# The Exciting Game With One Rule **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 9, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239 "2014-03-09T03:34:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/261 "2014-03-18T19:18:36Z")
Is the rule about not using general terms? As in, “etc” " . . . and the like" and kind of indicating other things while not specifying them? ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/262 "2014-03-18T19:22:27Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > Is the rule about not using general terms? As in, “etc” " . . . and the like" and kind of indicating other things while not specifying them? No, Octarine, my rule is defined by a simple 5 word phrase. Your question above violated the rule. My response does not. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/263 "2014-03-18T19:56:54Z")
Ah, a show with Anthony Bourdain. _Restaurant Confidential, the Chew, Top Chef, Parts Unknown, No Reservation_ (I’m a fan). Or something I’ve missed. Are one of these part of the phrase? ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/264 "2014-03-18T20:01:26Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Ah, a show with Anthony Bourdain. _Restaurant Confidential, the Chew, Top Chef, Parts Unknown, No Reservation_ (I’m a fan). Or something I’ve missed. Are one of these part of the phrase? Professor Pepperwinkle, Your post did not violate the rule. The show that you’re a fan of is the big clue. I apologize for my mistake above regarding “or”. My response does not violate the rule. My phrase contains 5 words. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/265 "2014-03-18T20:06:59Z")
I’m of a fan of Anthony. _No Reservations_, eh? “I’ve No Reservations About SDMB”. “You Can’t Dine; No Reservations”. ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/266 "2014-03-18T20:10:04Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > I’m of a fan of Anthony. _No Reservations_, eh? > > “I’ve No Reservations About SDMB”. > “You Can’t Dine; No Reservations”. Your post does not violate the rule. clue: \_\_\_ \_\_\_ \_\_\_ or \_\_\_ ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/267 "2014-03-18T20:22:47Z")
Keep the questions coming please. No reservations, and don’t hold back! My first sentence does not violate the rule. My second sentence violates the rule. \_\_\_ \_\_\_, \_\_\_, or \_\_\_ ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/268 "2014-03-18T20:52:24Z")
You’ve been quiet out there, but I know you’re getting ready to barrage me with questions! My sentence violated the rule. \_\_ \_\_\_s, \_\_\_\_s, or \_\_\_s ---
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/269 "2014-03-18T21:03:32Z")
Either ass, gas or grass? ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/270 "2014-03-18T21:07:29Z")
> [@Calatin](#): > > Either ass, gas or grass? No, Calatin, but keep guessing please! No reservations, don’t hold back! It’s a common phrase: No \_\_s, \_\_\_s, or \_\_\_s ---
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/271 "2014-03-18T21:11:47Z")
No ifs, ands or buts? ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/272 "2014-03-18T21:12:32Z")
Yay, Calatin WINS!!! ---
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/273 "2014-03-18T21:14:22Z")
I’ll pass. My mind is somewhat numb right now, so creativity is not currently my strength. (Hell, I had to be led by the hand to figure that one out) ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/274 "2014-03-18T21:15:00Z")
The first recorded use is from Sir Thomas More’s unfinished work The History of Kyng Richard the Third, which More wrote about 1513. In a particularly dramatic passage, the mad King Richard pulls up a sleeve to display his withered arm (a birth defect) and claims the deformity is recent – the result of sorcery and treason. The Lord Chamberlain answers, “Certainly my lorde if they have so heinously done, thei be worthy heinous punishment.” To which Richard flies into a rage: “Thou servest me, I wene, with iffes and with andes.” (“Wene” is an archaic word meaning something like “believe” or “suspect.”) ([http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2010/02/no-ifs-ands-or-buts.html](http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2010/02/no-ifs-ands-or-buts.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239/275 "2014-03-18T21:16:06Z")
Congratulations Calatin, and thanks for guessing! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exciting-game-with-one-rule/683239.md?page=13)