A number of the Most Enjoyable Cryptic Clues Ever Written
Skip to the tip (or click on here) for a puzzle I’ve made you (it’s been awhile, however I’m again, child!). My crash course on do cryptic puzzles begins here.
Once I began writing this article (more than a year ago!), I envisioned it as being primarily about cryptic crossword puzzles, with a wholesome sidebar in different wordy or puzzly subjects. That mandate has modified in a method that I’m fairly pleased with—a mixture of following my very own pursuits and responding to suggestions from readers, which is wholesome and good and pure for a e-newsletter. However I don’t need to utterly lose the cryptics-based roots of the publication, so within the pursuits of pulling on that thread a bit this week, I’ve each made you a brand new puzzle (it’s themed, which will certainly assist in case you are conversant in the theme subject, and I’d describe it as average in its issue, with a number of good and simple anagram clues to assist get a foot within the door), and I’m devoting this week’s subject to the subject.
Earlier points on this subject have targeted on the history of crosswords typically, explaining different clue types, and providing some gentle on-ramps for brand new solvers, however this week I need to speak about brilliancies. Notably intelligent clues. Clues that make you go, “Whoa!” (Assuming you’re the kind of one that goes, “Whoa!” Some British readers could choose to go, “Goodness!” I gained’t make any judgements both method.) Two minor caveats first:
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I genuinely consider that cryptics are much easier than they seem when you get the hold of issues, and quite a lot of what makes them daunting is simply sleight of hand. It’s extremely rewarding to push previous the preliminary phantasm of issue.
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The clues I’m about to current don’t again up level primary above within the slightest, lol. Good clues aren’t essentially arduous clues, however they typically require an additional degree of lateral considering past the conventional lower and thrust of a clear up.
Anyway! I canvased the members of my cryptic-setters’ Fb group (no, I wasn’t beat up in highschool. Why do you ask?), and so they had been variety sufficient to share a few of their favourite clues, a few of which I’ve included beneath along with a number of of the all time classics. Right here they’re!
Two plus eleven minus one, amazingly (6)
This can be a clue (from the setter Crucible) that takes benefit of a enjoyable reality in a really elegant method: If you happen to take away the letters of the phrase ONE from the letters of the phrases TWO and ELEVEN, you may be left with the letters of the phrase TWELVE, which is the answer to this clue.
In the long run, it’s a deceptively easy clue. The reply to the straightforward math downside is the precise reply to the puzzle, and the “amazingly” is each a literal assertion of how stunning that’s and an indicator to solvers that an anagram is afoot—you might be being requested to take away the letters O, N, and E, out of order (“amazingly”), from TWoELeVEn.
I say nothing (3)
What I like about this basic (from the setter Enigmatist) is how few transferring elements it has. The reply (EGO) turns into extra apparent in case you repunctuate the clue thus: “I” = “say” + “nothing.” “Ego” (which implies “I”) is “say” (e.g.) + “nothing” (o). Neat!
Bust down purpose? (9)
This clue (an entry by Les May in a 1975 cluing competitors) is likely one of the mostly cited classics (other than “gegs? (9,7)” about which, the less said, the better), so it deserves a spot right here as a venerable instance of the cryptic definition (there’s no rearranging of letters concerned—the clue simply has two meanings with the identical reply). For these unfamiliar with this previous chestnut, the reply is BRAINWASH, and the aha second comes if you understand that it can be punctuated as BRA IN WASH. Dad jokes! However a intelligent one.
Noticed canine carrying lead (7)
That is an absolute triumph of misdirection by the late setter Chifonie. The reply is PROVERB (one other phrase for “noticed” as in “the previous noticed”). The “canine” is ROVER. And (trickily) the “lead” is the aspect (PB), not the canine accent. Thus P(rover)B. “Noticed”: “Canine” carrying “Lead.”
Spooner’s baking catastrophe is warning to the complacent (4-2,4)
Spoonerisms are semi-controversial amongst cryptic solvers. Some folks actually hate them as a result of they’re all groaners, by definition, and since they’re normally fairly apparent as clues (the more-or-less required presence of the phrase “Spooner” is sort of a giveaway). However once they’re good, they’re good. And this one from Arachne is each unique and genuinely humorous. The reply is WAKE-UP CALL (a “warning to the complacent”), or because the Reverend Spooner would say it, “Cake up wall.”
The true purpose for the merger assembly of Volkswagen and Daimler? (6,6)
One other beloved basic from Engimatist that cleverly tweaks the standard guidelines of a “hidden” clue. It’s surprisingly troublesome to assemble a clue that has a clean floor studying that factors virtually effortlessly at a satisfying answer on this method. The reply on this case is HIDDEN AGENDA, which you’ll be taught if (as instructed) you merge Volkswagen and Daimler, thus: volkswAGEN DAimler. 🤯
O hark! the herald angels sing the Boy’s descent which lifted up the world (anag), and in what circumstances (5,9,7,5,6,2,5,3,6,2,3,6)
This can be a clue from the legendary Araucaria that appeared in a Christmas puzzle some many years in the past. I hesitated to incorporate it as a result of it’s formatted otherwise than you’d anticipate these days (the anagram is simply marked right here as “anag”), however it will be a disgrace to not take the chance to marvel at one of many most interesting anagrams ever composed. The reply, astonishingly, is: WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT, ALL SEATED ON THE GROUND.
? (1,6,3,1,4)
Lastly, a very spectacular ratio of clue-length to answer-length, additionally from the ever-brilliant Araucaria. The reply: I HAVEN’T GOT A CLUE.
I’ve made you a puzzle. The puzzle picture is beneath if you wish to print it out like our forebears used to, however you may as well fill it in with a click! (The answer is defined and annotated here.)
