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Being tireless in your efforts is being WHAT?
Christine on Cryptics
Now that so many of you have caught the cryptic bug, I will have to work twice as hard to keep you supplied with these crafty clues, because the more you play the more addictive they become!
One of the problems I have in coming up with cryptic clues is that I can no longer see a two-word phrase without trying out a spoonerism. It has become second nature to me. In the supermarket I see brickin’ chests or bare hands; when I’m driving, I’m thinking of lashing flights or keeping in the light rain.
Phonetic clues are creeping into my subconscious as well. At a teacher parent meeting recently, I heard the word ‘microscope’ and found myself thinking my crows cope.
Am I destined to lose my concentration permanently, only able to think in riddles? Well, as long as I remember to carry a notebook with me, then at least I’ll be able to use them!
Talking of phonetic clues, have you ever thought about how regional accents may affect the way clues are read? In Australia and the North of England, for instance, the word 'dance' is pronounced to rhyme with ‘ants’, but in the South of England, it is pronounced ‘darnce’. For instance, if the word 'can’t' is pronounced to rhyme with ‘ant’, then the clue can’t anchor us should sound like ‘cantankerous’. But for solvers who pronounce can’t as carn’t, it won’t work. I have to be careful with that.
Another thing - do I upset Kiwis if I clue ‘when’ as win in New Zealand? Or do Cockneys object to cockney elf as a clue for ‘health’?
Did you know that in USA, the cryptic crossword is known as the British crossword? Although crosswords were invented in New York (by an Englishman), the Americans for many years preferred to take their crosswords straight, while the British developed a taste for the tricky clues.
The first cryptic compiler, Edward Powys Mather, called himself Torquemada after the notorious Spanish inquisitor. He specialised in diabolically difficult clues, and his crosswords were published in the London Times for many years.
Though I may not be as cruel as Torquemada, I’ve got a few fiendish tricks up my sleeve to stretch your cerebral powers, so good luck and…
Happy Cryptic Solving!
Play Christine’s Cryptic Crossword
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Christine on Cryptics
Addiction satisfied if I have my daily fixtures of obscure angry conversations.(7,10)
Love them, but not very good at them. Best time for me is if I wake up about 2-3 am, brain works then.
Well said Boadicea. I have been a fan of obscure angry conversations since I was a teenager. A elderly fellow I worked with did the SMH cryptic everyday over lunch and he "showed me the way". I have been hooked ever since (more than 40 years). I enjoy the YP crosswords because they're not too challenging. If I have time, I also have a go at the Times ones, but they can take me a couple of hours and can be VERY frustrating sometimes.
I'm in the USA. Besides pronunciation variations, I have to keep spelling differences in mind. Such a word as "honour" doesn't throw me too much, as the number of letters immediately lets me know "honor" won't fit. However, I may fill in "analyze" or "theater", then have to correct myself when the coloring indicating that I've solved the clue fails to appear!
Bring emon I do the cryptic every day so the more the merrier Yasdnyl
The most difficult I have seen is the English Daily Telegraph. Solved but 3 out of 200 without computer help. The Australian and SMH are quite difficult. Would like to see a harder classification on YP, something like the Sydney Daily Telegraph's Stickler.
I have to put my two bob's worth in! I would be lost without cryptics, got to keep that white (not grey!) matter moving. I do the Tasmanian Advocate daily and it is more difficult than YP jobs. Really got to think laterally. Nice to come back to YP for a more leisurely session! Cheers all, Willyum
A high school teacher introduced me to cryptic crosswords at the age of 12 and I started doing the SMH puzzles by Lindsay Brown. I still recall the example my English teacher used...."Peddle eagle".......and I'm sure you will all have no trouble giving the answer.
When I was younger I could never work out the cryptics. Now I find them easier and love the challenges that they bring. I like to go back in the archive section for extra fun.
I am annoyed that for some unknown reason.....(cheating it seems to me) that someone can do the cryptic in 38 seconds.....bloody impossible! What say you guys? It spoils the fun etc
Hey Lisa, I think we just have to accept that some clever people are able to work their computer/server/link/whatever to their own advantage. I guess it's easier for some than others to not worry about "competition". I barely have a competitive bone in my body so I don't really care. I do the cryptic for my own satisfaction. I confess I do like to see my score, almost always the ubiquitous 19840. But then sometimes it's different and I can never work out why. One of YP's little mysteries!
I was introduced to crosswords and all things wordy by my mum. When we played scrabble with her, we were playing for second place as she would nearly always get at least one 7 letter word, her best being "quizzical" using 2 existing letters and spanning 2 triple word squares. We stood no chance! Been hooked on crosswords ever since and particularly YP cryptics
ive never really thought about how regional accents can affect the answers or how the clue is read,being an ex pom i should know about regional accents but as ive been here in Oz for over 50 years where everyone basically speaks the same i never thout about accents,thankz for the reminder
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Words taking over your mind, is not losing your mind - it's further developing it! Which is great news for the solvers, or should I say the 'slavers'.I'm totally addicted.