Questions tagged [cryptic-crosswords]
Cryptic crosswords are a special type of crossword puzzle where clues combine a definition with wordplay. Use [crosswords] where the clues don't obey the conventions of cryptic crosswords; [cryptic-clues] or [crossword-clues] for clues not assembled into whole crosswords.
172
questions
3
votes
2answers
136 views
What is translated?
Note: Six of the clues are printer's devilry with thematic answers.
Across
1. Grandson to Isaac Newton, son to filmmaker Barry (8)
5. Selling a product of ale? Sue for a higher price (6)
9. Sport ...
3
votes
1answer
108 views
Venetians attracted to Mary Jane
Across
1/5. Trouble with battle making a neighbourhood essentially warmer (3,5,6)
10. (See 14 down)
11. Place with obstructed view to Venetians, perhaps attracted to Mary Jane (5,4)
12. Activity to ...
10
votes
1answer
214 views
Vowel-less CRYPTC CRSSWRD
For this cryptic crossword, there is a separate grid for the consonants of each word, and another for the vowels. The grids are identical.
The yellow cells will spell out the final message from this ...
17
votes
2answers
571 views
Up, down, left, right
Right
1. Stop behind fashionable content (6)
4. Wingspan is chosen to cover language for left clues (8)
10. Former students crossed feet and consumed metal compounds (9)
11. Six losses to start with? ...
11
votes
1answer
938 views
Tutankhamun's body
Across
1. A group of former leftists briefly detained by firm far-rightist (7)
5. Arguments of Delaware motel owner (7)
9. Autoimmune qualities partially being one-sided (7)
10. Archangels not put up ...
7
votes
1answer
201 views
Space station of beheaded king
Across
1. Funny actor Lemmon (leaving out Matthau, at first) showing part of 1 down (5,5)
6. Space station of beheaded king (3)
9. Sumerian city inside Brazilian city? That's perfectly normal (7)...
16
votes
1answer
892 views
Rand al'Thor's head found rolling?
Across
1. American school's public relations incorporated by UK school (9)
6. Part of the face with new colour (5)
9. English university city where 23 down is located (9)
10. Top Caribbean ...
19
votes
1answer
452 views
A Cryptic Crossword in Indonesian Language (TTS Kriptik Bahasa Indonesia)
The cryptic crosswords are actually new for me and I even struggled to solve one as English is not my first language. So I decided to look for a cryptic crossword in my language, Indonesian... And I ...
11
votes
1answer
277 views
Quite important concepts
Across
1. Maybe Washington is major leader making economic system of America (10)
7. Uninitiated proposition to make Austen work (4)
9. A giant finally struck the last time (5)
10. Stone ...
8
votes
1answer
179 views
A themeless but slightly devilish cryptic
ACROSS
1 Grant F in T, perhaps (6)
4 Bug (messed up): "Pride cometh after the summer" (6)
9 Fez state: motorcoach tipped over, hat fell out (7)
10 Essin' curves! (5)
11 Primal-screamers have one day ...
8
votes
1answer
168 views
Perhaps a TV airing
Across
1. 1970s blockbuster's 1 down villain (4)
3. Original 1 down's candy store emptied between the 1st of November and the 3rd of January (7)
6. Superior to 1 down, among others, is lost on ...
5
votes
1answer
81 views
Three mini-crosswords with maths/physics theme
Three mini-crosswords are presented below. There is a maths/physics theme to these puzzles.
I am sure that they will be solved quite quickly and hints will not be required, but if anyone gets really ...
12
votes
1answer
930 views
Old British Empire
Across
1. #1 in Waterloo: a famous Duke (10)
7. Material essential to hotel management (3)
8. In Cuba, three facing death for unauthorized entry (11)
9. Exotic free-diving spot (4)
10. About-...
6
votes
1answer
94 views
Napier's devilry
Note: The clues are a mix of printer's devilry and regular cryptic clues.
