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.
133
questions
10
votes
1answer
246 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
166 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
328 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
329 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 ...
8
votes
2answers
374 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
202 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
290 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
210 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
441 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
133 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 ...
13
votes
2answers
841 views
3D cryptic featuring Mao, Stalin and Simba's uncle
This is a three-dimensional cryptic crossword. The eleven squares above represent the layers of a $11\times11\times11$ cube.
Across
21. Tribunal's way to imprison you in the old days (10)
25. ...
6
votes
2answers
315 views
Light Themed Cryptic
This crossword is themed, and in fact, the theme is revealed in the unclued answer. Note that some of the clues won't make a lot of sense without knowledge of this theme, as I couldn't find much in ...
12
votes
1answer
141 views
A Cryptic Not-so-mini Cube
A quick teaser, enjoy!
Across
3 Dance bores serious (5)
6 Light angry look (5)
11 Finally asked it to agree (5)
12 Rails - cunning homes of thieves (5)
15 Trap saner design (5)
16 Kingdom with real ...
11
votes
1answer
175 views
3D devilry, DIY edition
This is a diagramless three-dimensional cryptic crossword. Solve the clues and then fit the answers into a three-dimensional grid.
The numbering of the clues starts from the #1 (nearest) layer. On ...
13
votes
2answers
438 views
A cubeful of three-dimensional devilry
This is a three-dimensional cryptic crossword. The seven squares represent the layers of a $7\times7\times7$ cube. The clues are a mix of Printer's Devilry and normal cryptic clues.
Across
13. ...
8
votes
1answer
638 views
single cryptic crossword clue… sofa besmirched with urine? Nasty [9]
single cryptic crossword clue.
Sofa besmirched with urine? Nasty [9]
This was a clue in a recent cryptic puzzle I saw in a newspaper. I reproduce it here as I thought it might be of interest.
12
votes
3answers
693 views
3D Crossword, Cryptic, Statue View & Maze
The following image depicts the layers of a $5\times5\times5$ cube. Using 3-dimensional thinking, can you find the way out of the cube?
Empty version with no crossword numbers
Empty version ...
7
votes
3answers
693 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.
...
7
votes
1answer
642 views
Prince of Darkness goes cryptic
No tricks here, just a small cryptic.
1. Reveal dance club around large museum's centre (8)
2. The coast is safer not intoxicated (8)
3. Party's conclusion to stand by alternative green ...
8
votes
1answer
339 views
Cryptic crossword (printer's devilry edition)
All but nine of the clues are normal. The remaining nine are printer's devilry clues, whose answers are thematic. Solvers must fill the grid correctly and use the thematic material to identify an ...
12
votes
1answer
281 views
For the price of one
This puzzle is part 12 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.
...
7
votes
3answers
852 views
Missouri raptors have wild hairdos
Across:
1. URL for commercial clothes (7)
3. Steal each commodity (6)
5. One gut was queasy, you can stick it out (6)
7. Throw caution to the wind and sell art (7)
9. Endlessly care for ...
12
votes
1answer
468 views
A cryptic tricolour
This puzzle is part 8 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.
...
5
votes
1answer
122 views
Little cryptic with no words involved
ACROSS:
?) Around the world - almost the answer to reversed scary room.
?) Poker deck, oh, for poker deck with 20 more squared with 20 more.
?) Smaller beast is lone, beheaded within infamous order....
4
votes
2answers
126 views
Providence Pentominoes Puzzle By Andrew Bradburn (Jigsaw)
I came across this apparently well known cryptic crossword with a twist but was unable to solve it. I also haven't been able to find a solution anywhere online so I was wondering if anyone here could ...
13
votes
4answers
2k views
Disembodied hand growing fangs
Across
2. Puzzle expert breaks first dilemma partially (7)
10. Nobleman bandleader (4)
13. Lead singer, AC/DC's second; extremely over-the-top (5)
18. Actor Morgan and organ lying on the same ...
28
votes
1answer
472 views
Arc (&) Reactors
(Note: This puzzle may require a small amount of research if you aren't familiar with the work from its theme.)
It was exactly 11 years ago -- April 14, 2008, in Sydney -- that the first Iron Man ...
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 ...
11
votes
2answers
689 views
Collected fruit by Seine's banks
Across
1. Double-decker reversing in front of soldier's watercraft (9)
5. Sectarian salt dispenser (6)
10. Opposed to machine learning amid mental angst (7)
11. New York city – why to be ...
9
votes
2answers
490 views
Keeping you safe
Complete the grid and find a two-word final answer.
