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.
205
questions
6
votes
1answer
137 views
Gladys's Scrambled Cryptic
This is part 4 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
Today I'm visiting a wonderful old castle surrounded by picturesque woodland. You may have noticed that I'm not exactly taking the ...
7
votes
1answer
119 views
Olympic host covered in advertisement
Across
1. Plug in the hybrid and relax (7,2)
6. Croquet, essentially? (5)
9. Characteristic of backstabber: striking the back repeatedly (5)
10. Vessels for mixing basil cereal (9)
11. He made a list ...
8
votes
1answer
220 views
Gladys's Gridless Cryptic
This is part 3 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
Today I'm visiting a place that has been completely abandoned for centuries. That may sound dreary and depressing, but this place ...
7
votes
1answer
120 views
Gladys's Misprinted Cryptic
This is part 2 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
Today, I'm taking a tour of historic sites in an ancient city. The crossword has 24 clues containing an extra letter, which you ...
9
votes
1answer
285 views
Gladys's Clashing Cryptic
Dear Puzzling,
Remember me? I have some exciting news for you. I'm starting on a new journey to visit a few wonderful landmarks around the world.
In case you want to follow my travels, I'll send you a ...
9
votes
1answer
262 views
Never fear, Friday's cryptic is here!
Nineteen thematic answers have "in-universe" definitions. For example, Scrooge McDuck could be defined as "famous billionaire" rather than "Disney character".
Across
1. ...
9
votes
1answer
424 views
Missing words? In *my* crossword?
Some clues are missing one of four different five-letter words, marked A, B, C and D. The missing words are included in the grid as the unclued entries 16a, 35a, 22d and 23d, not necessarily in that ...
7
votes
2answers
366 views
An Ancient Cryptic Puzzle
Here's a variety cryptic for your puzzling pleasure. The clues are cryptic, but as you can see below, the grid is unusual. Axial clues are entered from the outside in. Around clues are entered in ...
5
votes
1answer
209 views
Left-looking organization
Plaintext grid
Across
7. Fly comes flying around place near North Carolina, showing certain smugness (4-11)
9. ISIS fighters maybe capture one town's leader and, among others, foremost loyal people ...
3
votes
1answer
90 views
Catch a wave, you'll be sittin' on top of the world
"OK, stand down...report!"
"Captain Singh! The science section reports we encountered a rogue gravity wave from the Tau Ceti sector. Life support, hull integrity, shields and weapons ...
7
votes
1answer
496 views
Kenya's army is not to be messed with
Grid in plaintext
Across
1. Standing in front of a dark, large entrance of estate that can be rented (8)
5. County worker, perhaps seen near border (6)
10. Wife of Abraham Lincoln (5)
11. Staunched, ...
7
votes
1answer
156 views
Cryptic crossword: the time is now
This is a letters-latent cryptic crossword: an equal number of Across and Down clues have one extra letter in the wordplay that should be removed and noted down. These letters spell out a phrase ...
7
votes
1answer
306 views
A Lazy Sunday Cryptic Crossword
For those of you lazing in the summer heat (or winter cold for my ANZAC friends!), a cryptic crossword. I would like to acknowledge using Crossword Compiler for help in creating the grid, but all ...
6
votes
1answer
177 views
When you give a cat a crossword
There I was, in the PSE lounge, polishing up my math-crossword. The only test-solver available was the Cryptic Cat. I think you see where this is going.
When I got my crossword back, the little bugger ...
14
votes
1answer
370 views
Just a little adventure in cylindrical crosswordland
Grid in plaintext
This is a cylindrical cryptic crossword. Some "across" clues go beyond the right-hand edge of the grid and continue from the left-hand side. The black part between the two ...
13
votes
1answer
325 views
It's in the past, in the past
Note: The clues are a mix of printer's devilry and normal cryptic clues.
Across
1. Pillars bend within seconds (6)
6. Essentially elevate temperature in volcanic matter, forming a river (6)
11. ...
12
votes
1answer
261 views
Holding top trophy
Across
1. Gershwin recalled a song (4)
5. Musical intervals the net has essentially ignored (6)
12. Scavenger of old is trapped in darkness – poor lad (7)
13. Rearranged 1 across missing a distinctive ...
6
votes
1answer
372 views
Seconds of constant funk
This is a themed cryptic crossword, with five answers sticking to the theme.
