Questions tagged [cryptic-clues]
A puzzle that involves cryptic clues of the type found in cryptic crosswords, but is not a cryptic crossword. **Do not** use this tag for puzzles that are stated cryptically; use [enigmatic-puzzle] instead. Use [cryptic-crosswords] for whole crosswords; [crossword-clues] for crossword clues not obeying the conventions of cryptic crosswords (even if they are stated cryptically).
5
votes
2answers
255 views
Triple Cryptics
Here's an attempt at a new twist on cryptic clues. The following clues do NOT have a definition section. However, the wordplay is keyed in three different ways. Can you work out the words?
User ...
8
votes
1answer
153 views
Cryptic clue: Mishearing 'Til Tuesday
Mishearing 'Til Tuesday, I got crazy as icy shirts and the thing at hand induces fear. (4/2/5)
4
votes
3answers
89 views
Traversing the US and Canada: A Cryptic Journey
Each answer is a place, landmark or attraction in the United States or Canada. The answers traverse all Canadian provinces, Canadian territories, U.S. states and the District of Columbia. This is done ...
11
votes
2answers
253 views
Cryptic Crossword with Missing LUGs
Inspired by jafe's Cryptic with missing capitals and Tzu Li's Tokyo Metro puzzle:
Solve the clues and fill the grid. Each clue is missing a different London Underground Station
As jafe has noted in ...
16
votes
3answers
648 views
Traversing Africa: A Cryptic Journey
Each answer is a place, landmark or attraction in Africa, one per country. The answers first traverse all countries on the mainland by crossing land borders, and then the remaining ones go around the ...
18
votes
3answers
553 views
Cryptic clue with cryptic clues inside
English [artist to burn, burns heart] (6) [bits of nazis covering animal] (6) dollar with [familiar comrades, abbreviated, with the console] (7) residing on [forest endless street, rearranged] (5) (7)
...
10
votes
1answer
224 views
Remove, mix, and take in: Cryptic Clues
Here's another cryptic game to play. The rules are as follows:
A) Nine of the 27 clues are standard cryptic clues
B) Nine clues are missing a word which is an answer from part A
C) ...
17
votes
2answers
438 views
Seven levels through Europe
Let's take a little trip through Europe, shall we?
Each level forms a word chain. Even-numbered levels (yellow) go clockwise, odd-numbered ones (white) go anticlockwise.
Each level has ...
4
votes
3answers
159 views
Errors and Warnings in clues
I want to use "Error" and "Warning" as anagram indicators, like this:
Run Time Error (4) --- EMIT
Error: Please get a rest (6) --- ASLEEP (not sure yet)
Error 106E: Something Wrong (4) --- VICE ...
2
votes
1answer
85 views
Cryptic Connect-Wall: -lit+! (3)
1) Angel takes away her part in a fruit, alternatively (2)
2) Down-to-ground option to HOH (5)
3) Excerpt of argument onwards is high-class matter (5)
4) Failure in audio hack is gonna be ...
4
votes
1answer
104 views
13
votes
4answers
2k views
Dress up a ship's surface
Boss turns blind eye to knife user (4)
Charge with first-degree larceny makes sense (4)
Recite backwards about king computer worm (6)
Start donning trousers, topless educators (5)
Initial ...
2
votes
1answer
104 views
9
votes
2answers
314 views
Just Another Cryptic Cryptic
Twenty-six cryptic clues -- each one a letter. Plug the letters into the cipher to get a final cryptic and a quiz question. Answer the question, and you've cracked the puzzle!
Clues:
Give money to ...
10
votes
1answer
506 views
Puzzle disguised as cryptic clues
Here are some cryptic clues which hide a different type of puzzle. What kind of puzzle is it? Can you solve it?
Apple product obscured by acid erosion (5)
Yalta attendee unwell after mission (...
1
vote
0answers
78 views
Are there any ways to make a good Cryptic rebus?
How do I make a good "Cryptic rebus"?
Edit: It's a cryptic REBUS, not a text clue.
Note: Look at the tags.
