Countdown words spotted in real life

All discussion relevant to Countdown that is not too spoilerific. New members: come here first to introduce yourself. We don't bite, or at least rarely.
User avatar
Charlie Reams
Site Admin
Posts: 9494
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
Location: Cambridge
Contact:

Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Charlie Reams »

I read an interview with Mark Nyman once in which he said how excited he'd been when, having known ONAGER for years only as an anagram of ORANGE, he'd been to the zoo and seen a real-life onager.

A similar thing happened to me today when I found IKEBANA in the Guardian crossword. The clue was "Japanese flower arranging" and had to fit I?????A. I thought of IPOMOEA and IKEBANA, and had no real idea what either meant, but they looked vaguely like Japanese orthography so I asked a friendly Japanese-speaker (never too far away in the computing world) what they meant. Ikebana fit the bill; it turns out ipomoea is a plant and the word is Greek, but it wasn't a bad guess.

Anyway this made me happy so I wanted to share it. Anyone else seen a tangelo in the wild or been given a television airdate?
User avatar
Michael Wallace
Racoonteur
Posts: 5458
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:01 am
Location: London

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Michael Wallace »

I think it would be interesting to know who has worn a LEOTARD, ideally with photographic evidence.

(No, not really.)
Pete Fraser
Newbie
Posts: 23
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:09 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Pete Fraser »

Charlie Reams wrote:Anyone else seen a tangelo in the wild?
No, the agoutis ate them all.
User avatar
Phil Reynolds
Postmaster General
Posts: 3329
Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2008 3:43 pm
Location: Leamington Spa, UK

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Phil Reynolds »

I've slept with a dacoit.
User avatar
Joseph Bolas
Fanatic
Posts: 2446
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:19 am
Location: Liverpool, UK

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Joseph Bolas »

MIKADO has appeared a few times on Countdown and there's a packet of biscuits called Mikado

Image
User avatar
Michael Wallace
Racoonteur
Posts: 5458
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:01 am
Location: London

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Michael Wallace »

Oh oh, I saw a TABLE earlier.
User avatar
Steve Durney
Acolyte
Posts: 181
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:53 pm
Location: Swindon

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Steve Durney »

I remember in one episode of Friends Chandler offering his new flatmate a tangelo. Only time i've ever heard it mentioned outside of Countdown!
Heather Culpin
Newbie
Posts: 26
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:29 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Heather Culpin »

What a good thread!

I lived in New Zealand for a few years and tangelos were common there. I also had a tamarillo plant in the garden and if that hasn't turned up yet it would be a very satisfying nine.

When I was on the show one of the words I got was saltire, which was nice as it was the name of the school magazine at one of the schools I went to, named after the school crest which had a saltire on it.

One day I'm hoping to be able to afford a mansion with pantiles on the roof, a cortile, dripstones galore, and maybe a caryatid or two.
User avatar
Phil Reynolds
Postmaster General
Posts: 3329
Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2008 3:43 pm
Location: Leamington Spa, UK

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Phil Reynolds »

Heather Culpin wrote:I also had a tamarillo plant in the garden
Are they heavy? I just wondered 'cos, you know, there's that song that goes: "Hey sister, weigh a tamarillo..."

I'll get me coat.
User avatar
Ian Volante
Postmaster General
Posts: 3952
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:15 pm
Location: Edinburgh
Contact:

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Ian Volante »

I wear a sodalite crystal to keep up my hippy credentials. Not yet managed to scratch my backside on a mopane though.
meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles
Wil Ransome
Newbie
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:38 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Wil Ransome »

The tangelo appears in today's Independent crossword (Taste peeled melon and citrus fruit).
User avatar
Rosemary Roberts
Devotee
Posts: 555
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:36 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Rosemary Roberts »

Charlie Reams wrote:Anyone else seen a tangelo in the wild or been given a television airdate?
A few years ago my garden was full of godetias. Gardening used to be one of my pastimes.
User avatar
Karen Pearson
Devotee
Posts: 742
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:28 am
Location: Bromsgrove

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Karen Pearson »

I had dicentras in my old garden (although I don't recall dicentras coming up in Countdown for a while) and I suspect there were a few dipterans around too.
David Williams
Kiloposter
Posts: 1256
Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:57 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by David Williams »

The other side of the coin. Has anyone ever seen any evidence that CIGARET, regularly trotted out as the American spelling, is actually used by anyone in the colonies?
Gavin Chipper
Post-apocalypse
Posts: 13194
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Gavin Chipper »

I don't think crosswords are any more real life than Countdown (in response to a couple of posts). You might as well include Scrabble! (And Apterous)
David Roe
Enthusiast
Posts: 390
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:58 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by David Roe »

I've had my share of idolaters. ;)

Whatever happened to Gentoo? It was the Leotard of the 80's, but hasn't been seen since?
User avatar
Ian Fitzpatrick
Devotee
Posts: 614
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:23 pm
Location: Wimborne, Dorset

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Ian Fitzpatrick »

I saw Reams come up the other day, but no one mentioned it.

