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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:
inquiquotiokixul · 12/09/2018 05:57

I'm late joining the thread but I'm in.

I'm also a relatively new convert to cryptic. I started with the "quiptic" versions but now find those a bit too easy. They were an excellent training-ground though.

I do the Saturday Guardian every week and attempt the Private Eye one each fortnight (fun as usually a few quite rude clues). I also have a paperback book of 100 old guardian crosswords - I think they date back to 2009 ish - which I am about half way through.

Just to clarify as I have mostly skimmed the previous posts: we have thread rules about not spoiling clues if the answers haven't been published anywhere yet but if answers are online it's fair game? So I am OK to discuss clues from my old paperback?

My favourite from the old book that I did last night was extremely skillful crew's dexterity (7) which is SLEIGHT - as S & L are the extremes of skillful and eight is a word for the crew of a rowing boat.

From the recent Saturday guardian I have most if the answers but don't fully get the logic for some. eg 14ac concerning the province "quiet" meant avoiding a surprise (12) - I can work our the answer from other intersecting letters and I can see what the logic is for "quiet" meant avoiding a surprise but I don't get why concerning the province gives the rest if the word?

letsgomaths · 12/09/2018 09:10

Here's a good one:
Gracious, Sire, that's amazing! (7 letters)

It is used to describe Adam or I. (5-6 letters, two words)

eddiemairswife · 12/09/2018 09:17

inqui the province is part of the UK. I don't want to say anymore in case I spoil it for others.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Games
iklboo · 12/09/2018 10:38

Glad it wasn't just me who found yesterday's Guardian one hard!

gussiefox · 12/09/2018 10:54

I can normally do most of the Guardian ones during the week, but yesterday defeated me too.

Eanair · 12/09/2018 21:19

I can't work out that one, inqui.

Got about three quarters through today's Guardian cryptic and just did a Reveal All to get the bottom right corner - found it a bit of a slog.

Motherhood101Fail · 12/09/2018 21:24

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

inquiquotiokixul · 12/09/2018 23:26

Ah I've got it. I was barking up completely the wrong tree wrt what the word "concerning" was doing.

My favourite crossword clue ever is:

cox at me (6,3,7)

... which is from a guardian crossword many many years ago. Don't spoil it on-thread tho if you know it.

iklboo · 13/09/2018 10:22

Ohhhh that's a good one! (Had to look it up though).

inquiquotiokixul · 14/09/2018 08:16

From another ancient crossword in my paperback.

Favourite so far: Hardwood called for a trick (4)

I can see the obvious solution to this one from the intersecting letters I have, but don't see the logic or meaning in the 2nd half of the clue:
Trade done treacherously downstream (7)
SLI_G

Frogletmamma · 14/09/2018 09:39

I get your timber ref but am totally baffled by the logic of the second

eddiemairswife · 14/09/2018 10:50

Selling.....To sell one down the river.

Frogletmamma · 14/09/2018 10:57

Ahhh... cleverness

iklboo · 14/09/2018 11:15

I've got an app of cryptic crosswords. Not too taxing but good enough to get you thinking the right way.

Pamdoo · 14/09/2018 11:30

iklboo what app is that? The one I've downloaded I'm finding too easy!

iklboo · 14/09/2018 11:32

It's called Crossword Cryptic. It was £2.99 but there's loads of puzzles.

ChipInTheSugar · 14/09/2018 17:21

Can anyone help with "it bristles with artistic associations" (5-5). I've got "brush" but can't get the other word Hmm

ChipInTheSugar · 14/09/2018 17:22

Paint brush? occurred to me as soon as I had posted GrinGrin

Toofle · 14/09/2018 17:43

Thanks for the thread, OP. I miss Rufus very much - I suffer from arrested development in the crossword dept - but will get back to downloading old ones. Logodaedalus wasn't too bad ( ie he was easy ).
Don't know if this has been said already but if you do a search for a current clue you'll go straight to the discussion about it.

inquiquotiokixul · 15/09/2018 08:12

Ah thank you. I shall be popping out for the Saturday guardian shortly but may not have time for the crossword till much later - imminent in-laws.

Original poster
IrvinaYalom · 15/09/2018 21:20

I hope you had success with both the crossword and your day spent with the in-laws inqui.

I'm doing an old (easier) one this eve- can anyone tell me why "The spirit of Ireland" (4) is this

Have hidden the answer in a link so you can figure it out first if you want to!

I'm struggling to see the link to Ireland... is it just the first letter/first letter of Ireland's alternative name?

OP posts:
EggysMom · 15/09/2018 21:41

The answer word is contained within 'Ireland'?

Pamdoo · 15/09/2018 21:41

Have you Googled the word then ireland? The first link is the only connection I can find. I'm being a bit vague but didn't know how to post a hidden link and didn't want to spoil the clue for anyone wanting to work it out!

Original poster
IrvinaYalom · 15/09/2018 21:43

oh of course- it's in the word! Duh!

Thank you ever so much Eggy

OP posts:
Pamdoo · 15/09/2018 21:43

@eggysmom of course how did I miss that?!