12
votes
3answers
549 views
Cryptic clues with a common theme
Concealed Yugoslav introduces military cemetery (6)
Buddhist temple is top three watching photos (3 3)
Central square hides koala to observatory (3-3)
Thriller writer John adds three lines to ...
12
votes
5answers
1k views
Four place names from 12 cryptic clues
A1. Steps, Mister? Outside? Thank you (5)
A2. Aerial exercise outside, computer network inside (5)
A3. Canonized hollow fruit recurring (6)
B1. Light-hearted student at first sent back in ...
3
votes
3answers
322 views
Is there a cryptic crossword clue that doesn't contain any actual word?
Is there a cryptic crossword clue that just contains some letter groups, numbers, and other things, but no actual words?
I mean the clue, not the solution.
12
votes
1answer
1k views
It's sophisticated because I mentioned Silmarillion
Dwarf fellow with ring next to container leads to volcano (11)
Hamlet follows holy unity to rocky settlement (5 4)
Sacred five-peaker to hop onto Silmarillion creator after first of month (5 4)
...
4
votes
1answer
193 views
Heartless guest having to figure out aubergine
The clue is "Heartless guest having to figure out aubergine".
E?G?R?I?
4
votes
2answers
247 views
West is /a/ direction, but is it /one/ direction?
I want to clue the letters "FOWEST". Clearly,
Return of direction
would be fair, and so, IMO, is
Return of a direction
but is it fair to make the slight change to
Return of One Direction
...
0
votes
1answer
94 views
Why does “stay in Scotland” mean “live”?
Cryptic crossword clue from Daily Telegraph puzzle #28,926 (Wednesday 19th December 2018). 25 across.
"Love stay in Scotland - such colour (5)"
The first letter is known to be "O". The third letter ...
3
votes
1answer
195 views
Cryptic Crossword Hints
Full disclosure: These clues are part of Day 9 of Daniel Peake's Puzzlevent
I am new to Cryptic Crosswords and I'm stuck on a few and would like some hints to solve them (I'm NOT looking for full ...
1
vote
1answer
98 views
A short clue for a clue
Please solve the following cryptic clue. Please cite supporting evidence.
A short clue for a clue.
4
votes
2answers
128 views
Cryptic crossword help
The clue is “Message to go in the Times (5)”
Please supply answers with explanations and what indicators you used in the clue. Thanks
14
votes
1answer
151 views
Areas of Focus: Cryptic Clues
What follows are fifteen standard cryptic clues to solve. The catch is, I've removed the letter count from each clue. To help you out, note the following:
No answers have the same number of ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
Endless pain and Belgian ale
Endless pain with prosecutor is board game and peace garden place in anonymous organization (6)
South German to a Spaniard is Hebrew month in alehouse with well-rounded finish (6)
100th ...
7
votes
1answer
736 views
Hotly contested
Arab dad infiltrating computer network islands (6)
Franco-German brown egg is peaceful abode (6)
Haiku song corrupted southern port (9)
No heartless Swedes in springtime capital basin (9)
...
7
votes
2answers
517 views
Tomato sauce with flavourant vowels
Cathedral returns warm air, a madness (10)
All-salad cave mixes up historical house (12)
Endless tomato sauce with flavourant vowels gives Casbah mosque (9)
Dirk C.O. Rosalyn backed off a ...
6
votes
1answer
129 views
Deranged hippo person
Statue suing deranged hippo person (11)
Baltic port is original pope's German castle (12)
Animator and universe are perplexing snowy riddle (11)
Pop star and French city confusedly lock javelins ...
11
votes
1answer
1k views
You're a large automobile
Capital city says you're a large automobile (7)
Work horse videography camouflages monastery (9)
Football stadium building hides coastal city (6)
Black Sea hub hides Caspian Sea hub (4)
...
8
votes
2answers
447 views
Remote yet central
Dry lake messed up as a Lear (7)
Short Mervin found in summer vacation (4)
Probabilistic risk analysis conceals deep lake (6)
Historic city confounds a sand mark (9)
Fantasy prince's body of ...