I assume Kirk is smiling at Charlie and Sid in the audience when he scores his points?
I thought I was good at Countdown until I joined this forum
User avatar
Matt Morrison
Post-apocalypse
Posts: 7822
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:27 pm
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Matt Morrison »

Ian Fitzpatrick wrote:I saw Reams come up the other day, but no one mentioned it.
Not to big myself up or anything, but http://www.c4countdown.co.uk/viewtopic. ... sed#p34717.
EDIT: That links to spoilers thread for Wednesday 4th March.
Last edited by Matt Morrison on Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Ian Fitzpatrick
Devotee
Posts: 614
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:23 pm
Location: Wimborne, Dorset

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Ian Fitzpatrick »

Matt Morrison wrote:
Ian Fitzpatrick wrote:I saw Reams come up the other day, but no one mentioned it.
Not to big myself up or anything, but http://www.c4countdown.co.uk/viewtopic. ... sed#p34717.
I haven't got that far yet, I'm still catching up from a day out yesterday almost "working" - I don't do that often.
I thought I was good at Countdown until I joined this forum
Jimmy Gough
Devotee
Posts: 876
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 4:08 pm
Location: Eastbourne

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Jimmy Gough »

I was at the dentist reading about volcanoes and stuff like that and it had the words LACUNA and CALDERA - two of my favourite Countdown words. It was quite a special moment.
User avatar
Tyron Potts
Newbie
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:48 am
Location: Kidderminster

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Tyron Potts »

I was browsing the BBC news website at work today and came across this article about toucans' bills, containing a favourite nine - PREDATION. Seems odd for it to be used in relation to birds' nests.
Liam Tiernan
Devotee
Posts: 799
Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:12 pm
Location: Kildare, Rep. of Ireland

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Liam Tiernan »

Tyron Potts wrote:I was browsing the BBC news website at work today and came across this article about toucans' bills, containing a favourite nine - PREDATION. Seems odd for it to be used in relation to birds' nests.
How do you make a soul singer out of A DEAD TOUCAN?
Answer:Hang it up to dry in the sun unil its bill withers
User avatar
Joseph Krol
Kiloposter
Posts: 1063
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 6:47 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Joseph Krol »

Image
Eoin Monaghan
Kiloposter
Posts: 1462
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:33 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Eoin Monaghan »

I saw MUUMUU and WAHINE in a book I was reading.
Ryan Taylor
Postmaster General
Posts: 3661
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:18 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Ryan Taylor »

I come across loads of words that I know just from playing apterous and I'm too lazy to look them up. particularly they appear in the crossword with a recent example being: Oil giant interfered with relief work (8) and I could see an anagram of "Oil giant" was INTAGLIO but had no idea if it fit the rest of the clue so I googled INTAGLIO and it did.
User avatar
Kirk Bevins
God
Posts: 4923
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:18 pm
Location: York, UK

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Kirk Bevins »

I went to the Czech Republic recently and I didn't know what their currency was (I thought maybe the euro) but it was the KORUNA. I did a little dance when I found out.
User avatar
Jon Corby
Moral Hero
Posts: 8018
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:36 am

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Jon Corby »

Kirk Bevins wrote:I did a little dance when I found out.
The ma-koruna?
User avatar
Kirk Bevins
God
Posts: 4923
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:18 pm
Location: York, UK

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Kirk Bevins »

Jon Corby wrote:
Kirk Bevins wrote:I did a little dance when I found out.
The ma-koruna?
*like*
User avatar
Jon Corby
Moral Hero
Posts: 8018
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:36 am

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Jon Corby »

Kirk Bevins wrote:
Jon Corby wrote:
Kirk Bevins wrote:I did a little dance when I found out.
The ma-koruna?
*like*
Prahahahaha 8-)
Dinos Sfyris
Series 80 Champion
Posts: 2707
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:07 am
Location: Sheffield

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Dinos Sfyris »

I just did a tryout quiz for University Challenge. I did alright on the science and GK quiz scoring 19/50. The arts, music and humanities section was a bit more daunting. Luckily I knew what a MUSTELID was though and it boosted my score by 20% from 5/50 to 6/50 :)
User avatar
Michael Wallace
Racoonteur
Posts: 5458
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:01 am
Location: London

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Michael Wallace »

Dinos Sfyris wrote:I just did a tryout quiz for University Challenge. I did alright on the science and GK quiz scoring 19/50. The arts, music and humanities section was a bit more daunting. Luckily I knew what a MUSTELID was though and it boosted my score by 20% from 5/50 to 6/50 :)
Er, wasn't the deadline for application forms the start of this week?
Dinos Sfyris
Series 80 Champion
Posts: 2707
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:07 am
Location: Sheffield

