The Word Snoop (21 page)
Authors: Ursula Dubosarsky
Onomatopoeia
—words that suggest the sound something makes. For example,
woof
for the barking of a dog.
—words that suggest the sound something makes. For example,
woof
for the barking of a dog.
Oronyms
—phrases that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. For example, “ice cream” and “I scream.” Note, generally the word
homophone
is used to describe one of a pair of words that have the same sound (“allowed” and “aloud”), while
oronym
refers to strings of words or phrases (“iced ink” and “I stink”).
—phrases that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. For example, “ice cream” and “I scream.” Note, generally the word
homophone
is used to describe one of a pair of words that have the same sound (“allowed” and “aloud”), while
oronym
refers to strings of words or phrases (“iced ink” and “I stink”).
Oxymoron
—an expression that seems to contradict itself. For example, it was freezing hot!
—an expression that seems to contradict itself. For example, it was freezing hot!
Palindrome
—a word or phrase that reads the same backward as forward. For example, radar.
—a word or phrase that reads the same backward as forward. For example, radar.
Pangram
—a sentence that uses every letter in the alphabet
—a sentence that uses every letter in the alphabet
Pen name
—a false or extra name taken on by a writer instead of their real name
—a false or extra name taken on by a writer instead of their real name
Pig Latin
—one of many playful ways of making ordinary language hard for others to understand, by adding extra sounds. For example, Ave-hay ou-yay et-may e-thay Ord-way Noop-say?
—one of many playful ways of making ordinary language hard for others to understand, by adding extra sounds. For example, Ave-hay ou-yay et-may e-thay Ord-way Noop-say?
Portmanteau word
—a word made up by putting two different words together, and usually losing a bit of each word. For example,
blog
for “web” and “log.”
—a word made up by putting two different words together, and usually losing a bit of each word. For example,
blog
for “web” and “log.”
Punctuation
—a system of symbols that are added to written words to show meaning
—a system of symbols that are added to written words to show meaning
Pun
—purposely using a word with two meanings, usually to make a joke. For example: Why won’t a circus lion eat the clowns? Because they taste funny.
—purposely using a word with two meanings, usually to make a joke. For example: Why won’t a circus lion eat the clowns? Because they taste funny.
Rebus
—using pictures or symbols to represent words or sounds
—using pictures or symbols to represent words or sounds
Rhyming slang
—replacing a word or phrase with a rhyming word or phrase. For example,
wooden pegs
for “legs.”
—replacing a word or phrase with a rhyming word or phrase. For example,
wooden pegs
for “legs.”
Silent letter
—a letter in a word that is not pronounced. For example, the
k
in
knock
.
—a letter in a word that is not pronounced. For example, the
k
in
knock
.
Smileys
—signs made from punctuation marks used in e-mails and text messages to show emotions, like happiness :-). Also called emoticons.
—signs made from punctuation marks used in e-mails and text messages to show emotions, like happiness :-). Also called emoticons.
Spoonerism
—mixing up the sounds of words with a funny effect. For example, “wave the sails” for “save the whales.”
—mixing up the sounds of words with a funny effect. For example, “wave the sails” for “save the whales.”
Tautology
—saying the same thing twice in one expression. For example, smelly aroma.
—saying the same thing twice in one expression. For example, smelly aroma.
Telegramese
—a very short way of writing used in telegrams, which are an old form of electronic communication
—a very short way of writing used in telegrams, which are an old form of electronic communication
Texting
—a message sent through a mobile phone
—a message sent through a mobile phone
Tom Swifty
—a kind of pun, named after a book character called Tom Swift, where a word is used to describe someone’s dialogue in a clever way. For example, “Don’t you like snakes?” hissed Tom.
—a kind of pun, named after a book character called Tom Swift, where a word is used to describe someone’s dialogue in a clever way. For example, “Don’t you like snakes?” hissed Tom.
Tongue twister
—a phrase that is very hard to say because of the repetition of similar sounds. For example, Six thick thistle sticks.
—a phrase that is very hard to say because of the repetition of similar sounds. For example, Six thick thistle sticks.
The Keys to the Word Snoop’s Codes
Hello, Word Snoops. How did you do with all those codes? Did you decipher my message?
Hmm, maybe some of the codes were a bit too tricky. Well, in that case, here are some keys that will help you unlock the codes and work out the message, just like opening a locked door and finding what’s inside . . .
So go on, snoops—have another go!
CHAPTER ONE
Key
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
ZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
So A = Z B = Y etc.
Key
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
ZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
So A = Z B = Y etc.
CHAPTER TWO
Key
Adding a silent letter to every second letter
So “hakrdkly” = hardly
Key
Adding a silent letter to every second letter
So “hakrdkly” = hardly
CHAPTER THREE
Key
! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _ + { } [ ] : ” ; ‘ < > ? , . /
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
So A = !, B = @ etc.
Key
! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _ + { } [ ] : ” ; ‘ < > ? , . /
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
So A = !, B = @ etc.
CHAPTER FOUR
Key
A vital letter is left out
So “Ould you ome to the akeshop for a upake?”=
Could you come to the cakeshop for a cupcake?
Key
A vital letter is left out
So “Ould you ome to the akeshop for a upake?”=
Could you come to the cakeshop for a cupcake?
CHAPTER FIVE
Key
A backward code
So “drawkcab nettirw si egassem siht”=
this message is written backward
Key
A backward code
So “drawkcab nettirw si egassem siht”=
this message is written backward
CHAPTER SIX
Key
A rebus code
So “ACDEFG”= Begone! (“B” gone
—
get it?)
Key
A rebus code
So “ACDEFG”= Begone! (“B” gone
—
get it?)
CHAPTER SEVEN
Key
A “say it out loud” code
So “Kan ute rye took rack thee scoad?”=
Can you try to crack this code?
Key
A “say it out loud” code
So “Kan ute rye took rack thee scoad?”=
Can you try to crack this code?
CHAPTER EIGHT
Key
A first letter code
So “Better Eaten When Ants Rushing Everywhere”=
BEWARE
Key
A first letter code
So “Better Eaten When Ants Rushing Everywhere”=
BEWARE
CHAPTER NINE
Key
A numbered letter code
So: My first is in strawberries
My second is in snow pea
My third and fourth are in blood oranges
My fifth is in bosc-pear
My sixth is in grapes
= snoops
Key
A numbered letter code
So: My first is in strawberries
My second is in snow pea
My third and fourth are in blood oranges
My fifth is in bosc-pear
My sixth is in grapes
= snoops
CHAPTER TEN
Key
A mobile phone code related to the numbers you
would press if you were texting
So A = 2.1 (press the “2” key once)
B = 2.2 (press the “2” key twice)
C = 2.3 (press the “2” key three times)
etc.
Key
A mobile phone code related to the numbers you
would press if you were texting
So A = 2.1 (press the “2” key once)
B = 2.2 (press the “2” key twice)
C = 2.3 (press the “2” key three times)
etc.
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