9
votes
3answers
255 views
When a cryptic has a double meaning for its clue, how can I tell which answer it wants
Let me preface this by saying this is not a puzzle, it's a genuine question
I'm trying to solve a cryptic puzzle (Lovatt's Cryptic Crosswords Issue 75), and one of the questions is
School bosses ...
5
votes
1answer
175 views
A Cryptic Dirty Dozen: Do your best!
Age a herb salad for a cat. (8)
Wolfmother confused a shark. (6)
Alias around the Spanish leader (5)
The Colonel runs through that hibiscus patch (5)
Ursine stench holds soothing plant ...
15
votes
3answers
1k views
Crime lords and valuables
Lost consciousness's rate of return is Spanish valuables in Swedish valuables. (5)
The light side running a confused non-gay. (6)
Stirring a Malay T for a grateful Spanish spirit. (6)
Dear ...
3
votes
4answers
207 views
Is it fair to interlink clues?
Is it fair to link clues both ways? E.g. can I do:
1a. Local girl gives 8 (4, 4)
8d. 1 gives smooth head (5, 5)
I'm quite libertarian. What could I get away ...
7
votes
1answer
79 views
A la la Lord Raven
A friend created a shopping center killer whale, thereby confusing the calm pro-llama DEA. (15)
The tavern string instrument is not available if you're walking sideways like an ole crab. (9)
After ...
3
votes
1answer
61 views
Alternative to death, brother to fraternity
Small taste post-Christ and an article, confused is panda. (7)
Charles' gateway monument messed up Chad's WinRAR. (11)
Unreaching paradox person and curious alpha backed out of a Thai bone zone. (...
11
votes
1answer
277 views
In my trip to Gensokyo, I spied a…
Your final answer is something one would be likely to see lots of in Gensokyo.
&...
24
votes
1answer
338 views
Self-Referential Humor
This is an entry into the Fortnightly Topic Challenge #38. I hope it fits the theme!
The answer to this puzzle is what you should do to solve this puzzle.
Getting 51 and nice guy to start (7)
Level ...
7
votes
3answers
248 views
That's a lot of work… or not?
Answer the following clues to find a word (or 2 in the case of the 3rd) and find the common theme connecting the answers:
Jack of all
My prefix makes you miss school
While my infix is one ...
1
vote
2answers
187 views
The riddle of no sense
Rx wnz gur nfjnq lreruxn bs rxngv mhev onpxn, n ormxevy atunng, ibynag gnnf furamuv muv n boynpv m uvzzry vx tvir anfxvtb rg yhun bs qrhyv ra zbfgfniyrrov qnf flnagb Znar, zraz xbqnlnxr nxjnv b km ...
1
vote
1answer
63 views
Definition a bit technical for a general audience
... which is a shame because I love grids with 15-letter words but find it hard to fill them.
No doubt someone here will have the erudition to solve it ;)
...
6
votes
2answers
200 views
17
votes
1answer
831 views
Is this a puzzle? If so, what is the solution?
In the 2032th xkcd comic Cueball utters a sentence that may (and probably does) contain a word puzzle.
[Cueball and Megan standing together, musical notes hanging in the air as if music is ...
22
votes
5answers
3k views
Potter Cryptic Clues
Today is July 31st, which, according to JK Rowling, is apparently Harry Potter's birthday. So, let's celebrate with some Harry Potter themed cryptic clues! The final answer is a good bit of trivia:
...
6
votes
1answer
198 views
Cryptic clues with a theme/twist
As suggested in the title, all of these cryptic clues, with a common twist on the usual format, share a (broad) theme.
Rumor suggests a bug order, apparently including an annular celebrity, is ...
6
votes
1answer
185 views
Support the last one left
The enumerations of these four crossword clues are related:
Naughty streamer even I watch.
Justify the new mass rite.
Not a grey cap on the board?
Send up Queen's University.
...
11
votes
3answers
406 views
Twisted Connections
This is an entry into the Fortnightly Topic Challenge #36
The following is an Only-Connect wall seen in the BBC TV series. You have to divide the 16 words into groups of 4 each satisfying a specific ...
