Puzzle: Fast And Famous

On-air challenge: I'm going to give you some words. The first letter is the initial of a famous person's first name. The remaining letters can be rearranged to get the person's last name. I'll give you categories if you need them.

Example: MAIL (boxer) --> Muhammad Ali1. POSER (baseball player)2. REPORT (businessman/onetime presidential candidate)3. JUMBLE (young adult author)4. PENCIL (country singer)5. TRIBAL (British prime minister)6. SMORES (inventor)7. FACTORS (Cuban president)8. MONOMER (actress)9. ARRANGED (actress)

Last week's challenge: From listener Neville Fogarty, of Newport News, Va. Think of a two-word direction or command. Take the first letter of the first word plus the entire second word, in order, and you'll get a common name for one receiving that direction or command. What is it?

Challenge answer: Roll over (command to a dog) --> Rover

Winner: Bob Werner from South Bend, Ind.

This week's challenge: From listener James Matthews, of Little Rock, Ark. Think of a six-letter word for something you might wear. Insert an "O" in the exact middle, and you'll get a phrase meaning "Not aware." What is it?

Submit Your Answer

If you know the answer to next week's challenge, submit it here. Listeners who submit correct answers win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you by Thursday, July 23, at 3 p.m. ET. [Copyright 2020 NPR]