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).
402
questions
3
votes
1answer
174 views
Why is the answer GENTLE to the cryptic clue "a tender trap"? [closed]
The cryptic clue is a tender trap. The answer is "gentle". I can't see the trap reference. Can somebody help me to see it, please?
6
votes
1answer
365 views
Why does "If it's ready made, this will get me down! (5)" clue REACH?
If it's ready made, this will get me down! (5)
This is from the Metro newspaper cryptic crossword for Dec 14, 2021. I already had R _ A _ H, so the answer was fairly obviously REACH and this was ...
4
votes
1answer
81 views
Create Massachusetts kinetic energy
I've been lurking around the cryptic crosswords lately, and I have to say their clues are fascinating. So without further ado, here's a selection of clues of my own design:
Henry steals cow from ...
4
votes
2answers
657 views
Recurrent definition of alcohol content via hazing (5, 2, 9) [closed]
Recurrent definition of alcohol content via hazing (5, 2, 9).
I'm completely stumped.
It's a stand alone clue. Not part of a crossword.
13
votes
1answer
413 views
PSE Advent Calendar 2021 (Day 14): An international reunion
This puzzle is part of the Puzzling StackExchange Advent Calendar 2021. The accepted answer to this question will be awarded a bounty worth 50 reputation.< Previous Door Next Door >
This is a &...
6
votes
1answer
150 views
Cryptic Acrostic 4: Follow the Leader
This is an acrostic puzzle which uses cryptic clues. If you're unfamiliar with either or both of those, you can click the associated link.
A complete answer should give the quote, author and source, ...
16
votes
1answer
597 views
PSE Advent Calendar 2021 (Day 8): Reindeer Family Reunion
This puzzle is part of the Puzzling StackExchange Advent Calendar 2021. The accepted answer to this question will be awarded a bounty worth 50 reputation.< Previous Door Next Door >
In the style ...
6
votes
1answer
317 views
Explanations for three clues in a cryptic crossword
I've just solved a cryptic by LR that was originally published on 22 June 2020. My best effort at explaining the clues is below, spoilered in case you want to try the crossword yourself:
As indicated ...
17
votes
2answers
658 views
Incomprehensible Crossword [Puzzle]
What Notable Object is the Following Crossword Cluing?
Across:
1. Clattering or banging, for example (5)
2. Has never been done before (8)
3. Fiery pit (4)
4. Exam solution (6)
5. Very cream of ...
22
votes
1answer
374 views
The Video Gamers' Double-Duty Crossword 2
See the original HERE
Video games — Trivia vs Wordplay — one more time:
Here are twenty crossword clues that describe twenty video games. Solve them if you'd like! Or, if you treat each clue as ...
9
votes
1answer
302 views
Cryptic Acrostic 3: Built So Fly
This is an acrostic puzzle which uses cryptic clues. If you're unfamiliar with either or both of those, click the associated link.
A complete answer should give the quote, author and source, as well ...
6
votes
1answer
82 views
Cryptic Acrostic 2: Road Trip
This is an acrostic puzzle which uses cryptic clues. If you're unfamiliar with either or both of those, click the associated link.
A complete answer should give the quote, author and source, as well ...
8
votes
2answers
524 views
Locked in an alien crypt: Jewels on the floor
Dazed, you slowly regain consciousness. You don’t know how you got here, but one thing is certain – your exploration of this otherworldly planet has reached an ugly end. Trapped in an alien crypt, ...
8
votes
1answer
227 views
Cryptic Acrostic 1: Off Balance
This is an acrostic puzzle which uses cryptic clues. If you're unfamiliar with either or both of those, click the associated link.
A complete answer should give the quote, author and source, as well ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
A duck for a well-known bowler (5): How to solve it?
The following is a cryptic clue1:
A duck for a well-known bowler (5)
I know that the answer is:
While I understand that:
How does it relate to the cryptic clue?
1 The source for this cryptic clue ...
4
votes
1answer
122 views
Can containment/content indicators come after the outside and inside words?
I have surface I like for a cryptic clue I want to write that is of the form:
outside-word inside-word indicator
Something like:
Fix railway without cat
Or
Crafts day about Monday to Friday
If ...
