Tiny hamster. Big opinions.
Rhymes in the wild
“Gee, Officer Krupke”
Bernstein and Sondheim · 1957
West Side Story
West Side Story
The last rhyme of the song was written to get past the censors.
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Myth or fact?
“In musical theatre, only perfect rhymes are allowed.”
Well?
rhymehamster.com
New in Merriam-Webster
chi·li crisp
\ ˈchi-lē-ˌkrisp \
noun
A crunchy, spicy oil loaded with fried chilies, garlic and shallots.
So what rhymes with it?
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Rhymes in the wild
“Gee, Officer Krupke”
Bernstein and Sondheim · 1957
West Side Story
West Side Story
The last rhyme of the song was written to get past the censors.
rhymehamster.com
Why it works
Sondheim wanted the song to end on a four-letter word. Columbia Records said the cast album couldn’t ship across state lines with it.
So the cop’s own name became the punchline.
rhymehamster.com
He came around
Sondheim later said “Krup you” may be the best lyric line in the show.
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Rhymes in the wild
“Don’t Stand So Close to Me”
The Police · 1980
Written by Sting
Written by Sting
One of the most argued-over rhymes in rock has a Russian novelist in it.
rhymehamster.com
Myth or fact?
“Using a rhyming dictionary is cheating.”
Well?
rhymehamster.com
New in Merriam-Webster
yacht rock
\ ˈyät-ˌräk \
noun
Smooth, breezy soft rock of the late ’70s and early ’80s. Best enjoyed on a boat you don’t own.
So what rhymes with it?
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Rhymes in the wild
“A Little Priest”
Stephen Sondheim · Sweeney Todd · 1979
The most delicious rhyming in musical theatre?
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-ence-arch-ight-tion-able-ward-ound-atch-ment-ange-ness-eachPop quiz
Seven words.
Same last four letters.
Zero rhymes.
Same last four letters.
Zero rhymes.
Do you know?
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New in Merriam-Webster
cake pop
\ ˈkāk-ˌpäp \
noun
A bite-size ball of cake and frosting on a stick, dipped in a candy coating.
So what rhymes with it?
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Rhymes in the wild
“Lose Yourself”
Eminem, Jeff Bass and Luis Resto · 8 Mile · 2002
The rap song that won an Oscar. Listen to how it rhymes.
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Myth or fact?
“Only five words in English have no perfect rhyme: orange, silver, month, pint and ninth.”
Well?
rhymehamster.com
Myth or fact?
“Marry, merry and Mary all sound the same.”
Well?
rhymehamster.com
New in Merriam-Webster
cold brew
\ ˈkōld-ˈbrü \
noun
Coffee steeped in cold water for hours. Smoother, stronger and somehow pricier.
So what rhymes with it?
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Rhymes in the wild
“50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”
Paul Simon · 1975
The chorus started as a rhyming game with a three-year-old.
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New in Merriam-Webster
cuff·ing sea·son
\ ˈkə-fiŋ-ˌsē-zᵊn \
noun
The chilly months when single people suddenly want someone to hunker down with.
So what rhymes with it?
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Rhymes in the wild
“Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off”
George and Ira Gershwin · 1937
Shall We Dance
Shall We Dance
A song where the rhymes only work if two people disagree.
rhymehamster.com
Myth or fact?
“Social rhymes with antisocial.”
Well?
rhymehamster.com
The Hamster Papers
Long reads from a short desk.
The State of Rhyme
What Rhymes With Your Name?
Tokyo, Meet Pinocchio