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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).

9 votes
1 answer
3k views

Explain why "Calf" is the answer to "Ice mass broken off a little lower?"

This question is 18 across in puzzle No 33, The Sun Two-Speed Crossword book... Q: Ice mass broken off a little lower? A: Calf Some of my thought processes are: Ice (diamonds?); ice mass (iceberg?);...
user 55905's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

Cryptic Clue Explanation: Tree that's sported to keep visitors out at university (3)

Clue: Tree that's sported to keep visitors out at university (3). Answer: Why?
Bill's user avatar
  • 101
3 votes
1 answer
221 views

Newgate, say: an old cryptic clue

I recently came across an old notebook of mine where I'd written down the following: Newgate, say, one leading hell (3, 4) (I know, not the smoothest surface reading!) For the life of me I can't ...
Carmeister's user avatar
  • 2,547
6 votes
1 answer
181 views

Cryptic Division 11: At the Water's Edge

Somewhere in an alternate universe... Dear Puzzling, This is a word division puzzle which uses cryptic clues. If you're unfamiliar with either or both of those, you can click the associated link. In ...
juicifer's user avatar
  • 11.7k
2 votes
1 answer
353 views

Large area left on the map of Canada (7)

Clue: Large area left on the map of Canada (7). Answer: ALBERTA. Why? I can see that Alberta is "of Canada". Attribution: https://puzzles.standard.co.uk/ (Evening Standard Cryptic 5/29/...
John's user avatar
  • 37
0 votes
1 answer
181 views

Explain answer to "Adventure beginning by way of hill. One in 10!"

The clue, from Which magazine, November 2023: Adventure beginning by way of hill. One in 10! The answer, I believe, is "aviator" from the first sentence but I don’t understand the ...
Helen's user avatar
  • 1
12 votes
1 answer
442 views

Cryptic Acrostic 7: An Ode to "Mr. Malaprop"

This is an acrostic puzzle which uses cryptic clues. If you're unfamiliar with either or both of those, you can click the associated link. A complete answer should give the quote, author and source, ...
juicifer's user avatar
  • 11.7k
8 votes
1 answer
173 views

Cryptic Division 9: Sent to the Clue Factory

This is a word division puzzle which uses cryptic clues. If you're unfamiliar with either or both of those, you can click the associated link. In order to solve the alphametic, you'll first need to ...
juicifer's user avatar
  • 11.7k
4 votes
1 answer
752 views

Man of note got TE Lawrence in one (7)

Man of note got TE Lawrence in one (7) I guessed the solution from the cross clues and have, what I believe, is the correct answer. Please provide an explanation.
Dave's user avatar
  • 49
10 votes
1 answer
683 views

Sherlock's AZED crossword

Sherlock's AZED crossword Holmes passes his latest AZED crossword puzzle to Watson. "My goodness!" exclaims Watson, "What on earth is all this about?" Holmes replies "It is ...
Weather Vane's user avatar
  • 14.6k
11 votes
1 answer
307 views

An impossible A to Z journey

An impossible A to Z journey I was chatting with my uncle Van Wetherall and his wife Wanda when VW burst out with "You know, we did the whole VW thing. We followed the A-Z map in the VW and ...
Weather Vane's user avatar
  • 14.6k
10 votes
1 answer
325 views

Wrecked by three

This is a cryptic crossword. The check mark will go to the first person who submits an answer with 1) an image of the completed crossword and 2) explanations for all clue answers. For users who cannot ...
oAlt's user avatar
  • 6,855
9 votes
2 answers
486 views

Unchained Again

This is part 53 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Dear Puzzling, The black and white circles in this grid form a Masyu puzzle. Draw one continues ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 78.6k
2 votes
1 answer
449 views

What did he become after the New Year?

Try your best to solve the puzzle below GOOD LUCK! Famous Disney character missing a dog and er… a kitchen utensil? (3) Half an Apple, empty, without hydrogen makes the sun shine! (6) He likes to zap ...
PDT's user avatar
  • 15.9k
10 votes
1 answer
456 views

Cryptic Division 8: Business as Usual

This is a word division puzzle which uses cryptic clues. If you're unfamiliar with either or both of those, you can click the associated link. In order to solve the alphametic, you'll first need to ...
juicifer's user avatar
  • 11.7k

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