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).
270
questions
7
votes
1answer
146 views
Red means go, green means danger
Bitterly regret the quip, poisonous part of stage chatter goes away. (7, 6)
24
votes
1answer
1k views
The first Density™ Puzzle!
Welcome to the very first puzzle in a new series! It's all about (hopefully) exploring new ways of creating puzzles, as densely as possible.
If you'd like to create your own Density™ puzzle, the ...
10
votes
2answers
248 views
Disordered Cryptic Orders
... two targets ... the 3 A's of war ... dressed in ... your mission is
... we must prevent ...
If the first message wasn't cryptic enough, the rest wasn't much clearer. What we do know is ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
Cryptic clue I can't solve
I'm new to cryptics but I managed to complete an entire puzzle from The Nation except for one clue where I'm stuck:
"A strip said to be possibly what was popular in living rooms once (10)" .
...
2
votes
3answers
174 views
Is there a limerick-style cryptic clue?
Is there a cryptic clue that happens to be a limerick?
Please also include the answer in spoilers.
12
votes
1answer
527 views
Piece de Resistance - Six-six-six. An Ultimate Wall of Cryptics
Six - six-six. An Ultimate Wall of Cryptics
This puzzle is part of the "Piece de Resistance" series. Go back to Part 1 (Ace) for the story.Ace Two Three Four Five Six ...
Aha! This one is of ...
2
votes
2answers
120 views
7
votes
2answers
385 views
Withdrew when Jimmy met up with Heath
Withdrew when Jimmy met up with Heath. The answer is retracted but I can't work out why. I guess a tract is a heath but I still haven't been able to put the whole word together.
Source: New Zealand ...
7
votes
2answers
734 views
Should I use (1,3) or (1-3) or (4)?
I'm making a set of clues and I have a problem with this one:
Roentgen's letter
Should I use (1,3) or (1-3) or (4) for the enumeration?
13
votes
1answer
476 views
Dedicated to our #1 Fan
People tend to think of me as being small.
However I can be confused with an imaginary large being.
It has been said a saint got me right between the eyes, perhaps, next to America.
I ...
7
votes
1answer
321 views
Underworld Royalties
1. Mr. Edison's Travel Diaries
From Liverpool, James Edison traveled to Valencia. After watching the scheduled match, he then traveled to Italia and then Amsterdam where he promised to return in ...
10
votes
2answers
356 views
An Ode Full'a Herrin's
Dear smart friend,
How witty sire alway look!
Here's ag'in an ol' ode,
For you, fiend, a puzzler's game!
Demeanour means imp's English name introduction.
Small film halves film ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
Who Can Help Retag This?
Gestures to stop Jacks' paving stones
Oh! Tiny reformation chaos at data transmission
Occasion (the first) to initiate moderator election
Circular execution of queer joshes up with ...
13
votes
3answers
814 views
This one's for Matthew:
I tend nations damaged, with many a crater
Spilt blood, nothing lost! That's a strong indicator
Reason's right if I act; out something charged!
Rounds for the charger, allows losing large... ...
39
votes
2answers
2k views
Salt, pepper, herbs and spices
This puzzle is dedicated to an avid violinist.
Who is the violinist?
I got lots of upvotes for my previous "one-liner wonder" so thank you very much! Since you guys liked it, I have made another. ...
7
votes
1answer
117 views
Mono-Tonic Crpytic-Clues
Answer for this puzzle is one word. All of the following clues have the same enumeration, but I am hiding it from you ;)
$500 note (?)
You ended up turning around (?)
Substance emitted through ...
4
votes
1answer
135 views
Cryptic, then Crossword, then Clues
Answer is one word.
{1}{2}{3}{4} (6)
{1} [a] (7)
{2} [b][c][d][e] (6)
{3} [f] (3)
{4} [g][h][i] (6)
[a] Bonding family in cod (7)
[b] Container fight (3)
[c] Considering ...
