“I’ll take outdated phrases for $1,000, Ken.”
During Monday’s *Jeopardy!* episode, host Ken Jennings faced backlash after presenting a clue in the “Complete the Rhyming Phrase” category that many found inappropriate.
“Men seldom make passes at…” he read to the contestants.
Returning champion Will Wallace quickly responded with the correct answer: “Girls who wear glasses.”
Originally coined by poet Dorothy Parker in 1926, this phrase raised eyebrows for its dated tone, especially since one of the contestants wore glasses.
“Apologies for that, Heather,” Jennings said after confirming the answer.
“Very,” Wallace agreed.
Online, viewers criticized the clue’s inclusion, finding it uncomfortable for contestants, host, and audience alike.
“It was an odd choice. Plenty of other rhyming phrases don’t make everyone visibly uncomfortable,” one fan commented on Reddit.
“Agreed on all counts. Seems like they pulled a reference from the 1950s,” added another.
One user on X voiced frustration: “She’s worked so hard to get here, only to hear a phrase that’s both sexist and outdated.”
