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.
253
questions
7
votes
1answer
283 views
Highlights and group dynamics
There are no horizontal word boundaries in the grid. Answers to "across" clues must be written on their correct row, in the order given, with no spaces.
Six "down" clues have had ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
Communists and Christians
Across
1. Singer Collins is performing leads for Prince (6)
5. Broken spine leads to aches (5)
10. Say, 33 across and Cuiabá's northern tip, described by excellent lyric poems (9)
11. Predecessor to ...
11
votes
1answer
220 views
Awake – a cryptic crossword
This crossword is a tribute to the 1994 album Awake by Dream Theater.1 No knowledge of the music itself is required for solving.
Some clues are missing a part which has been replaced by two question ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
Don't mess with Germans
Across
3. High-pitched sound of loud automobile coming around too regularly (8)
7. Old TV show prosecutor's entertaining everyone (6)
9. Town in Arcadia orders one to retire (6)
10. Shake alien's ...
9
votes
1answer
553 views
Africa just kept coming up
No tricks this time, what you see is what you get. The "around" answers are simply written in the coloured cells clockwise.
Across
1. City on the British Isles, excluding the island on which ...
22
votes
1answer
639 views
A cryptic crossword is in order
There are no word boundaries in the grid. Answers are placed on the row or column indicated by their number in the order given (first a, then b etc.). Successive answers on the same row or column are ...
9
votes
1answer
707 views
Fountain of Wealth
Based on the following crossword, find a word to describe those with fancy titles and lots of money.
Across
Down
1. Clear area for brightest star in constellation (6)
1. Refuse time off once at ...
13
votes
2answers
1k views
I want to play a game
I've been playing a lot of video games lately. After solving this crossword, you should know which video game I want to play next. Thanks to Deusovi for test-solving and general feedback!
Across
Down
...
6
votes
2answers
112 views
Banding Together
Here is a band-themed cryptic crossword, but instead of the answers being themed, the clues are! Each clue contains the name of (at least) one band, and while this resulted in some... wilder clues (...
8
votes
1answer
488 views
Meat, metal and Mediterraneans
Across
1. One heavy metal group's farewell (5)
5. Actor who won an Oscar for taking off clothes in Ice Age (4)
7. Way to pay for immigration paperwork? (4)
10. Unfinished show makes permanent ...
10
votes
1answer
227 views
Cryptic crossword: a little je ne sais quoi
Ten clues have word-play and definition that appear not to match. The result of the word-play must be entered into the grid. To assist solvers one extra letter appears in the word-play of all other ...
21
votes
1answer
327 views
O Cryptic! My Cryptic!
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #48: Unusual tag mix
Please find below a poetic cryptic crossword. A very tiny cryptic crossword, because each cryptic clue is a poem. I must beg your ...
11
votes
1answer
327 views
Swimming lessons
In eleven clues, contrary to normal cryptic clue rules, the definition part has been placed somewhere in the middle. It divides the wordplay into two separately solvable parts, indicating a place ...
11
votes
1answer
130 views
A full cryptic crossword
Eight clues are thematic and are clued by word-play only. Each of these eight clues' word-play has an extra letter which is not part of the answer. These letters cryptically indicate something, ...
14
votes
1answer
508 views
Chain Puzzle: Video Games #01 - Teleporting Crosswords!
This is the first Chain Puzzle in the Video Games series, in which all puzzles are themed around video games of all genres. The answer to this puzzle is a thematic word or phrase. The solver whose ...
12
votes
1answer
352 views
Infinitely large, definitely cryptic
This is an infinite cryptic crossword. Solve the clues and use the four given grid pieces (each duplicated infinity times) to create a grid that continues endlessly in all directions.
Across
A1. ...
9
votes
1answer
229 views
Encore! : a cryptic crossword
This puzzle was originally formatted as a PDF; the puzzle PDF is available on Dropbox, and a screenshot of said PDF is available on Imgur.If you'd like to solve digitally, there is also a template ...
3
votes
1answer
144 views
Hey John, can you take a quick look?
Every answer to the following cyptic crossword is English. Furthermore, some clues are marked in blue on the grid and don't have the definition as part of the clue and just have the wordplay; instead, ...
8
votes
1answer
191 views
Mystical forces of different kinds
There are no word boundaries in this grid. All empty spaces must be filled and entries can share any number of letters. Fourteen clues have been affected by a mystical force and their entry into the ...
15
votes
1answer
323 views
In Any Case… : a cryptic crossword
This puzzle was originally formatted as a PDF; the puzzle PDF is available on Dropbox. A screenshot of the PDF is available below. This puzzle is an entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge 46, "...
1
vote
1answer
81 views
Simple 4x4 Cryptic Crossword #2
Another simple 4x4 cryptic crossword with no theme. (I added empty space to the image so the grid doesn't take up an unnecessary amount of space.) Enjoy!
ACROSS
DOWN
1. Section of role
1. I am in ...
15
votes
1answer
694 views
Oops! All Acros--
This puzzle was originally formatted as a PDF; the puzzle PDF is available on Dropbox. A screenshot of the PDF is available below. This puzzle is an entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge 46, "...
4
votes
1answer
112 views
Simple 4x4 Cryptic Crossword
Most words are in English (are foreign words allowed?), although some are more obscure than others.
Clue transcription:
ACROSS
DOWN
1. Chicken providers have urges
1. Great spices mixed up after ...
1
vote
1answer
141 views
First time making a cryptic crossword! Feedback appreciated!
Came up with some cryptic clues and I thought I'd put them in a crossword. There isn't a theme, all answers are in English, and this is my first time, so any criticism would be welcomed!
