# You're on Jeopardy! -- what's you're answer for this clue? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 26, 2009, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046 "2009-01-26T12:28:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [January 26, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/21 "2009-01-26T15:14:32Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Riffing on uncommon or out-of-fashion word usage is, IIRC, common trade on _Jeopardy!_ > > I mean, who uses _potable_ in daily conversation? Indeed. It’s not a word I’d expect everyone to know, but it’s not unreasonable to expect Jeopardy contestants to know it. It comes up in crossword puzzles, too. I rejected “hoe” because the definition ddn’t really fit (a ho isn’t really a pleasure-seeker) and because the spelling was different (so that it’s not, technically, the same term). By the way, was [Velvet Jones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velvet_Jones) the one who introduced the term “ho” into popular culture? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/22 "2009-01-26T15:16:36Z")
Rake would have never occurred to me, and the point about “ho” and “hoe” being different words is right, but the meaning of “ho” really isn’t only “prostitute.” It can mean prostitute, but it can also mean slut, or just an undesirable woman. See Urban Dictionary. ---
**Author:** ![Karyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/fbc32d/32.png) [@Karyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karyn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/23 "2009-01-26T15:17:03Z")
“Potable” gets used fairly frequently out here in state and national parks. Water is left in tanks near camping areas and whether or not it’s potable matters because if it isn’t you have to boil it first. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/24 "2009-01-26T15:18:35Z")
“What is a dirty rotten no good cheating fucking slut, Alex?” – or maybe I just have issues. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/25 "2009-01-26T15:26:02Z")
> [@Karyn](#): > > “Potable” gets used fairly frequently out here in state and national parks. Water is left in tanks near camping areas and whether or not it’s potable matters because if it isn’t you have to boil it first. My mistake. I should have said “who uses potable as a noun.” I am familiar with its usage in camping and plumbing contexts. And, yes, I know people _do_ use it. But it’s not something you could spring on most people. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/26 "2009-01-26T15:39:21Z")
I don’t think “rake” as a “pleasure seeker” is all that obscure. Anyone who is unfamiliar with it probably doesn’t belong on Jeopardy. I think the Howie Mandel show with the suitcases might be a better fit for those people. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/27 "2009-01-26T15:50:54Z")
I remember that clue, and I remember thinking of both “rake” and “ho.” If I were actually up there, playing the game, I don’t know which I would have answered. Hopefully, “rake.” ---
**Author:** ![Karyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/fbc32d/32.png) [@Karyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karyn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/28 "2009-01-26T16:06:07Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > My mistake. I should have said “who uses potable as a noun.” I am familiar with its usage in camping and plumbing contexts. > > And, yes, I know people _do_ use it. But it’s not something you could spring on most people. I had never heard the word until I asked what it meant the first time that I saw it on a tank. I’d guess that most people haven’t heard it if they don’t do backwoods hiking and camping. It’s pretty situation specific, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/29 "2009-01-26T16:34:10Z")
I probably would have answered “hoe” without hesitation, although I am familiar with the “rake” alternative as well. I wonder how these answers break down based on age? I’m 30. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/30 "2009-01-26T16:43:20Z")
I remember when that happened, and I knew rake, but ONLY because it was used in a video game I had played a few years prior. I have never heard the word used in conversation, lecture, or otherwise seen it in print. ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/31 "2009-01-26T16:55:03Z")
Like **glee** and others, I’d have said “rake.” I don’t mentally associate “ho” with a garden implement, and I don’t think of them as seeking pleasure. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/32 "2009-01-26T17:18:27Z")
> [@Karyn](#): > > I don’t think that [rake](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rake_(character)) is used that way anymore, at least not commonly. It’s mostly a victorian novel word from what I can tell. “Rake and Ramblin’ Man” was a top ten Country chart hit for Don Williams in 1978. While I agree it’s not particularly common, it’s a long way from being obscure and relegated to the 19th century. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/33 "2009-01-26T17:45:55Z")
Slight hijack, but is “Potent Potables” the only category that is used over and over or are other categories repeated, as well? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/34 "2009-01-26T17:55:01Z")
There are others: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeopardy!\_recurring\_categories](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeopardy!_recurring_categories) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/35 "2009-01-26T19:12:04Z")
The most amusing one IMHO is “Those Darned Etruscans”. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/36 "2009-01-26T20:10:12Z")
I’d have to say “What is hoe?”, I’d have assumed that spelling was common enough to be correct. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/37 "2009-01-26T21:37:21Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Whether or not the John is immoral is a judgment call that some might not make. Same with a rake. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/38 "2009-01-26T22:07:02Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > It’s more than a small stretch to equate “hoe” with “pleasure-seeker”. I’ve never heard the word “rake” used and according to the definition it is not specific to sexual pleasure seaking. However, a whore can either be a prostitute or a person who seeks out sex for pleasure (whoring around). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/39 "2009-01-26T22:31:49Z")
I’d just like to remind the people responding that it’s easy to sit at a keyboard and say what you’d say. I lost pretty miserably on that show - by Final Jeopardy the guy in first place couldn’t be caught. I can look back at that tape today and cringe at some of my answers. What would I say? Don’t know - I have documentary evidence that I’m capable of brilliant and stupid answers alike. Heaven knows which one I would have glommed onto at the time. ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046/40 "2009-01-26T22:48:15Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > I’d just like to remind the people responding that it’s easy to sit at a keyboard and say what you’d say. You mean all these people in this thread aren’t actually more knowledgeable than Ken Jennings? (I’m sure someone is going to come in and say that he got the $200 question wrong just for the sake of making the joke, but that can’t be proven. It’s easily believable that it was the first answer that came to his mind and that he only smiled about after already having blurted it out.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-jeopardy-whats-youre-answer-for-this-clue/483046.md?page=3)