Anticipating a slow day on Monday I decided to have a crack at the Telegraph criptic but finished it in 2 hours - most unlike me!
It got me thinking: You clever folk can, I'm sure bang one off before breakfast. What's your favourite clue, eithere published or your own?
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Never a cross word
(58 posts) (20 voices)
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beau-jolly
offlineMemberPosted 1 year ago # -
Can only assume mispelling cryptic was deliberate to enable the old 'change it afterwards and make 'em look silly' trick
I can bang one off at any time of day. Although I suck at cryptic crosswords.
I made up one cryptic crossword clue, it's not great. Here it is:
'Big Les could be a pilot with more G force' (7)
Posted 1 year ago # -
beau-jolly
offlineMemberHave to say Monday was a fluke. Normally takes me all day and night and then I cheat by looking at Big Dave's Crossword blog. My daughter got Golgo's for me straight away.
Posted 1 year ago # -
thisisall1word
offlineMemberA bored 5 minites at work... not sure I've got the nag of writing crosswords though...
1. these bags sound like fun!
2. strange drive, with an extra v in there, sort of
3. I think that Kellogs used these guys as mascots or something back in the 80s
4. Not a wasp-hobble but a good year
5+6. Bloke from that band who sang Vienna (I think)
7. Luckilly avoided biscuit
8. Not me sheep
9. Also not me sheepPosted 1 year ago # -
shitsu_tonka
offlineMemberYou're all too clever for me. I flatter myself that I've got an agile mind and am not entirely dim. I like to think that had I been around during the big show against the Jerrys I'd have been posted to Bletchley then I try to do a crossword and realise that I'd have been stuck somewhere dreadful and trusted with nothing more technological than a broom.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Des Custard
offlineMemberSome good ones here, particularly 10 down. I would say the duck one is definitely a 'down' clue.
One that sticks in my mind is: Square chap (7).
Posted 1 year ago # -
rickwestwell
offlineMemberLike the duck and the France ones too.
My Dad liked this one:
Sublime (5,3,6)
But I think it's a bit unfair, and should be 'Sublime in Berlin'...
Posted 1 year ago # -
andhrimnir
offlineMemberall of which brings to mind the two Ronnies sketch, businessmen on the train with Corbett struggling with his crossword.
ends with
corbett ..."found at the bottom of a bird cage, four letters, blank blank i t"
barker ..."Grit"at which point the nun in the carriage starts rubbing out her answer.
Posted 1 year ago # -
beau-jolly
offlineMemberPING! Just got the duck one too. Still struggling on the rest though. Maybe we should start an answers thread which you can choose not to look at.
Posted 1 year ago # -
beau-jolly
offlineMember...and 10 down. On a roll now.
Posted 1 year ago # -
rickwestwell
offlineMemberJust stuck on Des's chap. Bastard.
Posted 1 year ago # -
beau-jolly
offlineMemberDuke: Similar to the Public school EFGHIJKLMN one possibly?
Rick: Think I have the gist but uncertain of the 3rd word.Really wish I hadn't boasted about finishing a crossword puzzle now as it was evidently a one-off. (oh, and was Tuesday not Monday now I come to think of it)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Midfield Diamond
offlineMemberAOP's contribution: Mad Mid-Beds MP, "Inane Disorder" (A nag) (6,7).
Had to look that one up, had never heard of that particular character (was careful not to give her gender away there)
If you want more anagrams of former MPs, two good ones come to mind:
We all sign on (5,6)
Im an evil tory bigot (8,9)Posted 1 year ago # -
beau-jolly
offlineMemberLe penny just dropped on Tour de France (I think) If correct, the answer is also responsable for the copper stills in the Loire where Messendorf Kummel is made, if that helps.
Just large fish to go then.Posted 1 year ago # -
Des Custard
offlineMemberRick: as you helpfully directed us to Berlin, I'll offer a Tube map in return.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Scroat
offlineMemberHad a look at these this morning - was not awake. But most make sense now.
Suggest you all go out and buy an Independent tomorrow - the cryptic crossword is an absolute stinker. Interesting to see what you all make of it. This normally takes me about three days!!!
Give it a go and we'll compare notes perhaps.
BTW in the good old days if there was an anagram involved, at least the letters would be in the clue. In the Indy part of the answer can be made up of an anagram that is only clued, if you get me. Not sporting at all.
Posted 1 year ago #
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