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Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.
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The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is hidden among the words of the clue. No spare words should be present. A suitable hidden indicator will point to the buried text.
Examples: part of, associated with, types of.
A question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.
Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.
A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.
A word or series of words that signify the turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.
Examples: upset, reversed, retired, in withdrawal, over etc.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.
Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.
A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is hidden among the words of the clue. No spare words should be present. A suitable hidden indicator will point to the buried text.
Examples: part of, associated with, types of.
The entire answer can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram indicator will be present.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.
A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
Dead silence. People must be finished or be struggling with David’s challenges.
I have to fit this week’s puzzle between many tasks, so it is languishing. But I have to say how clever 9a and 7d are. Right out of left field, but worth a libation when solved. 1a also tickled my fancy. Now it is back to the hard ones.
Arthur
All of the above Arthur. Just didn’t want be doing “Look at Me”
OK OK – so now I am!!!
Many treats here – last in were 9a, 1d & 19d
Amongst others thought 11d was particularly clever – David.
It just kept going & going & going………………..
OH! & 26a – very timely.
9across was brilliant! Not got 7down yet but not been able to spend much time on it. Tomorrow and Saturday should do it. I hope.
Got 7d now, very good clue!
I needed Mr Google for 1d. It was last in. And another word for my vocabulary.
The clue hint for 25a and the cross letters led to 19d and 22d. Then it was “of course why did I not see that before.”
Encore to Richard on 26a. It had me puzzled as I had my letters the wrong way around which did not fit the crosses, so it took longer than it should have.
great misdirection in 17a.
Look forward to reading what others have to say.
Stuck on 15d, got second word but confused on first. Also20d, can only think of a rude phrase to fit in.
Stuck on 15d, got second word but confused on first. Also 20d, can only think of a rude phrase to fit in.
Got 15d now, just leaves 20d.
I got the rude word for 20 down at first, but decided it was not right. Unusual (but totally accurate) use of the key clue words.
2od usually comes with a Shrug…….. Christine
No rude words anywhere, what am I missing!!!
Christine – glad you got 15d, was going to suggest even worse,
earlier US turmoil 1861/1865.
Arthur – still not entirely comfortable with 25a & ‘flood’
but must be there – somewhere.
I’ve got 20d at last! Thank you for the help everyone.
20d Rude words start with “no” and were common (in more ways than one) in the speech of teenagers a few years ago. The phrase does not parse, but means “who cares”.
Go with the clue hint in 25a where David says floor = rash. Equate that with a “rash” of new ideas. Add the rest of the clue and you will get a bird. I was using a “rush” which would also equal “flood”. Google confirms the bird, so you do not need to be a twitcher., to be confident of the answer.
oops- pity my computer can’t spell flood and thinks an “r” is as good as a “d”.
OK – there’s flood/rash Arthur, at last & Thanks
knew it had to be there somewhere!!!
I needed the clue hint for 25a and still needed Google to confirm the definition. I rather liked 21d for its simplicity and smooth surface reading.
My only challenge with 21d was getting the correct fragment. Simple, but effective.
Before we started comparing notes here, occasionally I would be left wondering.
Not so any more. Thanks Arthur & everyone.
One of the great things about the U3A Coffee and Cryptics group is that between us, we can check out the obscure meanings. We try (but do not always succeed) to get members to look at clues or words in another way so that they arrive at the answer themselves. Collectively we solve a stickler within one hour amid much chiacking and copious amounts of coffee. I am enjoying the to and fro in this forum for the same reasons, but have to find a way to pour the coffee through the internet before it gets cold.
Consider that a “Like” Arthur
sounds like much fun & intellectual stimulation – all at once.