Author Topic: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread  (Read 110875 times)

Wowbagger

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Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #450 on: 07 March, 2019, 11:24:06 pm »
When doing crosswords with Phyllis, every so often I give supplementary terrible-joke-style clues if she's struggling with a solution. I felt quite smug with one of my efforts this evening. The clue was

1. Position of special prominence (5, 2, 5).

My supplementary was "What you get if you cross lions with flatfish."

OK, I know that the word for flatfish isn't spelt the same way, but that doesn't really matter when you are trying to jog someones brain. Phyllis appreciated it, anyway.
The loss of humanity I could live with.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #451 on: 08 March, 2019, 12:22:07 am »
Probably not original but I came up with this earlier...

Those who put stitches in drainpipes. (6)
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #452 on: 08 March, 2019, 12:23:12 am »
My supplementary was "What you get if you cross lions with flatfish."

I like it.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #453 on: 08 March, 2019, 04:27:03 pm »
My supplementary was "What you get if you cross lions with flatfish."

I like it.

Sounds like a name for a chippie...

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #454 on: 09 March, 2019, 08:45:34 am »
I always thought Sole Trader would be a good name for a chippie.

Wowbagger

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Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #455 on: 22 April, 2019, 09:43:48 am »
An especially prominent howler in today’s Graun quick crossword.

Ecstasy (7).

Jan had already suggested RAPTURE, which the software declared to be incorrect. We solved all the other clues which left us with R-P-U-E. I tried RAPTURE again just in case I had mistyped it previously. Still wrong.

Knowing that these quick crosswords are put together very rapidly, almost certainly by computer, and that the checking is pretty crap, I tried, on a whim, RUPTURE. “Congrats! You solved it!” Said the IPad, in the manner of an enthusiastic child that has just been given a conjuring set for its birthday.

 :facepalm:
The loss of humanity I could live with.

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #456 on: 23 April, 2019, 01:27:16 pm »
You think that's bad.

How about this from Sunday's Everyman?

'Rising sun soon heated coastal resort (8-2-3)' where the answer is a place that exists, as far as I am aware, only in your imagination.

Mr Larrington

  • A bit ov a lyv wyr by slof standirds
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Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #457 on: 23 April, 2019, 06:07:31 pm »
Nagasaki On Sea?
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

HTFB

  • The Monkey and the Plywood Violin
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #458 on: 13 June, 2019, 08:25:05 am »
Conservative leadership battle.

1. Tory leadership found inside devious schemer - very not right. (6,5)
2. Chap dropping Charlie for £1000. (4)
3. Get hair more tangled than Johnson (4,7)
4. Resistance with Tory "addled waster" leader moving to far right. (4,7)
5. May after hesitation departs, and Johnson's leader. (3,3)
6. No leader as mad? Wrong. (6,7)
7. Midair bacon crashed. (7,4) [bonus question for regulars]
8. Chase after Corbyn! (6,4)
9. Stooge. Known for his pluck? (4,6)
10. Bullshit gets Trump partisan into ruinous Number Ten. (5)
Not especially helpful or mature

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
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Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #459 on: 16 June, 2019, 10:48:13 pm »
I'll put this in spoilers and work on it.

(click to show/hide)
The loss of humanity I could live with.

Pingu

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Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #460 on: 12 September, 2019, 07:33:50 pm »
Today's Grauniad cryptic crossword solution  :)


Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #461 on: 12 September, 2019, 08:17:36 pm »
:-)

Brilliant. We didn't get round to the Grauniad cryptic today. Natch.
Rust never sleeps

Wowbagger

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Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #462 on: 06 October, 2019, 01:44:20 pm »
Nothing especially cryptic about these clues, just comment about my failings, and those of the Graun.

Last week, I was looking at the Graun quick crossword, which we still try to do each day in honour of Phyllis's memory. I got stuck on the following:

Large wallflower (5). I got the letters H_P_ _ and couldn't think of anything which fitted. Then, right at the end of the crossword, I revisited the clue because it was one of the last two that I solved. Quite incredibly, the clue had changed to "Large wallower". I think I had imagined the extra -fl-.

However, moving onto today's Observer "Speedy" crossword, I got quite stuck on a clue: Winess (5). I had no clue what a winess was, and neither did Jan,  so we cheated. The solution indicated strongly that the clue should have been Witness (6).

I'm now beginning to wonder whether the -fl- had been there all along, the crossword had been corrected and then my iPad had downloaded a later version of the clues. On the other hand, I could just be going senile.
The loss of humanity I could live with.

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #463 on: 06 October, 2019, 08:36:59 pm »
My paper version has Winess. Hope that helps.

Pingu

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Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #464 on: 08 October, 2019, 11:08:00 pm »
Arf.

I had an accident with nail gun in the groin ( 8 )

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
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Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #465 on: 26 October, 2019, 05:51:13 pm »
From today's Grauniad prize crossword:

Quote
Effin' Jeffrey Archer novel? (4,2,3,5)

 ;D

Wowbagger

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Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #466 on: 07 November, 2019, 01:37:19 am »
From today's Grauniad prize crossword:

Quote
Effin' Jeffrey Archer novel? (4,2,3,5)

 ;D

Very good! I had to cheat though.

Heretics fled crooked Derbyshire town. (12)
The loss of humanity I could live with.

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #467 on: 07 November, 2019, 03:13:31 pm »
That one's so easy even I got it!
Paddi Pads!
Roman traces...

Wowbagger

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Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #468 on: 07 November, 2019, 04:07:20 pm »
That one's so easy even I got it!
Paddi Pads!
Roman traces...

Yes, I doctored it a bit. It was in the quick crossword a few days ago but I thought that HERETICS FLED was a lovely anagram. I "cryptified" it with "crooked", which seemed very appropriate as an anagram signifier in this case.
The loss of humanity I could live with.

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #469 on: 06 December, 2019, 09:33:24 am »
'How was Jesus crucified?' I don't know how many letters it is, but it's 2 across.

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
  • Mrs Pingu's domestique
    • the Igloo
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #470 on: 18 March, 2020, 07:31:06 pm »
Liked the theme in today's Grauniad cryptic  :thumbsup: Here's a flavour:

Painter of British water? (5)
First lady wears clothes of satin - they were magnificent in the film (5)

Wowbagger

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Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #471 on: 18 March, 2020, 07:43:47 pm »
Liked the theme in today's Grauniad cryptic  :thumbsup: Here's a flavour:

Painter of British water? (5)
First lady wears clothes of satin - they were magnificent in the film (5)


Will have a look at that. I've worked out the second of those.
The loss of humanity I could live with.

Wowbagger

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Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #472 on: 04 April, 2020, 06:39:18 pm »
One in today's Graun prize crossword amused me

Anyhow, organ like nothing? (5-5)
The loss of humanity I could live with.

Kim

  • Timelord
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Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #473 on: 04 April, 2020, 06:41:20 pm »
Ah, this seems like the right thread.

Hullish slur.  5 letters.  Starts with 'K'

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/mass-bike-ride-lockdown-backlash-4019575

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #474 on: 05 April, 2020, 09:47:21 am »
Can't settle to crosswords just now. I need my bike.
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight