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

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My addled brain can't work that out at all, but would "pointless" mean that a compass point i.e. "E" isn't there, solving the mystery of Casuistry's extra "e"? Apologies if this is way off the mark.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 15 December 2005 18:38 (twenty years ago)

Then where does the Y come in?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:03 (twenty years ago)

I don't even know what the answer is! I was just randomly dissecting bits of clue.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:04 (twenty years ago)

I just worked it out! Can't quite do why either though :(

NO HINT PLZ

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:06 (twenty years ago)

That's about as far is I got, too.

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:06 (twenty years ago)

could trouble just mean "try"?

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:07 (twenty years ago)

My last was an xpost, I get it now. I think the clue is fine, except for the "(His)" maybe.

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:12 (twenty years ago)

God, I am teh dumb. Yes, clue seems OK to me as well (now that brain has caught up with normality after being stuck at work all day)

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:14 (twenty years ago)

Oh ah, "try". Like "trying times". Ah!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Thursday, 15 December 2005 23:00 (twenty years ago)

Does this mean I get the next clue? Sweet.

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

Lack a swarthy heart, sticking with Windows (4)

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

(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 (twenty years ago)

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 (twenty years ago)

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

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

No.

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

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

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

Have I killed this thread? :(

--N-

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

Not a scooby.

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

I'm baffled.

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

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 (twenty years ago)

Sure! -AN-

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

Is it pane?

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

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 (twenty years ago)

You're at the wrong end!

"Windows" is maybe not very good :(

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

Ooh, I get it!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 (twenty years ago)

YES IT SHOULD. Pah.

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

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 (twenty years ago)

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 (twenty years ago)

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 (twenty years ago)

Curtain call! That's a gorgeous clue.

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

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 (twenty years ago)

waitwait "because it's a heart" obv

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

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

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

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 (twenty years ago)

Aureole!

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

So gorgeous!

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

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

it isn't, it's Inca.

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

inca

xpost

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

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 (twenty years ago)

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 (twenty years ago)

Bear with me (cute, I like it)

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

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 (twenty years ago)

It's just Inca, no indefinite article.

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

the A in Curtain is from the headless Ball.

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

Ohhhhhh, I'm dense today! Thanks Huck.

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

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 (twenty years ago)

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

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

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