canada and the United States switch to this time.
What is daylight saving time? We turn our clocks ahead one hour. An effortless way to remember which way to turn the clocks is “spring forward, fall back.”
This never strikes twice.
What is lightning? Tell that to the Empire State Building, which gets struck around 25 times a year.
These large, spooky birds typically hoot.
What are owls? Some owls make other sounds, such as bloodcurdling shrieks, cackles, hoots, caws, and gurgles.
This comedy duo gave us “Who’s on First?”
Who are Abbott and Costello? They began working together in New York’s Eltinge Theater, and they were one of radio’s most popular acts.
Accept vs. except: the verb that means to receive
What is accept? Except means to exclude or leave out.
The poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth describes these flowers that bloom in March.
What are daffodils? The first stanza reads: “I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze."
To go after a seemingly impossible dream is to chase one of these.
What is a rainbow? The chance of catching a literal rainbow on any given day approaches zero.
Mayors sometimes honor dignitaries with this symbolic gift.
What is the key to the city? During ancient times, the key to the city opened a gate in the wall surrounding the city. Today, it’s symbolic.
His Christmas specials and USO tours brought comic relief to the U.S. military in war zones.
Who is Bob Hope? He also performed on radio’s The Pepsodent Show as well as on TV and film.
Principal vs. principle: the head of a school
What is principal? An easy way to remember this is that a pal is a person. Principle is a value or tenet.
In the United States, this Japanese national flower begins to bloom in March
What is cherry blossom? The original 2,000 cherry blossom trees Japan gifted the United States were destroyed by pests and disease, but they gave a second gift of 3,000 trees, which you can see in Washington, D.C. Look but don’t pick the blossoms from those gifts, because it’s illegal to do so.
When feeling sick, we might say we’re under this.
What is the weather? This idiom’s origins may be traced to sailors who felt seasick. They were sent below deck, out of the way of—or under—the weather.
This extends beneath the ear.
What is the earlobe? The earlobe helps maintain balance and provides warmth to the ear.
This jazz musician was also known as “Satchmo” and “Pops.”
Who is Louis Armstrong? His greatest hits include “What a Wonderful World” and “Hello, Dolly!”
Censor vs. censure: a reprimand or criticism
What is censure? Censor means to remove harmful material. The problem is that determining what material is harmful is a subjective exercise.
On the first day of spring, the first glimpse of the sun since the polar night happens here.
What is the Arctic Circle? The polar night lasts approximately one month, when there is no sign of the sun.
When people go through an unsuccessful period, they go through this kind of spell.
What is dry? A dry spell might be caused by a drought of ideas.
This airline booked reservations for the first flight to the moon.
What is Pan Am? They booked 90,000 reservations, but the flight never happened. Today, SpaceX and others are pioneering space tourism travel.
This president’s fireside chats were a series of nighttime radio speeches.
Who is President Franklin D. Roosevelt? Roosevelt was the first president to use radio instead of newspaper for mass communication with the American people. FDR was a brilliant communicator who used the fireside chats to persuade his audience.
Inequity vs. iniquity: wickedness or sin
What is iniquity? Inequity means unequal, unfair, or biased.
This is the name for the full moon in March.
What is worm moon? Many believe the name comes from earthworms that begin to appear in March. Another explanation is beetle larvae begin to emerge.
When a car flies by you on the highway, you might say that it’s moving like this kind of lightning.
What is greased?
He was Mary Todd’s famous husband.
Who is President Abraham Lincoln? Mary Todd Lincoln was a tragic figure. Her mother passed away when she was a young child. Her husband was assassinated, and she lost three of her four children.
This show, originally named The Detective, opens with “Who knows what lurks in the hearts of men?”
What is The Shadow? After the opening question, the narrator answers, “The Shadow knows.” It was one of the most popular radio shows of its time, and people still quote these opening lines.