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Dinos Sfyris »

No idea mate. I just turned up to the quiz what there just was.
User avatar
Michael Wallace
Racoonteur
Posts: 5458
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:01 am
Location: London

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Michael Wallace »

Dinos Sfyris wrote:No idea mate. I just turned up to the quiz what there just was.
I guess your uni requested extra time or something.
User avatar
Matt Morrison
Post-apocalypse
Posts: 7822
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:27 pm
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Matt Morrison »

Accidentally left the TV on after Something for the Weekend, Flog It! just came on and I caught him saying "Westcountry market town" - thought I might know it, so pressed info on the sky remote and the market they are visiting in Tavistock is described as a "PANNIER market". Not sure what it is more panny than.
Andy McGurn
Enthusiast
Posts: 272
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 1:53 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Andy McGurn »

I was having lunch with a work colleague recently who told me that her husbands job was clamping cars. While we were walking back to work from the cafe she said the street we were on was where he worked, she said eclampsia.
User avatar
Joseph Krol
Kiloposter
Posts: 1063
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 6:47 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Joseph Krol »

The guy who sits next to me in Maths is an emulator all right. :(
Image
Eoin Monaghan
Kiloposter
Posts: 1462
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:33 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Eoin Monaghan »

Today's Google Doodle features PIEROGI.
Gavin Chipper
Post-apocalypse
Posts: 13194
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Gavin Chipper »

I had a glass of ORANGE juice today.
User avatar
Karen Pearson
Devotee
Posts: 742
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:28 am
Location: Bromsgrove

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Karen Pearson »

Today I saw both an AGOUTI and a COATI in the rainforest in Costa Rica. The guide couldn't quite understand why I was so excited but he was impressed that I'd even heard of an agouti. The agouti, in case anyone is interested, is like a very large guinea pig and the coati (male, white-nosed coati to be precise) was a bit like a large raccoon.

We also saw masses of other interesting wildlife but none that has a link to Countdown.
User avatar
Joseph Krol
Kiloposter
Posts: 1063
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 6:47 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Joseph Krol »

Karen Pearson wrote:Today I saw both an AGOUTI and a COATI in the rainforest in Costa Rica. The guide couldn't quite understand why I was so excited but he was impressed that I'd even heard of an agouti. The agouti, in case anyone is interested, is like a very large guinea pig and the coati (male, white-nosed coati to be precise) was a bit like a large raccoon.

We also saw masses of other interesting wildlife but none that has a link to Countdown.
Return of the coatis! Some escaped from chester zoo last year.
Image
User avatar
Michael Wallace
Racoonteur
Posts: 5458
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:01 am
Location: London

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Michael Wallace »

Karen Pearson wrote:Today I saw both an AGOUTI and a COATI in the rainforest in Costa Rica.
*coati envy*
User avatar
Jon Corby
Moral Hero
Posts: 8018
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:36 am

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Jon Corby »

Karen Pearson wrote:We also saw masses of other interesting wildlife but none that has a link to Countdown.
Any tanagers?
User avatar
Karen Pearson
Devotee
Posts: 742
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:28 am
Location: Bromsgrove

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Karen Pearson »

Jon Corby wrote:
Karen Pearson wrote:We also saw masses of other interesting wildlife but none that has a link to Countdown.
Any tanagers?
Yes! Several scarlet-rumped tanagers. In fact we saw a couple just now at breakfast.

This is a veritable Countdown wildlife fest!

Doesn't look like they have ortolans here though.
User avatar
Kirk Bevins
God
Posts: 4923
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:18 pm
Location: York, UK

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Kirk Bevins »

Michael Wallace wrote:
Karen Pearson wrote:Today I saw both an AGOUTI and a COATI in the rainforest in Costa Rica.
*coati envy*
You bastard. I just spent half an hour trying to unscramble your conundrum and it wasn't one :(
User avatar
Matt Morrison
Post-apocalypse
Posts: 7822
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:27 pm
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Matt Morrison »

Kirk Bevins wrote:
Michael Wallace wrote:
Karen Pearson wrote:Today I saw both an AGOUTI and a COATI in the rainforest in Costa Rica.
*coati envy*
You bastard. I just spent half an hour trying to unscramble your conundrum and it wasn't one :(
KIRK U SUCK
User avatar
Lesley Hines
Kiloposter
Posts: 1250
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:29 pm
Location: Worcester

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Lesley Hines »

Simpsons last night had the family chasing a Scarlet TANAGER to Machu Picchu after Bart strapped his homing device to it. I was chuffed.
Lowering the averages since 2009
User avatar
Ian Volante
Postmaster General
Posts: 3952
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:15 pm
Location: Edinburgh
Contact:

