Spoilers for Friday 5th December QF2

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:20 pm

Bish-dogg vs. Simmo 3000

Should be an interesting game. Martin is a great all-rounder, and Lee certainly has it within him to crack out a big score.

Lee Simmonds · Post by **Lee Simmonds** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:24 pm

Ben Hunter wrote:Bish-dogg vs. Simmo 3000

Lee certainly has it within him to crack out a big score.

Thanks Ben.

Please remember that after watching today's game!

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:32 pm

I'm glad that Dr. Phil let rip with the scones joke.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:43 pm

Wow - no beaters in the first part of the show? That's unusual.

Stewart Holden · Post by **Stewart Holden** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:47 pm

OVER-REAMS in Round Five, something with which I'm sure we can all identify.

Allan Harmer · Post by **Allan Harmer** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:49 pm

Is OBEISENCE OK for 9 in round 7?

Stewart Holden · Post by **Stewart Holden** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:51 pm

aagharmer wrote:Is OBEISENCE OK for 9 in round 7?

Wrong letters and wrong spelling, but otherwise it's a fine 18pts.

Innis Carson · Post by **Innis Carson** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:54 pm

Can you pluralise "ebony" to have EBONIES?

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:56 pm

Innis Carson wrote:Can you pluralise "ebony" to have EBONIES?

Yep

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:59 pm

Jesus Christ, the jingle on the "The Clapper" advert is really bad, I can't believe somebody was paid for making that.

Ben Pugh · Post by **Ben Pugh** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:03 pm

PIGEONS

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:08 pm

Superbly played by Martin, he's definitely in it to win it. 64 isn't too miserable from Lee, either.

And Dr. Phil's awesome, I'm going to have to buy one of his books.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:13 pm

I was gutted that BONNIES isn't allowed, as I thought it BONNY is a noun, but it is apparently an adjective.

Philip Jarvis · Post by **Philip Jarvis** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:14 pm

Alternative for 1st numbers game:

(9x3) x (8+2) - (6-1) = 265

Alternative 7 for 6th word game - INCENSE

Alternative 7 for 10th word game - THEREIN

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:16 pm

I got THEREIN as well.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:17 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:I was gutted that BONNIES isn't allowed, as I thought it BONNY is a noun, but it is apparently an adjective.

I am doing the recap and it brought up a word ZAIDES in round 3, but looking in the dictionary, I can't find the word in the Z section.

Lee Simmonds · Post by **Lee Simmonds** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:17 pm

Martin played very well and once I missed maltiest it went downhill from there. I was a fraction behind Martin on the conundrum which would have made the score a little more respectable, however I was obviously never expecting to return with just 3 wins so it was just great to be in the finals.

Martin Bishop · Post by **Martin Bishop** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:21 pm

I really should have gone for MALTIEST, considering MALTIER was my first word in my first game. I just had a funny feeling that there was some word like that beginning with M which should be there but isn't.

I beat myself today with PIGEONS, but lost out to TV Martin in several other rounds.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:31 pm

Martin Bishop wrote:I just had a funny feeling that there was some word like that beginning with M which should be there but isn't.

MOANIEST perhaps?

jeff wharton · Post by **jeff wharton** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:51 pm

Got Neither as an equaller.Can,t remember which round.
First time I have heard Carol mention that her and Des were leaving.
She looked rather sad when she mentioned it.

Frank Rodolf · Post by **Frank Rodolf** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:12 pm

Joseph Bolas wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote:I was gutted that BONNIES isn't allowed, as I thought it BONNY is a noun, but it is apparently an adjective.
I am doing the recap and it brought up a word ZAIDES in round 3, but looking in the dictionary, I can't find the word in the Z section.

Joseph, you will find it as an "also" for zayde.

Harry Whitehouse · Post by **Harry Whitehouse** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:13 pm

Identikit is a proper noun - a registered trade mark - is that allowed for the conundrum?

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:14 pm

Frank Rodolf wrote:
Joseph Bolas wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote:I was gutted that BONNIES isn't allowed, as I thought it BONNY is a noun, but it is apparently an adjective.
I am doing the recap and it brought up a word ZAIDES in round 3, but looking in the dictionary, I can't find the word in the Z section.
Joseph, you will find it as an "also" for zayde.

Thank you Frank

Frank Rodolf · Post by **Frank Rodolf** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:17 pm

harry wrote:Identikit is a proper noun - a registered trade mark - is that allowed for the conundrum?

Actually, it is listed as a noun (trademark), but also as an adjective, so it is allowed, whether or not it is considered a proper noun.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:23 pm

Ben Hunter wrote:I'm glad that Dr. Phil let rip with the scones joke.

It wasn't a joke. People who say "scoans" need to be admonished in the strictest terms.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 6:32 pm

Joseph Bolas wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote:I was gutted that BONNIES isn't allowed, as I thought it BONNY is a noun, but it is apparently an adjective.
I am doing the recap and it brought up a word ZAIDES in round 3, but looking in the dictionary, I can't find the word in the Z section.

Isn't it listed under ZAYDE?

