More wordplay by Sorry, Deck Him

Looking at the early entries for the Southern Cross Anagram Competition from readers hoping to win that R1,000 cash prize, I was reminded of those wonderful anagrams that appeared in this newspaper a few years ago when the editor, Günther Simmermacher, compiled a series of quizzes. We’ve gone back into the archives and chosen just a few to get you into the spirit of the competition:

LEGENDARY MAMA = MARY MAGDALENE
MORAL OVERTONES SOAR = L’OSERVATORE ROMANO
YOKELS TAX WOE = TOKYO SEXWALE
SOBBING CRY – BING CROSBY
PROPHETS ON JUICE = JOSEPH CUPERTINO (the “flying’ saint”)
EXILE OF SURETIES = THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX
A SHORT MEMO = THOMAS MORE
PETIT JOHN BATHS = JOHN THE BAPTIST
MR COIN ORDAINED = DOMINICAN ORDER
TOSSES JUICY FOE = SOCIETY OF JESUS
GIN SHACK LION = NICHOLAS KING
REWIND AIR FLIP = WILFRID NAPIER
PRAY A LEITMOTIF = PRIMATE OF ITALY
JEERING SHORT ZAP = JOSEPH RATZINGER
And the late Bishop REGINALD ORSMOND became AM ENDORSING LORD.

Just a reminder about the rules of the competition, which are very simple. It is open to anyone. The source words or their anagrams have to be of a religious nature (as in Günther’s examples above). Computer programmes are not allowed to be used, but of course the judges will never know if you do get modern technology to give you a helping hand. However, God will. The judges will be really impressed if both source word and anagram have a religious meaning.

And to perhaps inspire readers a little more, here are some examples of the world’s greatest anagrams — specifically not religious in context so as not to give the game away:

WAITRESS = A STEW, SIR?
THE CENTENARIANS = I CAN HEAR TEN “TENS”
THE MEANING OF LIFE = THE FINE GAME OF NIL
CONVERSATION = VOICES RANT ON
DISRAELI = I LEAD, SIR
CLOTHESPINS = SO LET’S PINCH
BUTTERFLY = FLUTTER-BY
TOM CRUISE = I’M SO CUTER
ANIMOSITY = IS NO AMITY
FUNERAL = REAL FUN
PROTECTIONISM = NICE TO IMPORTS
A DOMESTICATED ANIMAL = DOCILE, AS A MAN TAMED IT
THE RAILROAD TRAIN = HI! I RATTLE AND ROAR
A ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS = STROLLER ON GO, AMASSES NOTHING
SUNSHINE AND SHADOW = SHOW IN SUN AND SHADE
SOFTWARE = SWEAR OFT
ALEC GUINNESS = GENUINE CLASS
THE DETECTIVES = DETECT THIEVES
THE HOSPITAL AMBULANCE = A CAB, I HUSTLE TO HELP MAN
SEMOLINA = IS NO MEAL
CHRISTMAS TREE = SEARCH, SET, TRIM
A GENTLEMAN = ELEGANT MAN
THE PUBLIC ART GALLERIES = LARGE PICTURE HALLS, I BET
SALMAN RUSHDIE = READ, SHUN ISLAM
MARTIN SCORSESE = SCREEN IS A STORM
ADMIRER = MARRIED
INDOMITABLENESS = ENDLESS AMBITION
NEW YORK TIMES = MONKEYS WRITE
TELEVISION PROGRAMMING = PERMEATING LIVING ROOMS
CONTRADICTION = ACCORD NOT IN IT

And here’s a quote by the novelist Kurt Vonnegut: “Just because some of us can read and write and do a little math, that doesn’t mean we deserve to conquer the universe” becomes “A masquerade can cover a sense of what is real to deceive us; to be unjaded and not lost, we must, then, determine truth.”

So, if you would like to receive R1000 in cash, put your thinking cap on, break out a fresh piece of paper and a pencil and get working. The competition will run to the end of this year after which the winner will be announced. Apart from the R1,000 first prize there will be runners-up prizes of free 12-month subscriptions to The Southern Cross and copies of Owen Williams’ (WAIL, NOW SMILE) anthology of Southern Cross columns, Any Given Sunday.

• Entries can be posted to: Anagram Competition, The Southern Cross,  PO Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000  or faxed to: 021 4653850 or e-mailed to competitions [at] scross.co.za