Author Topic: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread  (Read 111359 times)

slope

  • Inclined to distraction
    • Current pedalable joys
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #500 on: 21 May, 2021, 02:45:37 pm »
In today’s Guardian:

Cyclist of note about to sell his pants. (4,9)

 :thumbsup: Brilliant - and the three other gospels linked round the perimeter 

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #501 on: 28 June, 2021, 12:44:34 pm »
Today's Guardian cryptic is set by Dave Gorman, working under the pseudonym Fed - https://twitter.com/DaveGorman/status/1409412645120323585?s=20

Some good work there - not the hardest to solve, but all neatly constructed.

Apparently, he also sets cryptics for the Independent as Bluth.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #502 on: 23 August, 2021, 12:11:43 pm »
Not from a cryptic crossword, but a couple of recent rather good anagrams from the Graun Quick:

Late lamb! (anag) (8 )

One old fort now (anag) (5,2,6)
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #503 on: 05 September, 2021, 08:52:37 pm »
I've been dabbling in putting together my own cryptic crosswords - here's one I've finished:

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:6c3edd09-7af5-4889-a83c-85b11e5a20c2

File is a simple pdf (not interactive, unfortunately, so if you want to have a go, you'll have to print it). Download at your own risk. That aside, I make no promises as to the quality of the content, but would welcome any comments - positive, constructively critical, or even just tell me it's shit if you like. I have a few thoughts of my own re what's good and what isn't, but won't share them just yet - don't want to influence opinion.

Given how long it has taken me to finish this one, I don't think I'll be giving up the day job to become the new Araucaria just yet.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

slope

  • Inclined to distraction
    • Current pedalable joys
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #504 on: 05 September, 2021, 09:25:07 pm »
Downloaded and will have a go tomorrow :thumbsup:

AZED was a bit simple today, so unlike the usual few days working on that, I'm well up for entertainment of a Monday :)

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #505 on: 05 September, 2021, 09:40:00 pm »
Downloaded and will have a go tomorrow :thumbsup:

:thumbsup:


Quote
AZED was a bit simple today

:o

If that’s your level, mine won’t take you long.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #506 on: 06 September, 2021, 11:03:00 am »
Haven't the technology to print the grid, so am just solving as is, at the moment.  I especially like 10 acc.!

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #507 on: 06 September, 2021, 12:03:27 pm »
I especially like 10 acc.!

 :thumbsup:

(click to show/hide)
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

slope

  • Inclined to distraction
    • Current pedalable joys
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #508 on: 06 September, 2021, 03:29:15 pm »
^ Like the simplicity of 4d - made me smile too :thumbsup:

18a was a new one on me - perhaps it ought to have a US indicator?

Still struggling with the NW corner :-[


citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #509 on: 06 September, 2021, 04:15:18 pm »
^ Like the simplicity of 4d - made me smile too :thumbsup:

Oh good! That's one I wasn't sure about myself.

Quote
18a was a new one on me - perhaps it ought to have a US indicator?


Yes, fair point.

Quote
Still struggling with the NW corner :-[

I have to admit I'm pushing my luck with some elements in that corner, especially the definition for 9a.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #510 on: 06 September, 2021, 04:51:03 pm »
(click to show/hide)

I think you've mad a really good fist of this.


citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #511 on: 06 September, 2021, 06:34:05 pm »
Ta!

That play sounds lovely. I'll have to keep an ear out for it on 4extra.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #512 on: 10 September, 2021, 10:11:28 am »
And here's one from today's Guardian cryptic that amused me...

Trump to take five women home before date. (5,4)
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #513 on: 28 October, 2021, 10:00:07 pm »
Since sharing my previous attempt at creating a whole crossword, I have discovered mycrossword.co.uk, and so I've put up a few more of my amateur cruciverbal dabblings, if anyone is interested...

