rebus

Back to Our Newsletter | Back to Ballantine Info

Rebus

A rebus is a puzzle that consists of pictures of objects, signs, etc. which by the sound of their names suggest words or phrases.

Ballantine Ale, Ballantine Beer, and Ballantine India Pale Ale are made by the Miller Brewing Co., in Allentown, PA (formerly brewed by Falstaff Brewing Corp., in Cranston RI). The bottle caps have a rebus puzzle printed on the underside. I have no idea when this tradition started, (many of the phrases were well-known about 1970) or why it still goes on, but here are most of the solutions to the puzzles from caps in circulation.

Solutions are arranged by the puzzle number, usually printed above the puzzle. A few of the numbers are not clearly printed, and are listed under a "best guess".

51?) It doesn't ring a bell   IT + DUH + cent + ring + A + bell
56)   On my word of honor   on + M + eye + were + dove + on + oar
57)   It's out of the question   ITS + OUT + OF + THE + K + west + shin
58)   You're heading for trouble   Y + oar + head + ING + four + TRUH + bull
60)   You bet your bippy   U + bed + Y + oar + BIP + bee
62)   The powers that be   THE + P + OW + horse + TH + hat + bee
63)   Clear as crystal   CL + ear + AS + K + wrist + L
64)   Can you imagine that   can + U + E + mat + gin + TH + hat
66)   Bill Clayton???   BAA + L + K + lei + ton
67)   I feel good all over   eye + F + eel + GOOD + awl + O + four
68)   You better look twice   U + bed + oar + LOOK + TW + ice
69)   Richard Nixon   RIT + shirt + NIC + sun
70)   Good old Charlie Brown   goo + toe + LD + CH + holly + E + BR + OW + N
71)   Headline news   head + lion + noose
74)   Creating a rumpus   CRE + eight + ink + A + rum + bus
75)   Lawrence Welk   L + oar + hens + well + K
77)   Neil Armstrong   N + eel + arm + straw + NG
78)   Feature attraction   feet + CHER + eight + track + shin
79)   Play it cool   P + lei + IT + COO + oil
81)   No place to go but up   NO + PL + ace + two + GO + butt + UP
82)   You'll go down in history   YUL + go + down + IN + HE + store + E
83)   How sweet it is   house + wheat + IT + IS
84)   I've got to hand it to you   hive + cot + two + hand + IT + two + U
85)   Sharp as a tack   SH + harp + as + eight + AK
87?) How dry I am   HOW + D + RYE + eye + ham
91)   Narrowing the gap   N + arrow + wing + TH + UGH + cap
92?) Daylight saving time   D + ale + light + safe + ING + time + M
93)   Keep your eye on the ball   key + P + Y + oar + I + on + THE + ball
94)   Russian dressing   RUSH + hen + dress + sink
95)   Once over lightly   one + Z + O + four + light + LEE
97)   United we stand   U + knight + ED + W + east + and
98)   You should have ducked   U + shoe + D + half + duck + D
99)   Squealing with delight   SK + wheel + ING + WITH + D + light
100) Straight down the middle   S + tray + T + DOWN + THE + mitt + L
103) A bird in the hand   A + bird + inn + THE + hand
104) Maxwell Smart   M + axe + well + S + MART
105) Appalachian Mountains   apple + eight + gin + MOUN + tens
106) Not playing fair   knot + P + lei + ING + fair
107) King Arthur's Court   king + RTH + horse + cort + T
108) Don't mention it   dough + NT + men + chin + net
109) Look who's talking   LOO + goose + TAW + king
110) The pursuit of happiness   THE + purse + suit + OF + HAP + pin + S
111) T formation   tea + four + may + shin
112) Wait 'till next year   weight + TILL + N + eggs + Y + ear
113) Journey to the moon   J + urn + E + two + THE + MOO + N