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 6:34 pm

I'd probably have to say that Martin looks like the favourite to win the series after that - he was very cool and calm, impressive under the pressure of the situation. I'd have never have got that conundrum, ever, mind you.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 6:36 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:I was gutted that BONNIES isn't allowed, as I thought it BONNY is a noun, but it is apparently an adjective.

A little odd, as BONNIES was offered by Ben Wilson in the Series 46 grand final, so like POOTER from two days ago it's been taken out of the dictionary since.

Harry Whitehouse · Post by **Harry Whitehouse** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 7:02 pm

Frank Rodolf wrote:
harry wrote:Identikit is a proper noun - a registered trade mark - is that allowed for the conundrum?
Actually, it is listed as a noun (trademark), but also as an adjective, so it is allowed, whether or not it is considered a proper noun.

Thanks for that.

I'm afraid I don't have the ODE - my Collins English and several Oxford dictionaries all capitalize Indentikit.

So what is the ruling on capitalized words/proper nouns?

Is there actually a Countdown guide to such matters?

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 7:31 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:I'd probably have to say that Martin looks like the favourite to win the series after that - he was very cool and calm, impressive under the pressure of the situation. I'd have never have got that conundrum, ever, mind you.

So far I agree. I haven't lost a game against a TV contestant in ages (deflates head a little) but Martin has pushed me close a couple of times in his run. However, today, I was 96-90 up come the conundrum and he got it before me (in fact I'm with Mr Gardner on this one - it would have taken me ages I'm sure to spot) so Mr Bishop beat me 100-96. Absolutely quality mate. It's a pleasure to lose to a quality player - when it isn't important!

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 7:34 pm

Just an edit to say it's a shame we're not seeing Bishop in the CofC! He could have taken a scalp.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:01 pm

harry wrote:I'm afraid I don't have the ODE - my Collins English and several Oxford dictionaries all capitalize Indentikit [sic]

Are you sure? The entry in my Collins Millennium Edition shows the headword as capitalised, but lists two definitions - the second being the adjectival sense that Frank mentioned (actually it says "as modifier"), with the example an identikit pop group.

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:21 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Ben Hunter wrote:I'm glad that Dr. Phil let rip with the scones joke.
It wasn't a joke. People who say "scoans" need to be admonished in the strictest terms.

Wrong; it's only the kind of people who hunt foxes that say "scons".

Lee Simmonds · Post by **Lee Simmonds** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:43 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Ben Hunter wrote:I'm glad that Dr. Phil let rip with the scones joke.
It wasn't a joke. People who say "scoans" need to be admonished in the strictest terms.

Spoken like a person who lives north of the Watford Gap.

Richard Brittain · Post by **Richard Brittain** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:17 pm

I'm really surprised by Martin Gardener's and Kirk Bevin's comments about Martin Bishop. I felt he missed a lot of easy words and I beat him by 20-30 points without really trying. Definitely wouldn't have him as favourite.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:25 pm

Richard Brittain wrote:I'm really surprised by Martin Gardener's and Kirk Bevin's comments about Martin Bishop. I felt he missed a lot of easy words and I beat him by 20-30 points without really trying. Definitely wouldn't have him as favourite.

It's a good job I know you are joking. Try to spell Mr Gardner's name correctly and my surname is not Bevin.

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:28 pm

When I was a teenager I remember telling somebody that they were posh because they pronounced it "scon", but in response they said that was in fact I who was the snob because I pronounced "scoan".

I'm from the North by the way.

Richard Brittain · Post by **Richard Brittain** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:41 pm

I wasn't joking, Kirk. You often seem to assume deeper meanings behind my posts. Maybe I fluked a good game.. But I just looked at the recap briefly and got words like 'maltiest', 'incense', 'pigeons', and 'tabloid' quite quickly. I worked out that I actually only beat him by 19 points. Didn't get the conundrum spot, which of course was very impressive. But I don't think he is as good as Junaid or Reams. Decent player though.

Also, I intentionally misspelt Martin Gardner's name but honestly didn't mean to misspell yours.

Richard Brittain · Post by **Richard Brittain** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:48 pm

Also, I somehow missed Martin Bishop's post in this thread and until now didn't realise he was actually a member of this forum. Lol. Sorry Martin, didn't mean to bring you down or anything.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:17 am

Ben Hunter wrote:When I was a teenager I remember telling somebody that they were posh because they pronounced it "scon", but in response they said that was in fact I who was the snob because I pronounced "scoan".

Both statements are correct. Posh people do say "scon", because they get it right (as do working class people with no pretensions). Snobs, on the other hand, are middle class social climbers who try to sound posh, so they say "scoan" thinking they're being correct when in fact it just makes them sound affected. See also: "Keenya", "Shroesbury".

Note to Lee: No offence mate.

David Roe · Post by **David Roe** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 1:07 am

Everyone who says "scon" thinks "scoan" is pretentious. Everyone who says "scoan" thinks "scon" is posh. Fact of life, I'm afraid.

