Cryptic Crosswords

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morbeedo
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by morbeedo »

March honoree isn't involved in spring prank (5,7)
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Saint Patrick? In 'spring prank'? I see some of the letters there but I don't really get this one.

Or... prank = trick? But I still don't get 'isn't involved in spring' => SAINTPA. I see 'isn't' there but still not getting it
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by PowerofHoodoo »

morbeedo wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:55 pm Novel antihero making waves? (2,3,3)
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Unscramble 'antihero' to get ... which novel?
Spoiler
Novel in this case means a new version of the word, antihero. Making waves is the second part of the hint and refers to sound waves. The answer is "on the air."
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by morbeedo »

PowerofHoodoo wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 4:05 pm
morbeedo wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:55 pm Novel antihero making waves? (2,3,3)
Spoiler
Unscramble 'antihero' to get ... which novel?
Spoiler
Novel in this case means a new version of the word, antihero. Making waves is the second part of the hint and refers to sound waves. The answer is "on the air."
Thanks! Another case of me backing into the answer without fully understanding why, but I'm getting the hang of it. I haven't looked at one of these mind-benders in over a year :geek:
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by PowerofHoodoo »

morbeedo wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:59 pm March honoree isn't involved in spring prank (5,7)
Spoiler
Saint Patrick? In 'spring prank'? I see some of the letters there but I don't really get this one.

Or... prank = trick? But I still don't get 'isn't involved in spring' => SAINTPA. I see 'isn't' there but still not getting it
Spoiler
Aint for isn't in spa (a spring) plus trick for prank.
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by morbeedo »

In a manner of speaking, my Thai cocktail (3,3)
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So 'in a manner of speaking' means 'sounds like'? and the answer is mai tai?
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by morbeedo »

PowerofHoodoo wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 4:09 pm
morbeedo wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:59 pm March honoree isn't involved in spring prank (5,7)
Spoiler
Saint Patrick? In 'spring prank'? I see some of the letters there but I don't really get this one.

Or... prank = trick? But I still don't get 'isn't involved in spring' => SAINTPA. I see 'isn't' there but still not getting it
Spoiler
Aint for isn't in spa (a spring) plus trick for prank.
Wow. You're deadly with these. I can't imagine it's easy to write these clues!
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by Peter the accountant »

morbeedo wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:32 pm Whisper the name of Bertrand audibly (6)

Um? :geek:
Finally, one I can solve! And I don't have to post a spoiler because it's already been done.

These are challenging. :?
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by morbeedo »

Peter the accountant wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 4:32 pm
morbeedo wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:32 pm Whisper the name of Bertrand audibly (6)

Um? :geek:
Finally, one I can solve! And I don't have to post a spoiler because it's already been done.

These are challenging. :?
They are. But as I start to write a new post, I end up figuring some of them out. I got all these on my own

Home to millions in Citadel Hill (5)

Hoofer pranced at burlesque (3,6)

Might it be routed differently? (6) - though I'm not sure I fully get it

Supermarket section is flanked by beer (5) - I thought this one was easy

Supreme Court agitated someone on a Mac (8,4) - also easy
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by Woof »

morbeedo wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:55 pm Novel antihero making waves? (2,3,3)
Spoiler
Unscramble 'antihero' to get ... which novel?
Not a novel.
Spoiler
Antihero anagrams to "on the air," which is making waves in one sense
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by morbeedo »

Another one I just figured out but have a question on

A male cat I keep in a kennel these days (6,3)
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A + tom + i + cage = atomic age - so that's "these days"? I guess we're living in the atomic age?
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by morbeedo »

To arrive at X in an oral presentation, goes over the figures again (8)

Got this one, too. Headed home now. Thanks for the help! Will try to finish this puzzle tomorrow
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by Peter the accountant »

morbeedo wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 4:47 pmThey are. But as I start to write a new post, I end up figuring some of them out. I got all these on my own
Thanks for posting a few more. I'm starting to see my problem may be less in figuring the puzzle part, and more in knowing the actual solution. Let me try these.

Home to millions in Citadel Hill (5)
Spoiler
I want to take "home to millions" literally, looking for a large city, or perhaps something like an insect colony.

"in Citadel Hill" - I have two ideas.

One is to simply use the letters of Citadel Hill to come up with the answer.

