To begin with, I’m a cruciverbalist. That is, I solve crossword puzzles. Or at least try to. But more importantly, I find them entertaining. And very informative at times. So I’ve decided to share some of their nuggets of aha moments in the form of a quiz incorporating clues I’ve found especially, well, entertaining and informative.

The quiz works this way. I first give you the clue. After which the number of blanks to be filled in with your answer. Because you won’t have the benefit of other answers to help you, I provide one or more letters in the answer depending on its length.

Have fun. And perhaps learn a new word or interesting fact. These are among the pleasures of taking a crossword puzzle head on.

By the way my sources are the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times.

The answers follow at the end of my post.

Ones unlikely to enjoy the land of milk and honey: ___ ___ G ___ ___ ___

2. Went down a slippery slope: __ K __ __ __

3. Literally, “one who is sent off”: __ P __ __ T __ __

4. Adornments sometimes made with kukui nuts: __ E __ __

5 Took inventory? __ O O __ __ __

6 Server with a blush: __ __ M M __ __ __ __ R

7 Drawing of the body without its skin, from the French: E__ __R__ H ___

8. Bucatini, for one: __ __ S __ __

9. “Losing some illusions…perhaps to acquire others,” per Virginia Woolf: G __ O __ __ N __ U __

10. Go from E to F: __ U __ __ U __

ANSWERS:

vegans 2. skied 3. apostle 4. leis 5. looted 6. sommelier 7. ecorche 8. pasta 9. growing up 10. fuel up