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Original poster

Cryptic Crossword Clues

142 replies

IrvinaYalom · 08/09/2018 11:32

Right, I am aware that this might be a bit niche and that I may be totally alone in thinking that this would be a good thing to exist but I am going to go ahead and ask anyway and hope that I am not as alone as I think I might be!

I have recently discovered the joys (oh yes- the joys are multiple!) of doing cryptic crosswords. Being new I am obviously no expert and during these early days of crossword exploration and discovery I have repeatedly bemoaned the lack of "clue explanations". Now it may well just be me who experiences this but I quite regularly find that even upon discovering the answer to a more challenging clue I don't quite understand exactly how or why the clue in question lead to that particular answer. So this leads me to ask...

Would anyone else out there be interested in an ongoing thread upon which we could post about cryptic crossword clues and help each other see what's what?

anticipates tumbleweed

OP posts:
DadDadDad · 10/09/2018 17:42

H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O (5 letters)

It's a nice brainteaser, but as it stands, does this conform to the conventions of cryptic clues? "H to O" is not "H two O" unless a "sounds like" is indicated, and shouldn't the clue also have something which is a synonym for the answer? So I came up with:

HIJKLMNO is the sound of the icemaker (5)

SausageOnAFork · 10/09/2018 17:48

I like the Guardian Quiptic. It’s about my level.

I started to enjoy them many many years ago when I worked as an assistant stage manager. One of my jobs was to pop into the dressing rooms about 30 minutes before the show and make sure everyone was ok. There were three different actors who would all do the Times crossword before the show. As I would go in they would say ‘has Jonny got 10 down yet?’ I ended up taking clues back and forth between them.

Original poster
IrvinaYalom · 10/09/2018 20:06

I think I might steal that anecdote Sausage and pretend it's how I got into crosswords Grin - much more glamorous and interesting than "I decided to copy my dad in an attempt to be as cool and knowledgable as him.".

(Cryptic crosswords are cool right!??)

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Games
desperatelyseekingcaffeine · 11/09/2018 14:14

Ok I'm just beginning so can someone help explain some clues to me? Doing yesterday's I cryptic.

Producer of scores of works - worker subsequently penning nothing/very little? 9 letters. It seems to be Beethoven but I can't figure out why?

Also Statue lies unmoved after demolition 5,2,4 seems to be Venus de Milo but again don't know why.

And I can't get:
Lists of elected politicians absorbing the archdeacon (11). Been playing with the letters MP and VEN but no joy.

AsleepAllDay · 11/09/2018 14:22

Following!

Eanair · 11/09/2018 14:36

Ok, the status is an anagram of " lies unmoved" and bee would be the worker bit of the first but I'm not there on the rest of it either.

SausageOnAFork · 11/09/2018 14:37

Look on the Fifteensquared forum Caffeine, that will give you the answers and an explanation.

iklboo · 11/09/2018 14:37

Producer of scores of works - worker subsequently penning nothing/very little? 9 letters. It seems to be Beethoven but I can't figure out why?

Scores of work = musical scores
Worker usually = bee
The 'thoven' bit is a little more complex. Subsequently = then, nothing = o and very little = v (little meaning abbreviated 'very'). Stick o & v in then, add bee and you get 'Beethoven'

Also Statue lies unmoved after demolition 5,2,4 seems to be Venus de Milo but again don't know why.

That's just an an anagram of 'lies unmoved'

Original poster
IrvinaYalom · 11/09/2018 14:38

So I've just opened today's Guardian puzzle and immediately got 23 Across- Try dry fleece worn by hot, dishy type (5-5) just from the definiton (hot, dishy type) but I have no idea how the "Try dry fleece" bit works? If someone wise can explain I will be very appreciative.

Will have a look at your Beethoven now desperately and see if I can figure it out!

OP posts:
Original poster
IrvinaYalom · 11/09/2018 14:39

no need, I see an expert has got in there already!

OP posts:
Eanair · 11/09/2018 14:39

INVENTORIES - IN = independent politicians, VEN = archdeacon, TORIES = other politicians

iklboo · 11/09/2018 14:39

The other one is INVENTORIES

The whole word being a synonym for 'lists'

VEN as you guessed

TORIES for MPs

IN for absorbing

Smile
Eanair · 11/09/2018 14:41

I haven't got to that one yet, Irvina,
but maybe we should avoid discussions of today's crosswords to avoid spoilers? I often don't get to look at them until after work so would really appreciate that - fair game after the day of publication.

Eanair · 11/09/2018 14:44

Thanks for the 'thoven' explanation, iklboo - I get bogged down in those laborious decipherings.

Original poster
IrvinaYalom · 11/09/2018 14:50

Good point iklboo, that was terrible crossword etiquette. If anyone can explain please PM me though as I am madly frustrated (and will have forgotten all about it by tomorrow).

OP posts:
Eanair · 11/09/2018 14:51

I've just looked at it, so will PM you.

iklboo · 11/09/2018 14:52

That was @Eanair

desperatelyseekingcaffeine · 11/09/2018 14:53

Thank you! I missed the now seemingly obvious anagram! That Beethoven one makes sense now though would never have got that on my own. I'll fill the politician one in then see if I can get some more!

Original poster
IrvinaYalom · 11/09/2018 15:01

Ooh woops, sorry ik, thank you so much for the explanation Eanair. I'm loving having such experts to refer to when I'm stumped!

OP posts:
Eanair · 11/09/2018 22:04

Just finished today's Guardian cryptic, albeit with frequent use of the check button. Some ace clues, including two that made me genuinely laugh out loud and one that was a completely new word to me.

Inertia · 11/09/2018 22:26

Another vote for the fifteensquared website to explain the ones you didn't get- there is a crosswords forum on the Guardian website, but posting spoilers there is really not the done thing and they will direct you to fifteensquared.

The Guardian Quiptic is available online every Monday, and that's a great starter for beginners.

Inertia · 11/09/2018 22:27

And while we're posting memorable clues, the one that sticks in my mind (and took me a few crossers to figure out! ) is :

K (8)

Original poster
IrvinaYalom · 11/09/2018 23:37

The Guardian's was super hard today (in my extremely humble opinion that it). A fair few words were not ones I have ever used or even seen used.

I like a challenge though and at least I have widened my vocabulary a smidgeon!

OP posts:
Original poster
IrvinaYalom · 11/09/2018 23:38

*is not it

OP posts:
TheRattleBag · 12/09/2018 04:09

I managed to finish the Guardian today (well, Tuesday's!)

I have a friend who is super-intelligent and has a gigantic vocabulary, and can generally knock off a cryptic in the time it takes me to put the dashes in He said Tuesday's was hard, so I took it as a challenge (idiot that I am).

It took me until turned midnight, and I spent much of my 20 lengths swimming in the morning thinking of words for lovers, and famous lovers, but I got there in the end!

He's now challenged me to have a go at the Azed.

Argh.