Author Topic: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread  (Read 111347 times)

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #225 on: 29 March, 2012, 09:59:58 pm »
Faculty

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #226 on: 02 April, 2012, 02:14:50 pm »
Bear topped;car tailed;unknown.  Might he eat you?  (4,6)

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #227 on: 04 April, 2012, 08:29:27 pm »
OK, here's another clue with the same answer:-

He crossed the Alps, unaspirated and curly-headed.  (4,6)

Neither clue has a definition (nor should need one on this forum).

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
  • Mrs Pingu's domestique
    • the Igloo
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #228 on: 05 April, 2012, 02:52:30 pm »
Eddy Merkyx

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #229 on: 05 April, 2012, 04:17:26 pm »
'Merckx' isn't it ?
Rust never sleeps

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #230 on: 05 April, 2012, 04:37:27 pm »
I think the clue only gives us Eddy Merkx

Unless I'm missing something :(
Getting there...

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #231 on: 05 April, 2012, 05:01:40 pm »
Bear topped;car tailed;unknown.  Might he eat you?  (4,6)
Bear topped = (T)eddy
Car = Merc
Tailed = k
Unknown = x
Rust never sleeps

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #232 on: 05 April, 2012, 05:07:56 pm »
Why is tailed 'k'?  I don't know that one.
Getting there...

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #233 on: 05 April, 2012, 07:05:39 pm »
Here's how the first one works (or doesn't, as the case may be!).

Bear topped:  Teddy decapitated gives Eddy

Car tailed:  Mercedes with no tail gives merc.....

Oh, my goodness, you're right!  NO k!!!!  x was the unknown, certainly.

So, let's try the second one:-

He crossed the Alps, unaspirated and curly-headed


Hannibal crossed the Alps.  Unaspirated (no h) he becomes annibal; curly-headed gives c at the front (primary school teachers will be familiar with "curly ku" for c, "kicking ku" for k), so we get cannibal, which was Eddy's nickname.  He crossed the Alps rather more frequently than Hannibal!

Sorry for the mistake - I made it up in bed, which is where I do a lot of imagining!

HTFB

  • The Monkey and the Plywood Violin
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #234 on: 05 April, 2012, 08:04:39 pm »
That second one is probably too oblique for the conventions: you aren't usually allowed wordplay (hannibal->cannibal) in the definition where it doesn't make it into the final answer. You could put it backwards:

Breathing roughly, previous bloke loses his head---he made it across the Alps though. (8)
Not especially helpful or mature

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #235 on: 05 April, 2012, 08:14:34 pm »
OK, perhaps I do more oblique crosswords, sometimes, and am not aware of the conventions, but I agree, it is a tricky one, though others may differ!

Your clue would still be missing a "c", I think?

Edit whoops! just realised the roughly gives c, but "the previous bloke"?

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #236 on: 06 April, 2012, 01:05:52 pm »
I wasn't sure at first but I think it's actually a valid clue within the "rules" - too clever for me though!

At first glance, the "definition" is missing, but it's actually an &lit - the whole clue is the definition. "Curly-headed" is slightly tenuous but works.

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

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #237 on: 06 April, 2012, 01:59:18 pm »
I wasn't sure at first but I think it's actually a valid clue within the "rules" - too clever for me though!

At first glance, the "definition" is missing, but it's actually an &lit - the whole clue is the definition. "Curly-headed" is slightly tenuous but works.

d.

Thanks D!  Over to someone else while I continue with my rehabilitation!

Pingu

  • Put away those fiery biscuits!
  • Mrs Pingu's domestique
    • the Igloo
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #238 on: 07 April, 2012, 07:13:44 pm »
Phone for Peter's error: on road going the wrong way (5)

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #239 on: 07 April, 2012, 09:43:47 pm »
Nokia - nice one, Pingu!

Feel free to dive in, anyone, while I think of one.

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #240 on: 07 April, 2012, 09:49:31 pm »
A financial scamster's advantage? (9)

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #241 on: 25 July, 2012, 01:10:20 am »
Just remembered this thread!  Are we talking about a particular financial scamster?

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #242 on: 28 July, 2012, 12:53:24 am »
Here's one to be getting on with ..........

Qualification achieved by sending back French translation of 'the bicycle' (1,5)

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #243 on: 28 July, 2012, 01:16:32 am »
l'eleve ?
Rust never sleeps

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #244 on: 28 July, 2012, 01:29:37 am »

HTFB

  • The Monkey and the Plywood Violin
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #245 on: 28 July, 2012, 01:42:11 am »
O Level.
Not especially helpful or mature

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #246 on: 28 July, 2012, 03:23:07 am »
O Level.

Yes, here's another ...........

One throwing mud in the middle of golf tournament, suggesting where drugs are used  (5,3)

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #247 on: 28 July, 2012, 09:32:30 am »
Opium den?
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #248 on: 28 July, 2012, 06:46:52 pm »

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: The Cryptic Crossword Clue Thread
« Reply #249 on: 10 August, 2012, 09:24:46 am »
Bar of soap (6,6)
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.