Across
2. Like Bruce Wayne after Jack Napier's constant plots essentially destroyed city (7)
7. Group known for Africa'...
11
votes
1answer
233 views
Small idea for a Crossword Puzzle
Across
1. Williams given usual covers. (5)
4. Aromatic resin vehicle has speed zero. (7)
8. Increase in Zimbabwean dance music leads to extra rain from God of thunder. (7)
9. Concealed in ...
8
votes
1answer
226 views
Musician siblings
Across
2. Oddly whirl below a flower (10)
8. Oddly drawn 6 down actor (3)
10. Revive new line with venerable leaders (7)
11. 6 down protects Hong Kong film director (3)
12. Elite school ...
14
votes
1answer
540 views
On The Subject of Marble Tumble
(This is part of a series of puzzles written for Timwi for a Secret Santa puzzle exchange, themed around various custom modules for the game Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes. No KTaNE knowledge is ...
7
votes
1answer
195 views
Beating conservative at working in alien area: one liberal success to start with (3,1,4,5)
Struggling with this one. I know alien is normally ET and conservative is probably C or tory but can't figure out what the definition is. The letters I have so far are _ _ _ /O/_ I _ E / _ _ _ _ _ (...
13
votes
2answers
408 views
Long John and the Persian poet
Across
1. Blast forty-second drink, about half pint (3,5,4)
8. Kind of fabric of which a suit is cut (3)
9. Fast and furious drama with vacuous action (7)
10. Part of keyboard amplifier ...
7
votes
2answers
191 views
Keep it simple!
Across
5. A retired grandmother accommodating man with amazing deal and great price (2,3,3,1,3)
10. Fourteen pounds – unlimited amount of weight (3)
11. Civil engineer is somehow very sour (8)
...
15
votes
1answer
532 views
White to mate in 2
This is a cryptic crossword puzzle. Clues are normal, however some entries clash with one another. Each such clash is resolved by adding the clashing letters using the standard A1-Z26 numerology, ...
7
votes
1answer
157 views
Jazz and all that
Across
1/4/9. Isn't Satchmo sad during the final parts of Miles Davis song? (5,5,5)
7. Baron von Richthofen's rank above the king? (3)
10. Assistants have a bit of chlorine added to aqua regia ...
8
votes
2answers
604 views
What would Abe say?
Across:
1. Way to defeat everyone (5)
4. Performer's departing could be melodramatic problem (7)
8. Primarily deploying Uranium in the destruction of bed lice can be reasoned out (9)
10. ...
8
votes
1answer
691 views
Italian coin collector
Across
3. Extraordinary claim: He is 13 across after 9 down (7)
6. Crashed ashore, sounding rough (6)
8. Got away from David and Edward going separate ways (6)
10. General supermarket chain ...
10
votes
1answer
684 views
Have you met Vera?
Across
1. Maybe St. Paul's Hospital admitted Polanski's wife, approximately half-hour missing (5,7)
7. Moving canoe to the sea (5)
8. Natural bottled water brand is all about having tea (6)
10....
7
votes
1answer
146 views
Group of invaders
Across
4. Singer Tom serves food with delays (5)
7. Told secrets upon deep rambling (6,2)
10. Group of invaders to be at the French shores, finally? (7)
11. Pass around the tales to ...
5
votes
1answer
141 views
Family left in prison
Across
1. Distinction of common man lost in siege of Paris (10)
8. Apprentice and a lead tamer injured a lion of global interest (13)
9. Caesar's greeting met with fury, setting initial ...
15
votes
1answer
1k views
Elves, Hobbits and Dwarves
Across
1. Nice ladies kiss without men? (11)
6. Ask about a music style (3)
7. Messy ski campsite, without a doubt (10)
10. Performance of Cats troubled after loss of leading star (3)
11. Be ...
3
votes
1answer
151 views
A game of cross-dominos
The grid above shows the final layout of a domino game played with a standard $28$-tile (dominos $0-0$ to $6-6$). The first domino played, the $4-4$ double is given, and solvers must complete the ...
7
votes
1answer
432 views
Dying for Caesar
Across
1. Smoothening the rest of the day? (7)
8. Tune's introduction omitted by exotic Croatian instrument (7)
10. Secretly agree to meet… (5)
13. …and not to be indoors every second (3)
14....