ACROSS
DOWN
...
17
votes
1answer
410 views
Not Bluebeard's Castle
This puzzle was intended to be formatted as a PDF; the puzzle PDF is available on Dropbox, and a screenshot of said PDF is hosted on Imgur. If you'd like to solve digitally, there is also a template ...
12
votes
1answer
300 views
Detective Dad is on the case!
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #46: "Tales From the Cryptic"
The house was quiet... Suspiciously so. The father of the house knew immediately that something was wrong. A crime had ...
5
votes
2answers
561 views
A teeny cryptic crossword
I promise, I had the idea for a 5x5 cryptic before Graylocke!
Clues:
1A Record side conversation. (5)
4A Demand previous show. (5)
5A Butcher lead-free paint. (5)
1D Revolutionary invention is &...
3
votes
1answer
215 views
A 15-minute Cryptic
A hastily-made festive gift for PSE, and a test to see whether it is ever possible to make a puzzle faster than it takes someone here to solve it! :P
Clues:
1A One of us in gold-coated regret
4A ...
12
votes
1answer
257 views
Flagging Interest
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #45: Flags
UPDATE: There was an error in the original version in clue 15-down, which has been fixed.
In this cryptic crossword, there is something funny going ...
8
votes
1answer
181 views
Sharing (words) is caring
Each across clue is actually multiple cryptic clues written in succession. Each pair of successive clues has one shared word, which functions as the last word of one clue and the first word of the ...
14
votes
1answer
266 views
Cryptic crossword – identify the unusual clues!
Nine clues are not like the others. Solvers must identify the unusual clues and highlight the corresponding answers in the grid. To help with this task, the grid has two unclued entries which hint at ...
9
votes
1answer
288 views
Scandal's beginnings
Across
6. A sign that it's time to stop payment: Serious warning signal (9,4)
8. Nonconformist man is in good shape (6)
9. Sorriest broken component (8)
10. Child keeping King softly in grip (5,3)
12. ...
13
votes
1answer
321 views
A 4-D Cryptic Crossword
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #43: Variety Crossword Grids
This puzzle is a cryptic crossword, but with a twist...literally! The grid presented is a 2-dimensional representation of the ...
15
votes
1answer
413 views
Six Directions of Cryptic Cluebulence
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #43: Variety Crossword Grids
This crossword is a tribute to the 2002 album Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence by Dream Theater. No knowledge of the music itself ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Could a non-native English speaker work out cryptic crossword puzzles?
I am fond of puzzles related to mathematics, and I am very keen to solve cryptic crosswords. However, the main obstacle is that they seem to require superb linguistics background knowledge/skills. As ...
12
votes
1answer
325 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 ...
17
votes
1answer
392 views
3D cryptic brain melter
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #43: Variety Crossword Grids
This is a three-dimensional cryptic crossword. The seven squares in the picture depict the layers of a 7x7x7 cube. The "away&...
15
votes
1answer
291 views
Gladys's Gapped Cryptic
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #43: Variety Crossword Grids
This is part 10 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
They say there's no place like home, but for people who love ...
13
votes
1answer
445 views
a cryptic beehive
Each numbered clue clues a six-letter answer to be entered consecutively (i.e., either clockwise or counterclockwise) in the six squares around the square so numbered.
1. Perhaps a laborist and ...
11
votes
1answer
387 views
What do “(מ)” and “(ש)” mean in an Israeli cryptic?
I was looking at the Hebrew cryptic crosswords in a recent copy of the Israel newspaper ידיעות אחרונות, and I noticed that some of the clues had "(מ)" or "(ש)" — or sometimes both —...
9
votes
1answer
222 views
Gladys's Mismatching Cryptic
This is part 9 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
Today I'm visiting a small town to marvel at some fantastic examples of Renaissance architecture. Sadly, this is also the last ...
6
votes
1answer
192 views
Gladys's Double-Letter Cryptic
This is part 8 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
Today I'm enjoying some quiet time after a long flight. As you know I'm at least as much a fan of places of worship as the next ...
7
votes
1answer
300 views
The Man That Was Used Up
I have to apologize for this puzzle. It lacks symmetry, and occasionally has two unchecked squares in succession. (Chalk it up to my inexperience in making crosswords.) To make it up to you, I ...
7
votes
1answer
237 views
Gladys's Word Search Cryptic
This is part 7 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
I have to say that I didn't quite get enough of the sun and sea in my last stop, so I've decided to come to another place that has ...
17
votes
1answer
431 views
What is a Cryptic Cross Word™?
Glad you asked! Here is an example of a cryptic crossword.
Across
1. Lady losing head for man (4)
3. Sink back to bottom and be covered by extensive dirt surfaces (5)
9. To a larger extent, gritty ...
11
votes
1answer
296 views
Gladys's Letter-Dropping Cryptic
This is part 6 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
My today's destination is a bit more of a mainstream tourist spot than some of the other stops on my journey. I'm definitely going ...
11
votes
1answer
488 views
No Holds – a barred crossword
Across
1. Country girls finally returning home after being swallowed by snake (6)
6. Strong desire to omit essential part in writing important text (1,5)
11. Error usually eliminated within split ...
14
votes
1answer
314 views
Gladys's Extra Word Cryptic
This is part 5 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
This is my most remote destination so far. The views out here are breathtaking, although from what I hear this place is even more ...
22
votes
1answer
1k views
Suspected felicide in the Schrödinger household
Police officers entered the home of Dr. Erwin Schrödinger. The neighbours had reported that the doctor had locked his cat in a box and was subjecting it to "particle physics", whatever ...
6
votes
1answer
215 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 ...