5
votes
1answer
446 views
Bananas for chemistry
Going bananas for chemistry...
First I have standards, and my yearbook likely starts with why I'm part of AVEN. In the end, I name four art galleries that have a sweet founder.
My parents were ...
4
votes
0answers
267 views
What's the relation between these clues?
Find the relation between these words a.k.a. clues in the sentences below:
Zombies prefer to stay beside elevators.
Evil country produces thousands of money.
I was eating fast food in that vehicle.
...
0
votes
1answer
109 views
cryptic clue - palidromic medic with difficult personality loses title [7]
Cryptic crossword type clue
Palindromic medic with difficult personality loses title [7]
(hints will be provided over time if necessary... )
1
vote
1answer
221 views
Local clues for crossword
Is it safe to use indicators that only work "locally"?
Such as
"swimmer" for SE
"quetzal" for Q
"Scratch Team" for ST
3
votes
2answers
718 views
No Sound in Space
I hear there is no sound in space.
But you are not in space so should have no trouble solving these.
(These are related/themed cryptic clues, more or less. They may or may not be valid or fair, in the ...
3
votes
1answer
127 views
Cryptics from the perspective of an American satirist
One segment of a certain satirical TV series began like this:
Good evening everyone. Today I'm going to rant about cryptic clues and cryptic crosswords – not our type, of course. Some say that Mike ...
9
votes
1answer
308 views
King Albert VII
This is a themed cryptic crossword, with six answers following the theme. For further instructions and details, scroll past the crossword and clues.
ACROSS
1. Without everyone, head off in area where ...
5
votes
1answer
339 views
Very modest contract: leading with a king makes good sense (5)
This is from a Times puzzle in an old book:
(DOWN) 4. Very modest contract: leading with a king makes good sense (5)
I know the answer is LOGIC but I can't see why - please can somebody explain it?
11
votes
1answer
685 views
The unsolvable cryptic clue
My friend was reading a newspaper and I caught a glimpse of a rather mystifying cryptic clue on one of the pages. I've been unable to solve it ever since and it's driving me crazy! Here's my "...
3
votes
1answer
211 views
How is "OPPOSE" the answer to "Don't act like a pro (6)"?
Clue from the West Australian Cryptic Crossword 13/5/2021:
"Don't act like a pro (6)"
Answer: OPPOSE
I can see that "act" gives POSE", but how do you get to "OPPOSE&...
16
votes
5answers
7k views
Why is "lion" the answer to "Take the first left turn at the zoo?"
From The Evening Standard's Cryptic Crossword - Apr 23 2021, the clue for 36-Across is:
Take the first left turn at the zoo (4)
And the answer is "lion".
I get that the first left is L. ...
10
votes
1answer
434 views
A Cryptic Cryptarithm
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #48: Unusual tag mix
Solve these puzzles to reveal why I made them.
Matriarch mostly prepared oats for American airline location? (8)
AIRLINE + LOCATION = ?
51 ...
6
votes
1answer
261 views
A Cryptic Combination
My friend couldn't make it to school today, but wanted me to grab his backpack from his locker for him. He told me he had a combination lock, and sent the following message, saying "There's one ...
5
votes
1answer
258 views
Cryptic Geometry
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #48: Unusual tag mix
I was trying to study some geometry, but I just can't seem to wrap my head around all this mathematical mumbo jumbo. Can you help me out?
...
10
votes
1answer
251 views
A Cryptic Property
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #48: Unusual tag mix
After solving the following cryptic clues, find the following properties:
A major property that all ten words share.
A minor property ...
3
votes
1answer
111 views
I'm just a Simple Newbie
After figuring out each clue, you should also figure out why the clues are grouped the way they are. All answers are in English.
Group 1
She changed after French novel (5)
A hot underworld hiding ...
2
votes
1answer
233 views
Not the Genesis of a Break
The following cryptic clues are in English, don't include punctuation, and have a theme (except for one minor exception) which will provide context for the definitions of the clue. There are two main ...
14
votes
2answers
428 views
Shipwreck hunting
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #46: "Tales From the Cryptic"
My Uncle Redbeard, the great sailor and shipwreck-hunter, is in trouble and needs my help! This morning a mysterious ...