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Ian Volante »

A Guardian article yesterday mentioned diatoms.
meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles meles
Ryan Taylor
Postmaster General
Posts: 3661
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:18 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Ryan Taylor »

I flicked through a geography textbook and I caught sight of RHYOLITE which I had only ever heard from Jon in the TTT thread. Also right next to it was ANDESITE which I'd only ever used on apterous.
User avatar
Karen Pearson
Devotee
Posts: 742
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:28 am
Location: Bromsgrove

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Karen Pearson »

Michael Wallace wrote:
Karen Pearson wrote:Today I saw both an AGOUTI and a COATI in the rainforest in Costa Rica.
*coati envy*
Sorry Michael but this might make it worse. As well as the aforementioned white-nosed coati, we also came across a dozen or so coatis (different type) just ambling around on the road.

Image
Ryan Taylor
Postmaster General
Posts: 3661
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:18 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Ryan Taylor »

I hpoe they scarpered before any snakes came.
User avatar
Rhys Benjamin
Postmaster General
Posts: 3100
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 4:28 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Rhys Benjamin »

Not really a word as such, but I played Countdown with a piece of paper and a pen on the boring coach trip. Yawn.

I had to get Someone to say the letters - so we had TCAIVISEJ


ME: SEAT (4)
SJ: SAT (3)
OT: CAVITIES (8)
Score 4-0 (max 8)

Then he got bored.
The forum's resident JAILBAKER, who has SPONDERED several times...
User avatar
Kirk Bevins
God
Posts: 4923
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:18 pm
Location: York, UK

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Kirk Bevins »

I was reading over a girl's shoulder who was sat at the bar studying a psychology paper on motion blindness and it was riddled with countdown gems. I can't remember most but AGNOSIA was amongst them but literally every few words they'd be another one. I was all happy and she asked why I was so happy to see agnosia and I explained the whole strings-of-letters-to-make-words-for-points-actually-used-in-real-life thing and she seemed surprisingly interested, rather than scared. Winner.
Gavin Chipper
Post-apocalypse
Posts: 13194
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:37 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Gavin Chipper »

Kirk Bevins wrote:I was reading over a girl's shoulder who was sat at the bar studying a psychology paper on motion blindness and it was riddled with countdown gems. I can't remember most but AGNOSIA was amongst them but literally every few words they'd be another one. I was all happy and she asked why I was so happy to see agnosia and I explained the whole strings-of-letters-to-make-words-for-points-actually-used-in-real-life thing and she seemed surprisingly interested, rather than scared. Winner.
If that's the end of the story, then it's not a winner.
User avatar
Kirk Bevins
God
Posts: 4923
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:18 pm
Location: York, UK

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Kirk Bevins »

Gavin Chipper wrote:
If that's the end of the story, then it's not a winner.
Step 1 is to craniates/sectarian/ascertain whether she's not bored....step 2 is to find out if she's single. She's not.
User avatar
Joseph Krol
Kiloposter
Posts: 1063
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2010 6:47 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Joseph Krol »

Some dipterans feature in a question on Uni Challenge today.
Image
User avatar
Graeme Cole
Series 65 Champion
Posts: 2024
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:59 pm

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Graeme Cole »

I was on holiday in Norway all last week, and it turns out they have this chocolate bar.

Image
User avatar
Adam Gillard
Kiloposter
Posts: 1761
Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:42 pm
Location: About 45 minutes south-east of Thibodaux, Louisiana

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Adam Gillard »

Graeme Cole wrote:I was on holiday in Norway all last week, and it turns out they have this chocolate bar.

Image
I had TROIKAS on the telly - tasty ;). Did you see a NORWAY REG on a car (N) and think of GARRYOWEN?
Mike Brown: "Round 12: T N R S A E I G U

C1: SIGNATURE (18) ["9; not written down"]
C2: SEATING (7)
Score: 108–16 (max 113)

Another niner for Adam and yet another century. Well done, that man."
User avatar
Ian Fitzpatrick
Devotee
Posts: 614
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:23 pm
Location: Wimborne, Dorset

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Ian Fitzpatrick »

I have a Troika vase on my window sill, supposed to be worth a few bob!
I thought I was good at Countdown until I joined this forum
User avatar
Lesley Hines
Kiloposter
Posts: 1250
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:29 pm
Location: Worcester

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Lesley Hines »

Image
OCARINA

Sorry, I've only got the one ;)
Lowering the averages since 2009
Ralph Gillions
Devotee
Posts: 557
Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 3:53 pm
Location: South Yorkshire

Re: Countdown words spotted in real life

Post by Ralph Gillions »

This is Troika from the Lieutenant Kije Suite by Prokofiev....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45xscpiW9pg
Post Reply