The official bored-at-work cryptic crossword pass it on thread.

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Does this mean I get the next clue? Sweet.

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Thursday, 15 December 2005 23:12 (7 years ago) Permalink

Lack a swarthy heart, sticking with Windows (4)

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Thursday, 15 December 2005 23:20 (7 years ago) Permalink

(also how do I explain cryptic crosswords in a letter to an american school I am recommending a kid to? "british-style cryptic riddles" sounds daft.)

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Friday, 16 December 2005 00:01 (7 years ago) Permalink

They're called "cryptic crosswords" here. If the person doesn't know what that term means, however, good luck trying to explain it to them!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 16 December 2005 00:06 (7 years ago) Permalink

"Cryptic crosswords" doesn't mean like Will Shortz right?

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Friday, 16 December 2005 00:26 (7 years ago) Permalink

No.

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 16 December 2005 03:48 (7 years ago) Permalink

Except when the Times runs them, of course. Just, you know, to be pedantic.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 16 December 2005 07:46 (7 years ago) Permalink

Have I killed this thread? :(

--N-

― Gravel Worklesworth, Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:40 (7 years ago) Permalink

Not a scooby.

― ledge (ledge), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 14:11 (7 years ago) Permalink

I'm baffled.

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 14:53 (7 years ago) Permalink

I'm baffled too. Want to give one more letter, with the proviso that whoever gets it has to explain HOW the clue works?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 14:54 (7 years ago) Permalink

Sure! -AN-

― Gravel Worklesworth, Tuesday, 20 December 2005 14:55 (7 years ago) Permalink

Is it pane?

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 14:59 (7 years ago) Permalink

See I thought pane, just because of the window thing, but I have NO IDEA WHY!!! Please help us in the right direction, GP...

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 15:01 (7 years ago) Permalink

You're at the wrong end!

"Windows" is maybe not very good :(

― Gravel Worklesworth, Tuesday, 20 December 2005 15:04 (7 years ago) Permalink

Ooh, I get it!!

WANT (wa = heart of swarthy, NT = Windows!) = lack

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 15:18 (7 years ago) Permalink

Shit, I have to think of a new one now. Bear with me a minute...

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 15:19 (7 years ago) Permalink

I always think "heart" (or similar) should mean the middle letters precisely...

― ledge (ledge), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 15:22 (7 years ago) Permalink

So do I, but I am a pedant, and anyway I got it right and you're just jealous *thumbs nose*

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 15:23 (7 years ago) Permalink

YES IT SHOULD. Pah.

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 15:23 (7 years ago) Permalink

Did anyone get the Grauniad today with the answers to the clues from Colin Dexter's column yesterday?

― ledge (ledge), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 15:29 (7 years ago) Permalink

No, as I haven't actually been out of the house for two days (hurrah for days off!)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 15:29 (7 years ago) Permalink

Anyway, from a Guardian last week

Short ball dismissing opener, South American caught at close of play (7,4)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 15:34 (7 years ago) Permalink

Curtain call! That's a gorgeous clue.

― ledge (ledge), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:03 (7 years ago) Permalink

I always think "heart" (or similar) should mean the middle letters precisely...

I always thought it was exactly the middle OR slightly on the left because it's a left do you see? You're probably right though :(

― Gravel Worklesworth, Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:04 (7 years ago) Permalink

waitwait "because it's a heart" obv

― GW, Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:05 (7 years ago) Permalink

Yes, ledge, it's a brilliant clue isn't it?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:12 (7 years ago) Permalink

This might be my favourite clue ever, from The Times:

An unusual ring, essentially of light, encircling heads (7)

― ledge (ledge), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:14 (7 years ago) Permalink

Aureole!

― GW, Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:34 (7 years ago) Permalink

So gorgeous!

In that curtain call clue, why is ainc a south american?

― GW, Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:35 (7 years ago) Permalink

it isn't, it's Inca.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:36 (7 years ago) Permalink

inca

xpost

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:38 (7 years ago) Permalink

Short = curt. ball dismissing opener = all. therefore that is curtall, and you can put (catch) "inca" in the middle of that.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:39 (7 years ago) Permalink

Ohhh, *a* South American! I totally missed that ever though I did it in my own one with a swarthy.

Wait a minute, I am accompanied by Pooh (4,4,2)

― Gravel Worklesworth, Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:42 (7 years ago) Permalink

Bear with me (cute, I like it)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:43 (7 years ago) Permalink

Wouldn't curtall catching "a inca" be "curtain caall"?

(also if this thread ever gets to a second edition we are so calling it 'HOW DO MARKET FORCES AFFECT OUR INDUSTRY' or something, open plan office + facing the wall = teh fear)

― Gravel Worklesworth, Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:49 (7 years ago) Permalink

It's just Inca, no indefinite article.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:51 (7 years ago) Permalink

the A in Curtain is from the headless Ball.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 16:57 (7 years ago) Permalink

Ohhhhhh, I'm dense today! Thanks Huck.

― GW, Tuesday, 20 December 2005 17:05 (7 years ago) Permalink

Hey, I explained it already :(

From same crossword as it's the only one I have handy just now:

Loosened shoe - and clue too? (7)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 17:25 (7 years ago) Permalink

Extremely cold place in which a Christian has a spasm. (6)

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 17:43 (7 years ago) Permalink

Can this be a joint effort, because I haven't worked it out either yet:

Erif (8)

This is the ONLY one I've got straight away in the whole thread. But it's fascinating watching all your thought processes!

So here's one from me:

Risking a punt might result in this good fortune (4,2,3,5)

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 17:43 (7 years ago) Permalink

Kick in the pants?

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 17:46 (7 years ago) Permalink

Huk's is Arctic.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 17:58 (7 years ago) Permalink

Ooh, Markelby, is it "luck of the Irish"? That's great!

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 17:59 (7 years ago) Permalink

Haha excellent!

― The Vintner's Lipogram (OleM), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 18:01 (7 years ago) Permalink

I have to say that mine's not an original - it's an award-winning crossword clue I found on the information superhighway. But it is good :)

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 18:11 (7 years ago) Permalink

It's also out of date, due to the introduction of the Euro, but hey, it's still good :)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 18:12 (7 years ago) Permalink

I like easy ones. Like this:

Ape can hide this nut (5)

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 23:49 (7 years ago) Permalink

pecan! go to bed man.

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 23:58 (7 years ago) Permalink

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