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).
10
votes
5answers
935 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
280 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
182 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
228 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
78 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
177 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
96 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
118 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
139 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
729 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
514 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
127 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
445 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
232 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
168 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
199 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
78 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
59 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
270 views
In my trip to Gensokyo, I spied a…
Your final answer is something one would be likely to see lots of in Gensokyo.
&...
23
votes
1answer
310 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
239 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
182 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
62 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
195 views
17
votes
1answer
815 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
193 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
180 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
398 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 ...
14
votes
1answer
372 views
Cryptic Clue Creation
In this puzzle, I put forth my first attempts at cryptic-clues, and would like some feedback/criticism on their construction.
I'm curious to know:
Do any of these not conform to these rules? ...
12
votes
1answer
206 views
Appropriate Terms — Cryptic Clues
Step 1 -- Appropriate Terms
Solve the following cryptic clues:
Reportedly talked about revolt (7)
Studied super varied education (7)
Beginners without faults (7)
OB keeps bizarre custom ...
38
votes
2answers
896 views
Circuit Diagram
An entry to Fortnightly Topic Challenge #35: Restricted Title 1 - based on the following xkcd.
Circuit diagrams can be quite difficult to understand, so here are some documents that will hopefully ...
19
votes
1answer
557 views
Baring my Heart
This is an entry into the Fortnightly Topic Challenge: Restricted title 1
Alice has sent a message to Bob. Can you help Bob figure it out?
Ordinary vehicle turning all
Finished challenged
...
8
votes
1answer
207 views
$%Sports Utility Vehicles$ SUV
Inspired by XKCD 437 and the restricted title challenge.
Special thanks to Deusovi for checking to see if my clues were valid.
Searcher for former myth in Puerto Rico. (8)
Cowboy wed redhead ...
4
votes
1answer
316 views
Geography cryptic clue
I’m doing a cryptic English towns and cities quiz and I have 1 clue left. The town or city is further south than Newcastle and further north than Hartlepool.
The clue is:
"Mars is on land ...
8
votes
1answer
275 views
Everyone's OK with indirect anagrams, right?
22nd of May turned out not so fine! (6)
Oh, and did I mention topical?
12
votes
1answer
503 views
11
votes
6answers
2k views
Losing your Cool - Cryptic Clues
Losing your cool? Just mix the 1st-7th to find the answer: _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Hound Father, "come back!" (3)
Use Spoon, bake on fork, pat (4-3)
Relationship in translation (5)
Lord tom'...
12
votes
1answer
669 views
11
votes
5answers
585 views
What is missing here?
Right now, Puzzling is seeing an unprecedented wave of riddles and ciphers which have completely flooded the main site. I firmly believe in “if you can’t beat them, join them”.
Disloyalty!
I do ...
16
votes
2answers
1k views
Big star initially shows gratitude (6)
A cryptic clue I originally wrote in a card to my cryptic crossword sensei:
Big star initially shows gratitude (6)
11
votes
1answer
1k views
1
vote
1answer
131 views
11
votes
2answers
720 views
A riddly riddle
A meta riddle of sorts.
$\phantom{/Be/}$
My prefix is a bamboozling.
My infix is tantilizing.
My suffix is full.
My whole is disdainful.
$\phantom{/of/}$
Element partially responsible ...
5
votes
1answer
405 views
7
votes
1answer
111 views