12
votes
3answers
315 views
Traversing Eurasia: A Cryptic Journey
Earlier parts in the series: Africa, US & Canada, Oceania, Latin America & Caribbean.
Each answer is a place, landmark or attraction in Eurasia, one per country. The answers traverse all ...
7
votes
1answer
180 views
Traversing Latin America & Caribbean: A Cryptic Journey
Earlier parts in the series: Africa, US & Canada, Oceania.
Each answer is a place, landmark or attraction in Latin America or the Caribbean, one per country. The answers traverse all countries by ...
9
votes
3answers
817 views
Traversing Oceania: A Cryptic Journey
Each answer is a place, landmark or attraction in Oceania, one per country. The answers traverse all countries by crossing maritime borders (or close enough). Each clue is missing a country name from ...
4
votes
2answers
373 views
And literally admirable
These are my very first try on making cryptics after a very bad-formulated and inaccurately clued cryptic crossword, but are my very own attempts to pay tribute to those who have contributed sooo much....
8
votes
4answers
869 views
Thousands and thousands of words
This puzzle is part 25 of Gladys' journey across the globe. Each part can be solved independently. Nevertheless, if you are new to the series, feel free to start at the beginning: Introducing Gladys.
...
6
votes
1answer
135 views
A comedian's lies
Comedian's hollow lies
'bout the bottom of the lake:
"The head of the snake
with a ring in day's break". (3 6)
Who are we describing?
7
votes
3answers
692 views
Lady G's amazing mazings
This puzzle is part 20 of Gladys' journey across the globe. Each part can be solved independently. Nevertheless, if you are new to the series, feel free to start at the beginning: Introducing Gladys.
...
14
votes
6answers
2k views
Moons and messages
This puzzle is part 15 of Gladys' journey across the globe. Each part can be solved independently. Nevertheless, if you are new to the series, feel free to start at the beginning: Introducing Gladys.
...
3
votes
1answer
175 views
Moderately geeky cryptics
A few assorted cryptic clues. Mostly pretty straightforward, although some "geek" skills may be required to understand some elements.
Parts of one or two clues may be UK-centric. Apologies for those ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
Horribly broken and just plain wrong
This puzzle is part 6 of Gladys' journey across the globe. Each part can be solved independently. Nevertheless, if you are new to the series, feel free to start at the beginning: Introducing Gladys.
...
17
votes
2answers
1k views
Gladys unchained
This puzzle is part 2 of Gladys' journey across the globe. If you're new to the series, feel free to start at the beginning: Introducing Gladys.
Dear Puzzling,
Today I spent the ...
8
votes
1answer
164 views
Extraordinarily Forgoes Anthem
Island oranges don't mix well (11)
Liquid wastes run into river (10, 4)
Cold canines found in the mountains (10)
A season before a season's past in Northern capital (10)
City at the ...
10
votes
2answers
914 views
cryptic clue: mammal sounds like relative consumer (8)
While solving this cryptic I figured out the answer to 1-across (mammal sounds like relative consumer) without solving the subsidiary indication. (I used down constraints and the standard part of the ...
15
votes
3answers
652 views
Mathematical cryptic clues
Programming language, after removing loss for you, reverses time (6)
Complex arithmetic begins, Turing tests start beforehand (7)
Quadruply male doctor Einstein, familiarly (11)
Lie on a ...
17
votes
3answers
399 views
The Video Gamers' Double-Duty Crossword
"OK, so I know that you two are always arguing about what type of crosswords to do- 'Normal crosswords are too boring!' 'Cryptics are too esoteric!!' Trivia vs wordplay, yeah, I've heard both sides. ...
5
votes
2answers
280 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
160 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
169 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 ...
17
votes
3answers
689 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 ...
17
votes
3answers
577 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
244 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) ...
19
votes
2answers
611 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
177 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
100 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
112 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
108 views
9
votes
2answers
352 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
529 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
114 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
568 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
4answers
462 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.
