# words that end in -gry **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 1999, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366 "1999-12-11T23:54:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cleo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/41988e/32.png) [@Cleo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleo)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 1999, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/1 "1999-12-11T23:54:00Z")
I once heard that there are only three words in the English language that end in gry but I can only think of two, angry and hungry. what’s the third? ---
**Author:** ![Ursa\_Major](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a88e57/32.png) [@Ursa\_Major](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ursa_Major)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/2 "1999-12-12T00:01:00Z")
Run Cleo! Don’t look back! Just run! ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/3 "1999-12-12T00:37:00Z")
Cleo! Cleo!! Cleo!!! You’re really not helping yourself here. Do you sincerely want to antagonize your newly-found second family? Quick: either follow Ursa’s wise advice or find another topic. Pronto. P.S.: Thanks in advance for not asking me to explain. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/4 "1999-12-12T02:00:00Z")
**Cleo** , what people are trying to tell you (tongue-in-cheek) is that the “gry” question has been asked many times, and answered many times. One word that would satisfy the answer would be “aggry”. Somewhere on this site is the full answer to your question, but I’m too lazy to look for it. * * * Quand les talons claquent, l’esprit se vide. Maréchal Lyautey ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/5 "1999-12-12T02:02:00Z")
Well, 3 out of 4 ain’t bad…you’re other 3 posts are insightful. Still, I’d invest in asbestos _SOMETHING_ were I you… -David ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/6 "1999-12-12T02:04:00Z")
**ahem** YOUR… **sigh** what sucks more than being a former English Major and having poor typing skills? -David ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/7 "1999-12-12T02:18:00Z")
[The -gry column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_251.html) [Don’t ask any of these questions.](http://www.straightdope.com/faq/lamequestions.html). PLEASE. [Or these, either](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/idiots.html) (There is some overlap). This is for your own good. You’ll thank us later. * * * Your Official Cat Goddess since 10/20/99. “I get along well with everybody.” --I.M.F. ---
**Author:** ![Cleo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/41988e/32.png) [@Cleo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/8 "1999-12-12T02:48:00Z")
Okay, okay. I got it. please forgive the rookie. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Crunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Chief\_Crunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Crunch)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/9 "1999-12-12T03:18:00Z")
I think the people who get pissed off over the “-gry” question really need to find something in their life to occupy their time other than this message board. I’ve seen four or five “-gry” postings since I’ve been here and never once have I felt anything remotely close to anger over them. Why the all bitterness and hostility over such picayune bullshit? If you see a thread with “-gry” in its title, why even open it? ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/10 "1999-12-12T03:33:00Z")
Don’t sweat it Cleo, it wasn’t nearly as bad as it could’ve been. (Those who’ve been here longer can testify to that.) Chief Crunch is right, but looking over the posts in this thread, I think the Teeming Millions are beginning to mellow out a bit. No one really got upset. These days when the “gry” question pops up, it seems to elicit bemusement instead. * * * Mr. K’s Link of the Month: [The Enchanted World of Rankin-Bass](http://www.rankinbass.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/11 "1999-12-12T03:58:00Z")
felchgry? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/12 "1999-12-12T04:14:00Z")
A couple of other candidates: “Hawngry” means “having a really ravenous appetite.” “Ugry” is a word I’ve heard used by some Japanese friends in referring to people whose physical appearances are less that aesthetically appealing. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecccb3/32.png) [@Lord\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/13 "1999-12-12T04:39:00Z")
Cleo, Here is a thread that Satan started about 5 months ago, that had a very in depth analysis of the _gry_ riddle. You also find that he took a little beating because it was already a sore spot by then. [http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000158.html](http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000158.html) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/14 "1999-12-12T04:51:00Z")
