# X-word Puzzle Puzzler

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-word-puzzle-puzzler/573370>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [March 3, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-word-puzzle-puzzler/573370 "2011-03-03T16:30:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Vorpal\_Blade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9de0a6/32.png) [@Vorpal\_Blade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vorpal_Blade)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-word-puzzle-puzzler/573370/1 "2011-03-03T16:30:37Z")

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Weird question. Tailor-made for the Dope.

I just finished a crossword puzzle (from a Washington Post book of puzzles) and one of the clues was “Brief speech”. The answer was WDS (no significance to uper/lower case). I checked the answers in the back after I completed the puzzle and sure enough, WDS is correct.

The clue has no abbreviation so I would expect no abbreviation in the answer. However, the puzzle is fairly difficult so I wouldn’t be surprised if they slipped an abbreviation in while I wasn’t looking.

Here’s my question: Does anyone have a clue (heh) what WDS is, given the clue “Brief speech”?

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**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-word-puzzle-puzzler/573370/2 "2011-03-03T16:35:32Z")

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I’m guessing “brief” is the abbreviation indicator

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**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-word-puzzle-puzzler/573370/3 "2011-03-03T16:37:21Z")

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My only guess is, it’s an abbreviation of “words”. Did the clue have a question mark after it (i.e., “Brief speech?”)?

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**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-word-puzzle-puzzler/573370/4 "2011-03-03T17:30:11Z")

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I agree: speech = words, “brief” is a playful indication that it’s an abbreviation.

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**Author:** ![Vorpal\_Blade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9de0a6/32.png) [@Vorpal\_Blade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vorpal_Blade)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-word-puzzle-puzzler/573370/5 "2011-03-03T18:30:58Z")

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> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#):
>
> I agree: speech = words, “brief” is a playful indication that it’s an abbreviation.

:smack:Thanks to all. Of course, it’s “words”. Christ, it’s a real handicap being a dumbass…

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-word-puzzle-puzzler/573370/6 "2011-03-03T18:40:23Z")

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Mvd GQ\>TGR.

C’bri

GQ Md