Author Topic: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread  (Read 110876 times)

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #375 on: 02 February, 2017, 10:47:22 am »
o that is vile
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #376 on: 03 March, 2017, 06:35:25 pm »
Following this week's brilliantly twisted episode of Inside No.9, my son has suddenly become interested in cryptic crosswords.

I just sent him the following text message:

Czech jailer fink cooked tonight's dinner. (7,8)
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

ElyDave

  • Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society member 263583
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #377 on: 03 March, 2017, 06:40:33 pm »
just a montage of veg for me.

Yours sounds better.
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #378 on: 15 March, 2017, 03:08:07 pm »
Accept what's offered in cash - George Best cons bar when drunk. (7,4,2,8)

(from today's Guardian)
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #379 on: 15 March, 2017, 06:55:20 pm »
Beggars can't be choosers?

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #380 on: 15 March, 2017, 07:42:25 pm »
:thumbsup:

Not a difficult one but neatly constructed.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #381 on: 16 March, 2017, 02:07:53 am »
Yes; who was it?  It's Araucaria's style but presumably not him.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #382 on: 16 March, 2017, 03:58:02 pm »
Yes; who was it?  It's Araucaria's style but presumably not him.

Tramp - one of the newer setters, although he's been around a few years now. Definitely a disciple of Araucaria but generally much easier.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

nicknack

  • Hornblower
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #383 on: 16 March, 2017, 04:43:52 pm »
There was a nice one in The Week a few weeks ago:
Ultimately sexist ass in America (5)
Not too hard to get.
There's no vibrations, but wait.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #384 on: 16 March, 2017, 04:59:41 pm »
There was a nice one in The Week a few weeks ago:
Ultimately sexist ass in America (5)
Not too hard to get.

 ;D
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Basil

  • Um....err......oh bugger!
  • Help me!
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #385 on: 16 March, 2017, 05:25:23 pm »
There was a nice one in The Week a few weeks ago:
Ultimately sexist ass in America (5)
Not too hard to get.

Very good.
Admission.  I'm actually not that fussed about cake.

Torslanda

  • Professional Gobshite
  • Just a tart for retro kit . . .
    • John's Bikes
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #386 on: 17 March, 2017, 12:03:01 am »
Am I alone in NEVER being able to work out cryptic clues?  ??? <BAFFLED>  ???

What's the technique? I. Just. Don't. Get. Them.
VELOMANCER

Well that's the more blunt way of putting it but as usual he's dead right.

Basil

  • Um....err......oh bugger!
  • Help me!
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #387 on: 17 March, 2017, 12:10:51 am »
Am I alone in NEVER being able to work out cryptic clues?  ??? <BAFFLED>  ???

What's the technique? I. Just. Don't. Get. Them.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/sep/12/how-to-solve-cryptic-crossword-clues


Admission.  I'm actually not that fussed about cake.

Torslanda

  • Professional Gobshite
  • Just a tart for retro kit . . .
    • John's Bikes
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #388 on: 17 March, 2017, 12:16:03 am »
Still baffled . . .

Mind you, can't play chess either. Must be something to do with Asperger's?
VELOMANCER

Well that's the more blunt way of putting it but as usual he's dead right.

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #389 on: 17 March, 2017, 12:27:43 am »
A bit like explaining a joke. You frequently have to disassemble and reassemble words.

TRUMP is the answer upthread. The ultimate part is rump, which equals ass in USAnian etc...

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #390 on: 17 March, 2017, 08:21:58 am »
And 'T' is the ultimate letter of 'sexist'.
Rust never sleeps

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #391 on: 17 March, 2017, 08:25:46 am »
Must be something to do with Asperger's?

I don't know the answer to that but it's a really interesting thought.

I learnt how to do cryptic crosswords by 'helping' my dad with the Guardian prize crossword on Saturdays, but have subsequently learnt a lot more from reading Don Manley's book and from following the blog at fifteensquared.net. You definitely get better with practice - it's partly down to learning the techniques and partly down to learning the standard crossword tropes (eg 'sailor' in a clue often stands for the letters = TAR or ABS).

The best clues avoid the tropes and clichés. Araucaria was always good at coming up with original and witty clues, which is one of the reasons he was so loved by progressively minded solvers, and why he was hated by the more conservative types.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #392 on: 17 March, 2017, 08:29:33 am »
TRUMP is the answer upthread. The ultimate part is rump, which equals ass in USAnian etc...

And 'T' is the ultimate letter of 'sexist'.

Also worth noting that the clue is an &lit type - where the whole clue is both the definition and the wordplay.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #393 on: 17 March, 2017, 10:25:27 am »
I think that there are quite a few aspie kids who get on very well with chess - provided it's their thing. I suppose it's fairly unlikely that they would be involved in cryptic crosswords at such a young age though, so I doubt it would be easy to set up a reasonable comparison.
The loss of humanity I could live with.

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
  • Mrs Pingu's domestique
    • the Igloo
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #394 on: 17 March, 2017, 10:29:11 am »
Accept what's offered in cash - George Best cons bar when drunk. (7,4,2,8)

(from today's Guardian)

It was a football/drink/drugs themed crossword that day.

nicknack

  • Hornblower
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #395 on: 17 October, 2017, 06:56:28 pm »
In the Grauniad the other day:

Exhausted by current Tory tactic to stay in government? (4,2)
There's no vibrations, but wait.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #396 on: 17 October, 2017, 07:06:46 pm »
Oh, that is good.  :thumbsup:
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #397 on: 18 October, 2017, 07:35:29 pm »
Calvinists excite Britney Spears. (13)
The loss of humanity I could live with.

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
  • Mrs Pingu's domestique
    • the Igloo
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #398 on: 09 November, 2017, 12:43:03 pm »
In today's Graun:

Quote
Brexit not a disaster? It’s very costly (10)

Snakehips

  • Twixt London and leafy Surrey
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #399 on: 09 November, 2017, 01:10:08 pm »
In today's Graun:

Quote
Brexit not a disaster? It’s very costly (10)

Exorbitant.

It's very good now its online, it gives old retired people something to do when they are not out riding their bikes  ..... which reminds me!

An nescis, mi fili, quantilla prudentia mundus regatur?