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).
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1answer
331 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
228 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
225 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
213 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
96 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
222 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 ...
13
votes
2answers
369 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
397 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 ...
13
votes
1answer
361 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. ...
7
votes
1answer
121 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
189 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
415 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
367 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
225 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
345 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
212 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
523 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
623 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.
24
votes
1answer
421 views
Chain Puzzle: Tabletop Games #10 ā 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
492 views
Chain Puzzle: Tabletop Games #09 - āTheā 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
304 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 ...
12
votes
1answer
430 views
What are these holes in my Connect Wall?
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #42: Wordless Connecting Walls
"Why on earth are there blank spaces in your connect wall?"
"In my defense, you just asked me to make categories ...
6
votes
1answer
99 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: Is the election over yet?
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; in this puzzle, the clues are ...
4
votes
1answer
88 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: Bumper Crop!
The answer to this puzzle is a list of ten FIFTEEN thematically related words or proper names or phrases. Each of these is clued cryptically, and the theme is to be determined. Since the definition ...
15
votes
1answer
2k views
Please explain this answer: āFruit from Panama about 20 times.ā
āFruit from Panama about 20 times.ā ... the answer I have is STRAWBERRY based on other letters and fruit. Is the Panama straw hat involved? And what does āabout 20 timesā refer to??
16
votes
1answer
456 views
Ingrid Deduction pops by with a puzzle
The other night I was sat at home in Providence when the doorbell rang. To my surprise, my very good friend Ingrid Deduction stood on the step, a huge grin on her face and a piece of paper held out ...
10
votes
1answer
167 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: I've got a fever!
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
115 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: Sgt. Sequence Rides Again!
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. NOTE: While the theme mostly ...
7
votes
1answer
368 views
Falling out with the Judge II
All by oneself: thrown out car, rotten feed, and amount of food found outside bird's house (18)
The bird was never found again, and no fingerprints could be found on the car or the food. What ...
7
votes
1answer
302 views
Falling out with the Judge
Poor defense speech leading to defendant finally being thrown out (14)
The defendant never reached their prison cell. How did they die?
jafe helped design the clue - thanks! :)
8
votes
1answer
175 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: Flowing ever on
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 ...
7
votes
1answer
75 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: Belt it out
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. In this puzzle, the order of ...
7
votes
1answer
293 views
Evil circles - a cryptic clue
Evil circles constantly observing the head and foot of the Spanish kill (7)
What word is indicated?
7
votes
1answer
132 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: Don't Drink the Blue Koolaid
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 ...
12
votes
2answers
416 views
The Cryptic Cat strikes again! (2 Marching Bands)
Conversation with the Cryptic Cat after my last crossword:
Cat: WHERE WERE THE CRYPTIC CLUES
Me: Calm down! I just wanted to make a normal-
Cat: Normal? Whatās the point of a normal crossword? ...
4
votes
1answer
105 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: Down in a Hole
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
93 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: Bitter Asperities
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
87 views
Cryptic clue for business people?
I have been asked to produce something funny or interesting in a video for work (yay working from home, right?)... so I decided to produce a "Puzzle Hunt". As part of it I was hoping for ...
5
votes
1answer
169 views
Friday's SMH cryptic crossword
Try as I do I cannot fit the answers, which I look up on Danword, to any of the cryptic rules that I understand.
So please can someone explain just 3 of the clues/answers
Go through old block - VETO
...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
Cryptic Clue for “Time”
I've created a cryptic crossword clue for a short story I'm writing. It starts with the protagonist pondering the clue, the solution for which is "time". This is thematic, as is the fact ...
8
votes
0answers
378 views
A Mathematical Cipher [cIosed]
Closed. This question is off-topic. It is not currently accepting answers.
š” Want to improve this question? Update the question so it's on-topic for Puzzling Stack Exchange.
Closed 1 second ago.
...
5
votes
1answer
191 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: Won't you be my neighbor?
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. The clues are in a specific ...
6
votes
1answer
412 views
Little work left; a French female is propitious
Can anyone explain how the cryptic clue above has the answer 'opportune'?
11
votes
2answers
568 views
What did my uncle want to write?
I've always been a writer as well as a puzzler, and my uncle shares that same fascination with both.
Recently, he shared with me a complex puzzle that he'd made when he was my age. He said that the ...
5
votes
1answer
114 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: Gotta have Faith
PLEASE: To be fair to other solvers, for this puzzle, do not post partials until you've got (almost) all of the wordplays correct.
The answer to this puzzle is a list of eleven thematically related ...
4
votes
1answer
77 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: Begins at a boil!
The answer to this puzzle is a list of seven 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 ...
7
votes
2answers
392 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 ...
11
votes
1answer
140 views
Cryptic Family Reunion: Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown
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. In this puzzle, the clues are ...