I still use NODE1 (I think - it's whatever they were giving out in 2001), because I can't be bothered buying a new dictionary every time Countdown uses a new one, and "bonny" is a noun - as in "My bonny lies over the ocean" - referring to a sweetheart or baby. So I'm having the points.

Harry Whitehouse · Post by **Harry Whitehouse** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 4:56 am

Phil Reynolds wrote:
harry wrote:I'm afraid I don't have the ODE - my Collins English and several Oxford dictionaries all capitalize Indentikit [sic]
Are you sure? The entry in my Collins Millennium Edition shows the headword as capitalised, but lists two definitions - the second being the adjectival sense that Frank mentioned (actually it says "as modifier"), with the example an identikit pop group.

I have the Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus 2007 reprint, which does indeed also list it as a "modifier" and with the same example you quote, but in the example, it retains the capital "I".

Quite irrelevant, I suppose, if the ODE lists it with a lower case "i", although if that's the case, I'd be surprised if the company's lawyers haven't written a stroppy letter to the OUP. I know from experience that newspapers receive them pronto if they ever refer to a "portacabin" rather than a "Portakabin", etc.

Lee Simmonds · Post by **Lee Simmonds** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 3:19 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Ben Hunter wrote:When I was a teenager I remember telling somebody that they were posh because they pronounced it "scon", but in response they said that was in fact I who was the snob because I pronounced "scoan".
Both statements are correct. Posh people do say "scon", because they get it right (as do working class people with no pretensions). Snobs, on the other hand, are middle class social climbers who try to sound posh, so they say "scoan" thinking they're being correct when in fact it just makes them sound affected. See also: "Keenya", "Shroesbury".

Note to Lee: No offence mate.

None taken Phil. I should have put a smiley at the end of my post so will do so now

I should also have said that there was a section that was cut out where Carol went to the audience and it was largely agreed (when I say largely I mean by the audience of approx 100 people so a clear demographic!) that people from the South say scoan and people from the North say scon.

I don't have a problem with either, regional dialect is part of what makes us who we are.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 3:25 pm

harry wrote: So what is the ruling on capitalized words/proper nouns?

Is there actually a Countdown guide to such matters?

You get a guide to allowable words when you apply, but the details are fairly unsurprising. You can't have capitalized words, including (but not limited to) proper nouns.

Harry Whitehouse · Post by **Harry Whitehouse** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 4:22 pm

Thanks Charlie.

So just to put an end to my tedious persistence with this (I'm getting a bit self-conscious about pursuing it now)...is there an instance of "identikit" with a lower case initial "i" in the ODE?

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:39 pm

harry wrote:Thanks Charlie.

So just to put an end to my tedious persistence with this (I'm getting a bit self-conscious about pursuing it now)...is there an instance of "identikit" with a lower case initial "i" in the ODE?

If you mean in the ODE2r (the one they use on the show), yes. The entry is with a small i. It does say "noun trademark" though but that is fine. An example they give is "an identikit photograph". It can be used as an adjective also. The example they give is "the pub was transformed by identikit 'Victoriana'."

Harry Whitehouse · Post by **Harry Whitehouse** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 10:31 am

Kirk Bevins wrote:
harry wrote:Thanks Charlie.

So just to put an end to my tedious persistence with this (I'm getting a bit self-conscious about pursuing it now)...is there an instance of "identikit" with a lower case initial "i" in the ODE?
If you mean in the ODE2r (the one they use on the show), yes. The entry is with a small i. It does say "noun trademark" though but that is fine. An example they give is "an identikit photograph". It can be used as an adjective also. The example they give is "the pub was transformed by identikit 'Victoriana'."

Many thanks.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Sun Dec 07, 2008 2:25 pm

David Roe wrote:Everyone who says "scon" thinks "scoan" is pretentious. Everyone who says "scoan" thinks "scon" is posh. Fact of life, I'm afraid.

I still use NODE1 (I think - it's whatever they were giving out in 2001), because I can't be bothered buying a new dictionary every time Countdown uses a new one, and "bonny" is a noun - as in "My bonny lies over the ocean" - referring to a sweetheart or baby. So I'm having the points.

I got BONNIES but after looking it up in my NODE1 I decided to disallow it. It was listed as noun but just as "my bonny" I think so I think it might count as one of those compound things that you can't have on its own. Also it didn't specify the plural.

And I say "scon" so it must be the correct pronunciation.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:48 am

Richard Brittain wrote:I wasn't joking, Kirk. You often seem to assume deeper meanings behind my posts. Maybe I fluked a good game.. But I just looked at the recap briefly and got words like 'maltiest', 'incense', 'pigeons', and 'tabloid' quite quickly. I worked out that I actually only beat him by 19 points. Didn't get the conundrum spot, which of course was very impressive. But I don't think he is as good as Junaid or Reams. Decent player though.

Also, I intentionally misspelt Martin Gardner's name but honestly didn't mean to misspell yours.

Well I think you must have had all maximums because he only dropped 5 points in the entire game. Indeed Dictionary Corner only beat him in three rounds - he beat himself in one round when he decided against MALTIEST and then quite a few people on this forum spotted PIGEONS.