And if anyone cites the oft-repeated canard that “Well, originally, the riddle was worded as a trick question, but over time the orginal wording has been corrupted. . . ,” please cite a reference to this with some date. When the “-gry” question comes up, I keep a-axin’ for it, but never a-gettin’ it. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/15 "1999-12-12T05:26:00Z")
Anytime I see this question posted, I go straight to it. Why? Because for a question that no one should bother answering at all, there are many more responses than if the question had just been answered again. I’m starting to believe that the answer to the -gry question is “Aaaahhhh, Run away now, you can still save yourself!!!” I suppose in most cases if NO ONE responded to the question at all, then the troll would just go away. Whatgry dogry yougry guysgry thinkgry? Enright3gry ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/16 "1999-12-12T05:37:00Z")
Here’s my take on it: I don’t know the exact numbers, but it looks like there are about 500 people a month joining this board. We don’t know how long they’ve lurked, or if they happened to not be lurking when the question has come up, or that they’re not familiar with the search engine to look for specific questions (and the search engine had some performance anomalies for a long time). So, it’s possible that when the “-gry” question comes up, it’s someone who already knows, but is just fishing for a reaction, but it’s also possible that it’s some high school kid who has heard it, and is seeking a sincere answer. Let’s face it–at one time, none of us knew the answer (well, I did, but I read it in a book–“Words” by Paul Dickson–before I ever heard it IRL). So the neighborly thing is to help them along and send them on their way. Most posters who post the “-gry” question never post again, so I think they joined just for that reason. Which brings up the question: Is someone on this board encouraging people to do this? ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/17 "1999-12-12T06:06:00Z")
First of all, I don’t believe that Cleo is a troll…as I mentioned before, he/she has three other decent posts. Why does the question keep popping up? I’m almost convinced that it’s because of chain-letters. I’ve recently seen two different chain-letters which contain the -Gry riddle, and I only get maybe two or three of the damn things a month. Truthfully, I think that 90% of the -Gry posts here are innocent posts. Can’t really blame someone for not searching the archives when the search tool is wonky. -David ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/18 "1999-12-12T06:17:00Z")
Oh this was nothing. See? We don’t snap at all the rookies. Just the ones who post in alternating caps. Welcome aboard Cleo. * * * If I wanted smoke blown up my ass, I’d be at home with a pack of cigarettes and a short length of hose. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/19 "1999-12-12T06:36:00Z")
Mjollnir posted > [@](#): > > And if anyone cites the oft-repeated canard that “Well, originally, the riddle was worded as a trick question, but over time the orginal wording has been corrupted. . . ,” please cite a reference to this with some date. Kat posted the link above, but here’s how the riddle version went… > [@](#): > > Occasionally you’ll hear the question above framed this way: “There are three English words ending with -gry. Two of them are hungry and angry. The third word is very common; in fact you have just encountered it. What is the third word?” > > Naturally you are puzzled, because none of the words Cecil has just quoted is common. How do we explain this? > > Easy. You are the victim of a despicable trick. The desired answer is “three.” ## To answer the OP, how about ogry? No, wait. That’s just poor spelling. Nevermind 🙂 “The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.” – Lily Tomlin ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 1999, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366/20 "1999-12-12T14:23:00Z")
Cleo: these slackers have been too merciful-- your invocation of the -gry heresy is **unforgivable**! The SD Inquision has tried you in absentia, and you are ordered to report to the Hidden Temple Of Cecil for immediate human sacrifice. During you human sacrifice, wear loose-fitting , comfortable clothes; carry 3 forms of picture ID; extinguish all smoking materials; avoid eating rutabegas or squash for at least 6 hours before you are disembowled; the yellow zone is for loading -the red zone for unloading only; fill out all forms in black ink only, not blue; and, oh yeah, welcome to the board. 😉 * * * Save The Endangered Jackalope! Send Cash Now! If You Do This, I Will Use The Cash To Save Any Jackalope That I Happen To Find! Send Cash Now! Before It’s Too Late! My Bills, I Mean **The Jackalope’s Bills** Are Due The 15th Of The Month! _This has been a message from the Illuminated Committee To Save The Jackalope. Fnord._ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-end-in-gry/5366.md?page=2)