Can you do cryptic crosswords? Beginner in need of help.

[Flamingoose]

Substances left from evaporation are absorbing uranium (7)

Last letter is E.

I sort of want it to be RESIDUE, because that's a substance left from evaporation. If we assume 'absorbing uranium' means put a U in it, then I've put a U in RESIDE - but I have no idea where the RESIDE came from, so maybe RESIDUE is wrong?

Any help?

[Sunbird24]

For me it’s just practice, I do the T2 quick cryptic in the Times nearly every day at work and you get used to the different devices used to indicate how to get to the answer, like whether it’s an anagram etc.

[Flamingoose]

I'm just learning WTF.
Some clues are easier than others, and often (like on this thread) I think I know the answer but I can't work out why. I have to work backwards from my own answers. Or ask Mumsnet :)

[Sunbird24]

This was my favourite from the Times Cryptic yesterday:
Where one may find hot spices - hot not cold - readily (2,1,5)

[IAmTheLovechildOfYvesAndIsabel]

People who can roll their tongue, wiggle their ears, get brain freeze if they eat ice cream too fast, can and happily do complete cryptic crosswords. We look similar, I can tell we're the same type of animal but that's where the similarities end.

I very much like the particular way your brains work but I don't understand the how. 😁

[IAmTheLovechildOfYvesAndIsabel]

Ah, ok @ sunbird, so there are ways to recognise which method to use. But do they vary from compiler to compiler or always have to be the same? Part of the frustration for me is not knowing if I am looking for an anagram or something else. After many years of bewilderment I honestly think my brain doesn't work that way.

[beccahamlet]

Can you give us some letters for the spices one sunbird? Maybe the first letter of the third word?

[beccahamlet]

Oh! I've got it. Very good. Don't need any letters thanks.

[WishingYouAMerryChristmasToo]

@Sunbird24

This was my favourite from the Times Cryptic yesterday:
Where one may find hot spices - hot not cold - readily (2,1,5)

I like that one in a curry, in a Hurry!

[beccahamlet]

I won't say the answer so someone else can enjoy!

[Sunbird24]

@IAmTheLovechildOfYvesAndIsabel

Ah, ok @ sunbird, so there are ways to recognise which method to use. But do they vary from compiler to compiler or always have to be the same? Part of the frustration for me is not knowing if I am looking for an anagram or something else. After many years of bewilderment I honestly think my brain doesn't work that way.

www.crosswordsolver.org/guides/how-to-solve-cryptic-crosswords
This article explains it all better than I can!

[LavenderAskew]

I'm hopless at these. I mean I don't even get the explanation most of the time.

Such as why in the OP is it putting a u in RESIDE? I get where the "U" comes from, but where did you get "RESIDE" from?

[Flamingoose]

Well that was my question in the first place Lavender. I'm still not sure and no one else has been able to explain either. We think it's an odd clue.

[YesILikeItToo]

I can’t see it either - all I have to offer is that I’d be happy with ‘substances left’ as the definition. That leaves evaporation over to be part of the clue for RESIDE.

[Flamingoose]

@Sunbird24

This was my favourite from the Times Cryptic yesterday:
Where one may find hot spices - hot not cold - readily (2,1,5)

I like this! (but I had to get it and then work backwards again.)

[LavenderAskew]

@Flamingoose

Well that was my question in the first place Lavender. I'm still not sure and no one else has been able to explain either. We think it's an odd clue.

Oh, right. But you did know to put u in RESIDE!!

Or is it you figured it was residue and worked back to RESIDE?

[LavenderAskew]

No I realise you didn't know it needed to be added to RESIDE the replies in this thread make more sense. Gah, I really am useless at cryptic clues

Do you think the "are" might supposed to be "be", the the "be" = reside?

[Werehamster]

Are you sure about the last E?

It would seem that substances would be plural so residues, then remove the u to make resides.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Following in admiration. I'm hopeless at these. I'll just say the U comes from uranium - it's the chemical symbol for it. Anything you can reduce to a letter, acronym or standard abbreviation stands out as something you could put in the middle of another word.

[IAmTheLovechildOfYvesAndIsabel]

Nothing useful to add, just wanted to say thank you for the link @sunbird24

[Flamingoose]

Yes, the E at the end is sure. It's from:

Ethanoic Anhydride corrodes every transistor in circuit, initially (6)

ACETIC

[Flamingoose]

Yes, I worked backwards Lavender.

[Georgiesgirl]

Friend takes back one more unfinished element (8) is chromium,
chum with 1 mor(e) backwards.
Love a cryptic. I think we need more threads on them!

[Flamingoose]

Wow Georgiesgirl - you are very good. Amazing.

[Georgiesgirl]

😂 thank you. I try to do three a day (times x2 and guardian). Practice helps so much. If I stop for a while it's much harder.

[EarringsandLipstick]

I think cryptics are good when the clues are good & the answer satisfying. Many are a bit like 'residues'. They work, but it's not quite clear why.

The Irish Times cryptic crossword was great years ago. I was never good at it but my Grandma did it every day. You really needed a classical education - lots of Latin & references to Greek myths & legends, and famous literature. It's frustrating these days, lots of the answers are 'huh? Why is that the answer?'