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Post by Monpot on Apr 27, 2005 15:36:53 GMT
Please Wear No Trousers
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Post by Durutti on Apr 28, 2005 7:34:00 GMT
Perhaps We Need Temazepam.
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Post by John Brainlove on Apr 28, 2005 14:47:04 GMT
Pants Went Needlessly Tepid.
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Post by Tom-From-Sparks on Apr 28, 2005 14:55:57 GMT
Prince Was Never Tall  Perverts Willingly Nob Trees |
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Darcy
Lieutenant
Wolverine IS the best x-men character...ok?
Posts: 125
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Post by Darcy on Apr 28, 2005 16:20:07 GMT
Pretty Woman Needs Tranquilisers
Please Watch Nigel's Turtoise
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Post by creakyknees on Apr 28, 2005 16:54:19 GMT
WishPig! Now Turn (Times Crossword)
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Post by taketime on Apr 28, 2005 17:23:17 GMT
Plenty Wear Neon Tights
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Post by Smileadelic on Apr 28, 2005 17:54:12 GMT
WishPig! Now Turn (Times Crossword) I love cryptic crosswords. They're so much fun. Brainlove user spins mild lies. Ace! (11)  [EDIT: Updated clue to make it a bit classier  ] |
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Post by John Brainlove on Apr 28, 2005 19:56:03 GMT
Smileadelic.  |
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Raanraals
Lieutenant
Attorney General
Posts: 256
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Post by Raanraals on May 1, 2005 17:20:16 GMT
Muff-diving copper points to one Irish airline. (11)
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Raanraals
Lieutenant
Attorney General
Posts: 256
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Post by Raanraals on May 1, 2005 17:20:49 GMT
Yes! German copper consumed by happiness is coming. (11)
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Post by i_deserve... on May 1, 2005 19:44:57 GMT
i never got cryptic crosswords...
where do you start? how do you work them out?
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Post by Smileadelic on May 1, 2005 20:16:45 GMT
Just an example, but my (rather obvious) clue works thusly:
"Brainlove user spins mild lies. Ace! (11)"
The clue can be split into two parts:
First part of the clue: "Brainlove user" - a simple definition.
Second part of the clue: "Spins" implies that the following is an anagram - easily sussed from the fact that the combination of words following it is rather peculiar and conveniently comes to 11 letters.
"mild lies. Ace!" is an anagram for Smileadelic.
Hence:
Part 1 - a Brainlove user
Part 2 - an anagram for Smileadelic
11 letters. Therefore Smileadelic is the answer.
I'd say this is the most conventional kind of clue... a definition attached to some other way of working out the actual word. But there's loads more - the cleverer ones eschew this format completely. I think the best cryptic clue I've ever seen has to be:
Left one standing (6, 9)
If you can get it, please help yourself to my hearty congratulations. I didn't, but when I saw the answer in the following week's Observer I felt utterly useless for not getting it...
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Post by John Brainlove on May 1, 2005 20:59:10 GMT
I normally struggle with cryptic to be honest. I can get the ones with an obvious anagram most of the time, but the rest? No idea. It's not something you can just learn. The only way I can get those ones at all is because someone showed me how. It can be pretty frustrating.
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Post by Fellalady on May 1, 2005 21:11:24 GMT
I stand in awe of anyone who can de-code cryptic crosswords. I take the ability to be a sign of great higher intelligence. I worked with this guy once who could complete the guardian cryptic crossword in about half an hour. He told me the secret was to be able to think in lots of different directions all at once, which didn't help me much. Even when he talked me through his workings out I still didn't get it.  |
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