ACROSS
2/29d. Guitarist for 20-down (or Radiohead), content in retiring, achieved $1000 (4, 4)
4. Reactions of ...
12
votes
1answer
355 views
Guess my dream holiday destination!
Because there is too much space in the grid for some words, eight cells are initially left empty. Once the grid is complete, solvers must find a way to fill the empty cells, keeping all entries as ...
5
votes
1answer
158 views
Cryptic crossword - letters latent
"Whose idea was it to say that we'd answer every complaint we received?" Svetlana was sat at Coldport City Council's Complaints desk staring at a sheet of paper. Bob, her colleague, looked ...
16
votes
1answer
512 views
Friday's the most cryptic day of the week
Across
1. War paint for alien entering from space station's entrance (9)
6. An island country's capital, Praia, devastated after the loss of republic's leader (4)
10. Search "engine oil" at first… Got ...
10
votes
2answers
383 views
Cryptic Exile by Sir Featherwait
Just the other day I met Sir Featherwait in the professional aviators' lounge, where he instructed me to guess his favorite anime. Unfortunately, it seems that every guess I made went further and ...
10
votes
1answer
158 views
Equipped for sailing
Grid in plaintext
Across
1/13/20. State of Colorado engaged in attempt to pursue mostly American parties, often involving heroin (10,8,2,3,5)
10. "Terminal engineer, too, must… (7)
11. …ultimately ...
7
votes
1answer
179 views
A cryptic crossword
No theme, nothing special, just a cryptic crossword to tide you over until @jafe's Friday release. I hope you enjoy!
Plaintext version
ACROSS
1. Ten Roman dances for festive ball (8)
8. Every ...
8
votes
1answer
201 views
Dwellings of a cryptic nature
Grid in plaintext
Across
1. Oakley, California finally resettled nine (5)
4. Stupor produced by rotten nectar (6)
9. After revolutionary conflict, conceal leather material (7)
10. Ugly leaders and a ...
4
votes
1answer
144 views
Explain the solution to a cryptic clue for ORIGAMI
Cryptic crossword clue 21 down from Telegraph puzzle #29,363.
Sort of art foundation almost inspiring amateur (7)
We have the letters O_I_A_I. We believe the ...
5
votes
1answer
110 views
Canning white meat
Across
1. Singing is temporarily entertaining tenor (4)
3. Old Levantine-American from Arizona (10)
10. Striking hard, a pharaoh mutilated a tribe's member (7)
11. Small sound – crying? (7)
12. ...
7
votes
2answers
172 views
Base compromised
Grid in plaintext
The nine highlighted cells contain multiple letters: two or more letters from the down clue, and two or more letters from the across clue (where applicable). The letters in each of ...
4
votes
1answer
144 views
Arrangements put you in money
Grid in plaintext
Note: Eleven clues are printer's devilry with thematic answers.
Across
1. By the 1980s, his style of music hanged (4)
3. They had the hammer my bricks as the mason was absent (6)
9....
14
votes
2answers
469 views
Zany misunderstanding
Grid in plaintext
Across
1. Top metal band has a trademark for honorific title (7)
5. Smear fellow according to Spooner's scheme (6,4)
10. Money paid for releasing Welsh footballer, reportedly (4)
14....
14
votes
3answers
320 views
Cryptic Crossword?
You pick up a discarded newspaper, hoping to satiate your need for puzzles with a cryptic crossword. But as you turn to the page, you feel something is awry – perhaps some elision?
Across
3. $F_6,F_7,...
12
votes
2answers
488 views
Yet another mass-produced Friday cryptic
Grid in plaintext
Across
1. Intimidate bovid with hairy tail (7)
5. Intimidate bovid with hairy tail (3)
7/21. String instruments striking first note in southeastern city (3,4)
9. Big football ...
9
votes
1answer
157 views
Ximenes rolling in grave
Across
1. Ginger received a bit of support (6)
4. Accomplished designer of new road east of Mexican city (8)
10. Readmit resort's host (6,1)
11. Friends going around star pilot's luxurious residences (...
4
votes
2answers
162 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
133 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
246 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 ...
18
votes
2answers
629 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? ...
12
votes
1answer
957 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 ...
8
votes
1answer
218 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
924 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 ...
20
votes
1answer
613 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
293 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
189 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 ...
8
votes
1answer
181 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
91 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 ...
11
votes
1answer
939 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
104 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'...
12
votes
1answer
246 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
242 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
561 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 ...