7
votes
1answer
418 views
A perfect puzzle for lockdown
(Every part of this question is part of the puzzle.) Only one clue to go!
The following are some CRYPTIC CLUES that all relate to a THEME. The first group of clues are only TANGENTIALLY related to the ...
15
votes
1answer
427 views
The Maze of Hermes
An entry into Fortnightly Topic Challenge #46: "Tales From the Cryptic"
THE QUEST
I have been running a role-playing game, in which my friend plays a halfling named Ptolic. Recently, Ptolic ...
11
votes
1answer
1k views
Why is RYE the answer to "Grass over pretty Cambridge backs"?
The clue is:
Grass over pretty Cambridge backs
The answer is RYE. I get the grass part, but what is the connection in the rest of the clue? This is from the Saturday Telegraph Cryptic, clue no. ...
8
votes
1answer
148 views
A Cryptic Morality Tale
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #46: "Tales From the Cryptic"
So this puzzle uses the term cryptic in multiple senses. On the one hand, it is cryptic in the sense that there are ...
0
votes
1answer
248 views
Why is the answer to "Newspaper had a box for the sweetmeat" FUDGE?
This is a clue from a cryptic crossword published in the NZ Herald on January 1st 2021:
Newspaper had a box for the sweetmeat.
All I can see is that FUDGE is a sweet often kept in a box or tin, but ...
17
votes
1answer
440 views
A Cryptic Tale Indeed!
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #46: "Tales From the Cryptic"
We begin with the most abnormal, rosiest fables of twisted form, driven into the heart of endless deed. It is a dark ...
2
votes
1answer
375 views
Looking foward to the Message
Some words of wisdom from a good friend of mine. He sent it to me in a form of a puzzle for me to work out:
1) Integral - killer's initials and victims end (3)
2) Stiff, dull-spoken. (5)
3) Sheep ...
8
votes
1answer
247 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: It's been a long, long, long time
The answer to this puzzle is a list of ten thematically related words or proper names or phrases. Each of these is clued cryptically, and the theme is to be determined. Since the definition part of a ...
1
vote
0answers
368 views
Is the OP on mushrooms?
What two words am I looking for in the puzzle below? (The title too is a clue).
35437
When a Deity sees its reflection,
Clip the best of rediscoveries approximately.
Blow has been blown when it is ...
8
votes
1answer
222 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: Watching Your Belt (Fan-Made)
Inspired by the Cryptic Family Reunion Series by Jeremy Dover
The answer to this puzzle is a list of eight thematically related words or proper names or phrases. Each of these is clued cryptically, ...
5
votes
1answer
528 views
Gluten-stag! A little cryptic clue for you!
Here is a cryptic clue, can you solve it?
A drink around pledge's entrance- makes walking elevated with a bit of risk. Elementary? Certainly fiction! (15)
5
votes
1answer
666 views
Why is "issued" the answer to "Fire corners if one-a-side matches haven't begun"?
Why is "issued" the answer to "Fire corners if one-a-side matches haven't begun"?
This was published in the NZ Herald cryptic crossword on 8th December 2020.
25
votes
1answer
517 views
Chain Puzzle: Tabletop Games #10 – Risky Finale
This is the tenth and final Chain Puzzle in the Tabletop Games series, in which all puzzles are themed around board games, card games, tile games, and the like. Once this puzzle is solved, this Chain ...
18
votes
1answer
562 views
Chain Puzzle: Tabletop Games #09 - “The” Cryptic Movies
This is the ninth Chain Puzzle in the Tabletop Games series, in which all puzzles are themed around board games, card games, tile games, and the like. The answer to this puzzle is a thematic word or ...
12
votes
1answer
346 views
A Cryptic Hourglass
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #43: Variety Crossword Grids
The answers to ten cryptic clues need to be entered in the grid below. Words start in their numbered rectangles, and proceed down ...
24
votes
2answers
4k views
2020 election: The results are in!
At the Puzzling Stack Exchange headquarters, we've received the first definitive knowledge of the results of the United States presidential election of 2020. And because this is Puzzling, we naturally ...