FAQ

Questions people ask.

Playing

What am I supposed to write?

Name one thing from the category that fits the other side too. Then say why.

THINGS IN A PURSETHATWILL CONFUSE THE ALIENS

“Lip balm. Tiny glue stick for the face.”

How long do I get?
45 seconds and 120 characters. When time runs out, whatever you’ve typed is sent. If the box is empty, that pair scores 0.
Should I be funny, clever, or factual?
Clever. Nearly all of your points come from the idea. A correct answer gets you in, but an obvious one scores low.
Do I have to explain the joke?
Yes. The judge only counts what you write. If the connection is in your head, put it on the page.
Does a longer answer score more?
No. Length earns nothing by itself. Saying the same idea in more words scores about the same, and adding words that say nothing costs points. Spend your characters on the idea.
Why did my answer buzz?
The judge didn’t see one of the things in the category. Name the thing itself first, then say the rest: “Bear hugs. Great idea, hurts in practice.” A buzz costs no points, but the clock keeps running.
Do made-up things count?
Yes. Real, fictional and invented things all count: a made-up superhero is still a superhero.
Does spelling matter?
Hardly. Ordinary typos cost nothing. A typo that turns into a different word, or one inside a pun, can cost points.

Scores

What do the score names mean?

  1. Plain0 to 19
  2. Fair20 to 39
  3. Sharp40 to 59
  4. Bright60 to 79
  5. Brilliant80 to 100

A silver star means Bright, a gold star means Brilliant, and a perfect 100 earns a platinum star.

Who scores my answer?
Answers are scored on several metrics by a system one decision model (Jev), which is a type of AI designed to return structured choices and probabilities.
What do the medals mean?
Medals show what earned your score. They start at Sharp, and the higher you score, the more pluses you get.
  • ++WitThe idea. One plus is a real idea, two is a strong one, three means the idea carries the whole answer.
  • +FitYour answer squarely matches both sides.
  • ++WordplayA pun or a double meaning. Two pluses means the double meaning fits exactly.
Plus, there might be some secrets…
What’s “Best so far”?
The highest-scoring answer anyone has given to that pair, with its score. If yours is the best, it says “This one.” Answers shown to other players go through a content filter first.
What’s the dot chart at the end?
Each dot is another player’s game that day. Yours is the blue dot marked YOU, with your total above it. The chart appears once a few others have played.
Can I share an answer?
Yes. After the last pair, “Share an answer” under your results lets you pick any of your five and share it as a picture or as text: the pair, your answer, its score and a link to the game. You can also copy either one or save the picture. It is all made in your browser and goes nowhere unless you send it.

The daily set

One set a day, the same five pairs for everyone.

When is there a new set?
Every day at midnight US Pacific.
Can I play more than once a day?
Once you finish today’s set, Just one more set gives you one earlier set you haven’t played. It doesn’t count toward your streak.
How do I keep my streak?
Finish the set every day. Your streak lives in your browser, so clearing cookies or switching devices starts a new one.
What is a retry?
Your first daily set earns an Extra Try, the gold T, and so does every third set you finish (the third, the sixth, and so on). Right after an answer, use it to type another answer to the same pair, with no clock. The better of your two answers counts. You can hold up to three.

BETA

Still being tuned.

What does BETA mean?
The game is still being tuned, and scores may change as we improve it.
How do I tell you something?
Use the two note boxes under each result (Pairing and Scoring), or Send feedback at the top of the page.
Which version is this?
Version v21 · 787c04b. It changes each time we update the game, and it is sent with your feedback so we know what you saw.
What do you keep?
Your answers, scores and notes, tied to an anonymous cookie in your browser. There’s no account. A top-scoring answer may be shown to other players. If you add your email to feedback, it’s used only to reply.

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