7
votes
1answer
220 views
A Butcher's Brawl
Beastly brawl begets batch of black and blatantly blue butchers. Crack the coming crossword to create curious clues, then tally total troublemakers that tussled:
Clues:
Across:
1. Vote to mention ...
8
votes
1answer
328 views
China's Paramount Leader
Across
1. Non-living bot infiltrates CIA from the back to collect informant's head (7)
5. Linux extremist behind pressure associated with revision of ISO standard (5)
8. Contained in ...
9
votes
1answer
438 views
British lady in a strange land
Across
1. Where people are shown in delight (8)
5. Stray people of Indo-Aryan heritage putting one foot in front of the other (4)
8. Loop back of static web address (4)
9. Wings of sparrow ...
9
votes
2answers
417 views
Twelve Labours - #09 House of Hippolyta
This puzzle is part of the ‘Twelve Labours’ series, but can be solved independently. Previous instalments can be found here: Prologue | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08
The House of Hippolyta ...
11
votes
3answers
607 views
Arabia and the Middle Ages
Across
1. Kind of direct language; used in the Middle Ages (8)
8. Stadiums are small beyond the limits of NBA (6)
9. A blowgun destroyed small house (8)
10. Frog King decapitated a kind of ...
8
votes
1answer
2k views
Nominally, he has only half a life at 59! - British cryptic crossword question
I believe cryptic crossword questions are valid here, though do forgive me if I'm wrong!
NOMINALLY, HE HAS ONLY HALF A LIFE AT 59! (5)
The "(5)" denotes the amount of letters in the answer.
HINT:
...
9
votes
2answers
360 views
Double feature: Bibliophile edition
This puzzle is part 12 of the Double feature series (first part here). The series will conclude in "Double features: The wrap-up".
Rules of Tents and Trees1
Place a number of tents ...
8
votes
1answer
442 views
Double feature: Computer problems
This puzzle is part 11 of the Double feature series (first part here). The series will continue in "Double feature: Bibliophile edition".
Rules of Statue Park1
Insert eleven of the ...
6
votes
1answer
392 views
Double feature: Health shakes
This puzzle is part 10 of the Double feature series (first part here). The series will continue in "Double feature: Computer problems".
Rules of Slitherlink1
Draw a single continuous ...
10
votes
1answer
478 views
Cryptic Battle: Welcome to PSE!
Inspired by jafe's Double feature series.
The following is a hybrid Star Battle and diagramless cryptic crossword. Solve the clues and the grid, then place the clued words in the grid in a logical ...
11
votes
1answer
666 views
Double feature: Unpopular
This puzzle is part 9 of the Double feature series (first part here). The series will continue in "Double feature: Health shakes".
Across
2. A victory is found in path leading to hardship (...
6
votes
1answer
249 views
Double feature: Going postal
This puzzle is part 8 of the Double feature series (first part here). The series will continue in "Double feature: Unpopular".
Rules of Yajilin1
Shade some cells in the grid.
The ...
9
votes
1answer
396 views
Double feature: Weightier
This puzzle is part 7 of the Double feature series (first part here). The series will continue in "Double feature: Going postal".
Rules of Statue View1
Insert the four given pieces (<...
10
votes
1answer
400 views
Double feature: Legal trouble
This puzzle is part 6 of the Double feature series (first part here). The series will continue in "Double feature: Weightier".
Rules of Hitori1
Shade some cells in the grid.
No ...
9
votes
2answers
455 views
Double feature: In cold blood
This puzzle is part 5 of the Double feature series (first part here). The series will continue in "Double feature: Legal trouble".
Rules of Nurikabe1
Shade some cells in the grid.
...
5
votes
1answer
266 views
Double feature: Hot stuff
This puzzle is part 4 of the Double feature series (first part here). The series will continue in "Double feature: In cold blood".
Rules of Heyawake1
Shade some cells in the grid.
...
8
votes
2answers
350 views
Double feature: In concert
This puzzle is part 3 of the Double feature series (first part here). The series will continue in "Double feature: Hot stuff".
Rules of Ripple Effect1
Fill the grid so that each cell ...
8
votes
1answer
297 views
Double feature: Russian desman
This puzzle is part 2 of the Double feature series (first part here). The series will continue in "Double feature: In concert".
Rules of Masyu1
Make a single loop which goes through ...
12
votes
1answer
616 views
Double feature: Braaains
This puzzle is part 1 of the Double feature series. The series will continue in "Double feature: Russian desman".
Rules of Akari (also known as Light Up)1
Insert light bulbs into any ...
5
votes
1answer
155 views
Cryptic crossword (jigsaw fill)
This is a cryptic crossword jigsaw fill: the clues are listed below, grouped by length (the only clues to have length in the standard parentheses are those having two words) and in alphabetical order ...
