the password is

PHILADELPHIA

the Clue

phillies

buzz or ding

Buzz.

If this was Pyramid I wouldn't allow it (because it conveys the "essence of the word") but I would accept it for Password. Here is what the Million Dollar Password rules say:

It is allowable to repeat a small part of the Password as part of a clue, as long as it is not the entire main root. For example, although "foot" and "ball" would not be allowed as clues for the Password "football", the clue "baseball" would be allowed. "Day" would not be allowed as a clue for "Monday", but "Sunday" would be allowed. "Strawberry" would be allowed as a clue for "blackberry", since the repeated part "berry" is not the entire main root of "blackberry".

So, I take this to mean that "Phil" or "Delphia" (if that was a real word) wouldn't work but "Phillies", an established proper noun, is acceptable.

I don't think it would be a good clue anyway because sounds like "fillies" which would lead to something equine.

Ding! 'Tisn't a form of the word.

Everything fun usually does.

With my group, the agreed upon arbiter of clues was dictionary.com. I just looked. No joy.

This is also a fine reason to not give the clue.

If this were the original version of Password, this wouldn't even be a Password. It is a proper name.

Yes, yes, I know that changed slightly in the later versions, but it's still a valid argument.

Excellent point, Nicholas. My hunch is that SP would have allowed it, but not P+. My only reason on the second is that "Phillies" is more nearly a form of "Philadelphia" than "French" is of "France". Indeed, Philly is a form of "Philadelphia".

My question is, why would someone even take the chance of going for something that close? Even if it's considered legal, it just sounds too close to the main word to take that chance. I'd go for "76ers" or "Sixers" first, but are team names like that even allowed? The former is technically a hyphenated word, which counts as one word.

In Password I do not believe this to be the case.

(In fact I can say this with certainty, as the Milton Bradley Password rules always used "well-to-do" as an example of a clue that is illegal because of its hyphenation.)

Sixer would pass, albeit barely: as slang for a six-pack of a beverage. But again, that goes back to will your partner make the connection that you want "Philadelphia" and not "seventy"?

I'd probably buzz it based on the form of the word aspect. And besides, how many contestants would actually figure that out if they don't follow any sports at all? A better way to go about it is to try Pennsylvania(if we go by SP rules) first, then city.

/At least this topic's appropiate since my Phillies just staved off elimmination last night.

Honestly, I'd just give something like "Pittsburgh?". I think they'd get it easier that way anyway, unless they go with Harrisburg.

Kudos for that!

Buzz. The clue contains the essence of the password.

"The essence of" was never an issue on Password, only Pyramid. Password always dealt in forms of the word.

To me, 'Phillies' would be allowed on Password, but not Pyramid.

Was "Phillies" a shortened name of Philadelphians (similar to the Mets being short for Metropolitans)? If so, then the form of the word rule applies and...buzz!

From Wikipedia: "After being founded in 1883 as the "Quakers", the team changed its name to the 'Philadelphias', after the convention of the times. This was soon shortened to 'Phillies'."
(In turn, cited from The Team-by-Team Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball)

Would cheesesteak be accepted as a clue?

why not

Merriam-Webster approves.

Indeed!

/at least in 2009

EDIT: Well, currently. Per the post above me (which came in as I was typing), it was admitted in 1977 - so no bones on classic Password.