Cryptic Crosswords
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- morbeedo
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
Blue hospital room concerned with issues of the ear (6) (UPDATE: got this one - good clue!)
Carrying out each mascot standing (12) ??
Pronounced gains for people in the forecasting business (8) ???
Carrying out each mascot standing (12) ??
Pronounced gains for people in the forecasting business (8) ???
- mikebdoss
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
These are a fascinatingly odd thing that I've never heard of before this thread. Are we just expected to know all the shorthand/codes? Or is there an "official" primer somewhere?
- morbeedo
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
I don't know about an official guide but you can definitely find stuff online. I think cryptics are bigger in the UK, but NY Times and WSJ publish cryptic puzzles. Even Jeopardy! has featured CRYPTIC CROSSWORD CLUES
Have any of you created a regular crossword puzzle? How would you even go about doing that? Do you use crossword writing software?
Last edited by morbeedo on Thu Feb 01, 2018 9:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
Yeah, afaik British papers almost exclusively publish cryptics rather than standard crosswords. Over there, "setters" (puzzle creators) usually use pseudonyms, as a tribute to the guy who created them, who called himself Torquemada.
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
Hmm. My first pass at it would be
Spoiler
rifle. It's definitely a western prop. Carried by Maria Tallchief - the letters for "rifle" are in her name.
--Peter
- morbeedo
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
Peter the accountant wrote: ↑Thu Feb 01, 2018 1:58 pm Western prop carried by Maria Tallchief (5)
Hmm. My first pass at it would beBut you say you've never heard of this thing. I have a hard time believing you've never heard of my solution. So I've certainly got a different solution, which is probably the wrong one. I also don't like that my solution doesn't give a double meaning to "carried by Maria Tallchief." I don't think that's a hard requirement, but it is common enough that it should be looked for.Spoiler
rifle. It's definitely a western prop. Carried by Maria Tallchief - the letters for "rifle" are in her name.
Spoiler
You're thinking of "carried by" the wrong way...
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
From doing enough regular crosswords, I know thatPeter the accountant wrote: ↑Thu Feb 01, 2018 1:58 pmHmm. My first pass at it would beBut you say you've never heard of this thing. I have a hard time believing you've never heard of my solution. So I've certainly got a different solution, which is probably the wrong one. I also don't like that my solution doesn't give a double meaning to "carried by Maria Tallchief." I don't think that's a hard requirement, but it is common enough that it should be looked for.Spoiler
rifle. It's definitely a western prop. Carried by Maria Tallchief - the letters for "rifle" are in her name.
Spoiler
riata is a synonym for a lasso or lariat. maRIA TAllchief "carries" riata.
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- immaf
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
On a trip to England once, I picked up a book that was essentially "cryptic crosswords for beginners." It taught some of the basic tricks and codewords for them, gave examples, and then set you loose on some puzzles.
Teems with quiet fun.
- morbeedo
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
Need help finishing this. It takes a village, people!
Spoiler
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
Got it. Thank you both. Once again, I'm in the neighborhood, but not in quite the right area.
So "carried by" is going to imply consecutive letters in order. I'm having trouble figuring out when to anagram and when to look for consecutive letters.
So "carried by" is going to imply consecutive letters in order. I'm having trouble figuring out when to anagram and when to look for consecutive letters.
--Peter
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
Polish person with a strong desire (6)
Spoiler
In this case "polish" being at the beginning of the clue is a trick, it doesn't refer to the nationality but the glow or sheen or LUSTER of an object.
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- morbeedo
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
Carrying out each mascot standing (12)
Pronounced gains for people in the forecasting business (8)
Spoiler
each = PER, mascot = PET, standing = RATING => carrying out = PERPETRATING
Spoiler
PROPHETS is what makes sense as "people in the forecasting business" but I haven't figured out the rest of the clue yet...
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
Thanks, I was trying to have
Spoiler
for = PRO and then couldn't make sense of PHETS.
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- morbeedo
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
seaborgium wrote: ↑Thu Feb 01, 2018 3:13 pmSpoiler
gains = profits = pronounced identically to prophets
Spoiler
Awesome! I figured this was a 'sounds like' clue and immediately translated gains to profits but stopped there
- morbeedo
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- morbeedo
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
Spoiler
- morbeedo
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
I started a new puzzle and need some help
I think I got this one: One in 3,000 - first-class liberal man, for example
I think I got this one: One in 3,000 - first-class liberal man, for example
Spoiler
M-a-MM + A + L = mammal (man, for ex.) - but how does liberal translate to just L
- morbeedo
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Re: Cryptic Crosswords
This is the puzzle I'm working on, if anyone wants to play along. Just use the spoiler box if posting solutions
I'm going to do as much as I can without asking for help