My most recent effort:
https://mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/204

An earlier one - I'm very pleased with some of the clues here, but there are several that really need polishing:
https://mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/183

The one I shared here before was created from scratch, and I wasn't able to publish it on mycrossword.co.uk in its original form, but I did re-use some of the clues as a starting point in compiling this one:
https://mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/174

I've also had a go at a 'quick cryptic' style - I like the discipline of trying to create clues that are easier but still sound...
https://mycrossword.co.uk/quick/14
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

cygnet

  • I'm part of the association
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #514 on: 28 October, 2021, 10:25:38 pm »
15A cluing is a bit poor.
Though I suppose it could be considered revenge for the arcane shortcuts used by many setters
I'm only novice but if I can get closer to completion...
I Said, I've Got A Big Stick

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #515 on: 28 October, 2021, 11:26:54 pm »
15A cluing is a bit poor.
Though I suppose it could be considered revenge for the arcane shortcuts used by many setters

It’s funny. I had what I thought was a nice idea for that one but struggled to make it into a workable clue. And yet it has had positive comments over there.

But I agree with you rather than them. It’s definitely not my best work!
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #516 on: 30 October, 2021, 11:51:06 am »
Not cryptic, but a bit of an oddity in today's Graun "Weekend" crossword. It's in the form of a knowledge quiz, some of it pretty obscure.

French expression meaning "In the know". (1,2,4)

The solution in the ipad app insisted on the grave accent over the first letter, otherwise it said it was wrong. That's rather fussy of it, and also inaccurate, as the app defaults to capitals and accents are optional extras when you are using capitals.
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
  • Mrs Pingu's domestique
    • the Igloo
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #517 on: 31 October, 2021, 05:45:28 pm »
...My most recent effort:
https://mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/204...

I finished it eventually  :) Nice work  :thumbsup:

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #518 on: 31 October, 2021, 06:31:31 pm »
15A cluing is a bit poor.
Though I suppose it could be considered revenge for the arcane shortcuts used by many setters

It’s funny. I had what I thought was a nice idea for that one but struggled to make it into a workable clue. And yet it has had positive comments over there.

But I agree with you rather than them. It’s definitely not my best work!


I5A led easily enough to the answer, though I see cygnet's point.  "Spotter finds crone, in short term"?  Too easy, perhaps.

Anyway, well done - I thoroughly enjoyed that!

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
  • Mrs Pingu's domestique
    • the Igloo
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #519 on: 31 October, 2021, 06:58:05 pm »
He seeks the Bird King around Switzerland.

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #520 on: 31 October, 2021, 07:05:55 pm »
I like that!

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #521 on: 31 October, 2021, 09:24:15 pm »
He seeks the Bird King around Switzerland.

Nice!

I5A led easily enough to the answer, though I see cygnet's point.  "Spotter finds crone, in short term"?  Too easy, perhaps.

Anyway, well done - I thoroughly enjoyed that!

Ta!

Re 15a, with hindsight, I should have just admitted defeat and come up with some different wordplay that was easier to turn into a workable clue.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #522 on: 31 October, 2021, 09:34:23 pm »
Nae bother.  I think we've all seen much worse.  You did a good job!

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #523 on: 31 October, 2021, 09:42:52 pm »
Not cryptic, but a bit of an oddity in today's Graun "Weekend" crossword. It's in the form of a knowledge quiz, some of it pretty obscure.

French expression meaning "In the know". (1,2,4)

The solution in the ipad app insisted on the grave accent over the first letter, otherwise it said it was wrong. That's rather fussy of it, and also inaccurate, as the app defaults to capitals and accents are optional extras when you are using capitals.

There's a strong faction in the crosswording community (yes, there is such a thing) who say that accents should be preserved. The argument is that it often changes the meaning of the word if you omit the accent - eg if you leave the tilde off the Spanish word for 'year', it becomes the word for 'anus'. I'm ambivalent about it myself. I think I would get around the problem by avoiding using accented words.

I hardly ever do the Weekend crossword. I probably should - I love crosswords and I love a good pub quiz, and it seems to be the perfect synthesis of the two.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
  • Mrs Pingu's domestique
    • the Igloo
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #524 on: 01 November, 2021, 10:45:00 pm »
...An earlier one - I'm very pleased with some of the clues here, but there are several that really need polishing:
https://mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/183 ...

I see you used all the letters in that one.