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

Ah. I get it.
http://bit.ly/3ufq3S

love letter

beaten to the punch

spoiler alert!

Uh isn't this the thread for answering crossword clues? Seems a bit pointless to not answer them.

koogs specifically said no spoilers above...

ah ok, sorry koogs

(though why post? just sharing the pain?)

no spoilers is a bit against the spirit of this thread, but I assumed it was something to do with Everyman being a prize crossword.

now we know the answer, why "love letter"? "letter" I can see, obv...

love (tennis) = 0 = O.

aha of course!

'no spoilers' is a bit of an ask when posting a clue itt tbf

> but I assumed it was something to do with Everyman being a prize crossword.

not really. i like to do these myself* it's just that it usually takes me til thursday before i give up on it.

* actually, not true. will happpily do them in the pub on a sunday. but that's real people, not internet mentalists (no offence!)

> no spoilers is a bit against the spirit of this thread,

i posted it because it was unusual.

not sure i like the answer though. 0 is not a letter and O is not 0.

is there another thread?

for unusual crossword clues you don't want solved?

not sure i like the answer though. 0 is not a letter and O is not 0.

I agree, but then I don't have a problem with it being reversed and "love" signifying "O" (think that was mentioned upthread somewhere).

I liked this one from today's Guardian:

Language sounding like a vegetable when drunk (7)

(s(w(e(d)i)s)h)

nope

but close

SPOILER DO NOT CLICK
???

yes well done!

Shouldn't (mightn't?) this clue Language sounding like a vegetable when drunk (7) have a ? at the end to signify its groan-inducing punniness?

i don't get the real answer (mine was better!)

(hint) Shay, buddy, can you shpare a quarter for a drink?

koogs, I had same problem - answer is not title of linked article, but in second sentence.

Work in church and you may wear it (4)

I think I have the answer, but can't work out part of the logic- can anyone help?

work = op (opus), church = ce (church of england). Not quite sure what it is that you would be wearing though...

I thought the solution was "cape", though the above fits. is "ap" an SI unit of some sort?

where is KBP when we need him?

to "wear it" is to cope, perhaps?

that was my best guess.

i knew this, honestly, but i've just looked it up to be certain:

cope2 noun a long sleeveless cape worn by clergy on ceremonial occasions. verb (coped, coping) to dress in a cope.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from Latin capa.

I was pretty ennhhhh about "to wear it is to cope" but that's good.

I think that's the same meaning that's used for cope-stone as well - to cover.

just general guardian setter chatter, but didn't realise Araucaria had been on Desert Island Discs recently. And enjoying Paul's blog.

oh, I found out about that because a friend (& v occasional poster here) has started a cryptic blog at the guardian. Here's clue of the week from that:

Attempt to prevent child's precious unit trust being misappropriated (6, 11)

That blog looks like it should be good, I've subscribed.

I quite liked this one that was in a novel I was reading

Butcher has ox tongue (5)

From today's Araucaria (I'm always inordinately pleased when I get even one of his clues!):

Semi-automated nun? (8, 2, 5)

perngher bs unovg

pardon?

I rot13'd it as I'm not sure on how spoiler sensitivity works here these days.

http://www.rot13.com/

aha I see, nice site, and correct answer, well done!

cricketer's answer to question fed if bails dislodged (4, 5)

grrr

Asif Iqbal

(needed to do some googling there!)

yes, not so much a name, more a bad hand at scrabble.

(from yesterday's observer btw)

yeah I go that, particularly nasty one if you don't know about cricket.

last one for sunday's everyman.

Couturier isn't rich, radio broadcast (9, 4)

(i have 7 of the letters and it's still making no sense)