For the other, I'm running through my mental thesarus for citadel and hill, coming up with things like castle, fortress, and mount or tell. Then I'd use selected letters to come up with the answer.

My problem is in coming up with 5 letter cities that fit the available letters. Paris? no P. Cairo? Can't get both a C and R. Hives (like bee hives). No v.
Hoofer pranced at burlesque (3,6)
Spoiler
Some dancer, I suspect. But I've got no idea what to do other than guess at dancers with the right number of letters in their name? Tim Burton? :)
Might it be routed differently? (6) - though I'm not sure I fully get it
Spoiler
Hmmm. "Routed differently" leads me to detour (anagramming routed). But I don't get the "might it be" part.
Supermarket section is flanked by beer (5) - I thought this one was easy
Spoiler
"is flanked by beer" Beer = ale. "Is" flanked by - put "is" in the middle of "ale". Aisle. But I'm not sure I'd call an aisle a section of a supermarket. More like a feature or a component or "supermarket organization". Then again, I tend to be a bit literal.
Supreme Court agitated someone on a Mac (8,4) - also easy
Spoiler
Let's see. Anagram "supreme court". Someone on a Mac gets me to "user" for the 4 letter word. Pull the letters for "user" out. Aha! computer user
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morbeedo
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by morbeedo »

Peter the accountant wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 5:27 pm Thanks for posting a few more. I'm starting to see my problem may be less in figuring the puzzle part, and more in knowing the actual solution. Let me try these.

Home to millions in Citadel Hill (5)
Spoiler
The answer is a world city spelled out left to right in "Citadel Hill". See it now?
Hoofer pranced at burlesque (3,6)
Spoiler
burlesque indicates an anagram of "pranced at" - what kind of dancer? only 3 letters leftover ;)
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by Peter the accountant »

morbeedo wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 5:52 pm
Peter the accountant wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2018 5:27 pm Thanks for posting a few more. I'm starting to see my problem may be less in figuring the puzzle part, and more in knowing the actual solution. Let me try these.

Home to millions in Citadel Hill (5)
Spoiler
The answer is a world city spelled out left to right in "Citadel Hill". See it now?
Hoofer pranced at burlesque (3,6)
Spoiler
burlesque indicates an anagram of "pranced at" - what kind of dancer? only 3 letters leftover ;)
Got it, and got it.

I was on the right track for the first one, just couldn't see the station.

As to the second, I learned that burlesque is yet another code for an anagram. Like I tapped on the keyboard earlier, sometimes I take things too literally. :lol:
--Peter
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by dhkendall »

My word, are these things for people who can solve a Sunday NYT crossword blindfolded? These seem incredibly difficult! Kudos to all y’all for making short work of them (and morbeedo for trying them for what I think he said was his first time). I know if I got one the first clue would have me crying in a fetal position in the corner.
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by morbeedo »

dhkendall wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2018 1:19 am My word, are these things for people who can solve a Sunday NYT crossword blindfolded? These seem incredibly difficult! Kudos to all y’all for making short work of them (and morbeedo for trying them for what I think he said was his first time). I know if I got one the first clue would have me crying in a fetal position in the corner.
When I first started the NY Times crossword, I would get so frustrated that you could see smoke coming out of my ears. Now I can pretty much do the Sunday puzzle semi-blindfolded ;)

I figure it's the same with the cryptics - you gotta learn the shorthand first

OTOH, I'm really weak on anagrams and hidden word categories on Jeopardy! Most times I just can't see what's right in front of me
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by morbeedo »

More help needed on this NY Times puzzle

Work using a compass in Land's End water sport (8)
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So I got drafting (work using compass) but not sure how in Land's End = D
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by Volante »

morbeedo wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:11 am More help needed on this NY Times puzzle

Work using a compass in Land's End water sport (8)
Spoiler
So I got drafting (work using compass) but not sure how in Land's End = D
Gonna take a stab at this...
Spoiler
rafting is a water sport, land ends with d. Hence(?) drafting. Course, I can work backwards to it, but forwards?...
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by morbeedo »

This one was hard because I've never heard of this thing. Got it by filling in other boxes

Western prop carried by Maria Tallchief (5)
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords

Post by morbeedo »

Almost done with this puzzle, but still stuck on a few

Polish person with a strong desire (6)
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Starts with L and thinking it ends with yen but the rest? :?
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