Across
1. Ability to move first to northern aristocracy (8)
4. Animal to rip a short tail back (5)
5. Oral tradition about the origin of ...
11
votes
2answers
992 views
X marks the what?
In the following clues, a certain term been replaced with $X$. Find out the meaning of $X$ and solve the crossword.
Down
Deadly $X$ (5)
White heroine or cocaine (4)
Introduction of good ...
8
votes
3answers
382 views
Help the Monkee get to the bandanas
Micky Dolenz, drummer and vocalist of 1960s pop band The Monkees, has lost his headwear collection. It has been hidden in a maze whose walls are in unknown places. To find out the location of the ...
21
votes
2answers
2k views
Emojional cryptic crossword
ACROSS
3. 🌟½☥🐪🚫👣 (9)
7. 🏆❌🖽⚔️ (3)
8. ½🍔🇫🇷🌊🏢 (6)
11. ♉½🇬🇷✉️ (3)
12. 🔫⭐⏺️♥️🗽🎭 (5)
13. 🍈♥️🇨🇴🏙️⏮️🍟🔚💐 (6)
14. 👂♀️🦌💰 (5)
16. 🎩👦♻️🐴🦄☝️🗾🏝️ (6)
19. 🐏💪🔀 (3)
...
11
votes
4answers
868 views
Sailing the cryptic seas
So, I've built myself a ship. The image shows it from above. (Look, use your imagination, ok?)
With the clues below, try to figure out whether my ship is headed toward the top right or toward the ...
6
votes
1answer
146 views
The Wild Bogeyman's Crossword
Solve this cryptic crossword and find the common theme:
The wild bogeyman dropped his bag in the bank (5)
God returned the small animals (4)
The insect stayed in the hospital and became a family ...
8
votes
1answer
984 views
No, nay, never, no more
A short one to celebrate an upcoming holiday.
1. A loud, wild rover's intense passion (6)
2. Needlessly spent, under the influence of whiskey and beer (6)
3. I'm returning with gold ...
12
votes
2answers
330 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 ...
18
votes
3answers
939 views
Cryptic with missing capitals
Solve the clues and fill the grid. Each clue is missing a different European capital city.
Across
1. Funny beret men strike $??$ to convene (4)
3. Containers found in a $??$ plaza (...
10
votes
3answers
341 views
Cryptic with some cross words
Across
1. Philosopher rejects Vietnamese soup, producing gas (5)
3. A penguin's formal attire (3)
5. Primate's kiss is the greatest success (4)
7. Meet not in extreme Korean clothing (3)
10. ...
18
votes
3answers
1k views
Cryptic cross… with words
Solve the clues and fit the answers into the grid.
Far north Silicon Valley's research & development leaders surround Jessica (8)
Pop star loses British-American distribution ...
20
votes
8answers
4k views
Headless horseman claims new head
Solve the clues and fit the answers into the grid so that each of the coloured squares contains exactly four different letters.
Sahara desert capitals of historically African region in ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
Where can I find cryptic crossword answers explained?
Apologies if this is the wrong place to ask this question, but I'm not sure where else I might be able to get an answer.
I've recently gotten into cryptic crosswords. However, one thing keeps ...
14
votes
1answer
727 views
Colourful cryptic
No numbers in this grid. The clues are grouped into 12 squares by the location of the word's first letter. No guesswork is needed – if you have the correct answers, there's only one way to fit ...
11
votes
1answer
2k views
Not even Cuba a true island nation
ACROSS
Country's initial trade union with endless value (6)
Arrangement before wordplay backfires (6)
Hiding in a Uruguayan Republic (5)
Pacific nation to place friend before treasure (...
8
votes
1answer
606 views
Walking-related cryptic crossword
Across:
Telephone lacking automobile (5)
Toy company to put level head before self-importance (4)
Airport wanderer with large heart eliminates 007 (5)
Down:
Vehicle ...
7
votes
2answers
408 views
Intermediate's Cryptic Crossword
My second attempt at making a cryptic crossword using the tips I was given in my first attempt.
I'm not sure if they adhere exactly to the rules, as there are a couple occurrences of homophones.
...
6
votes
1answer
330 views
Beginner's Cryptic Crossword
I've always been terrible at Cryptic Crosswords so I spent some time creating some clues of my own and have managed to fit them together to make a small Crossword of my own.
Once solved, any issues ...
4
votes
2answers
259 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
...
19
votes
2answers
726 views
The friendly cryptic where nobody has to die!
Warning: This puzzle may contain spoilers about Undertale and its plot. Please don't proceed if you don't want to be spoiled, since nothing will be in hide tags!
Undertale was released for the Switch ...
4
votes
2answers
140 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
