DT Cryptic Crossword - Wednesday - Plus A Toughie Clue
Greetings all - 33C and sunny
23D
4D
13A
24A
3D
23D
Spoiler
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OLD HAT
Spoiler
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INFRACTION
Spoiler
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CLOUDBURST
Spoiler
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IN TIME
Spoiler
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RETREATS
Last edited by Macrosan on Wed Jun 09, 2021 5:42 am, edited 2 times in total.
Hello Grandpa. It's like learning a new language and it takes time. Best to look at some of the answers and ask a member of the crossword team on here to give an explanation.Grandpa wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:18 am Wish I understood cryptic crosswords. Even knowing the answers I can't see it...
Is there something simple I am missing, or am I just simply missing?
Armed with this you will learn the basics.
As an example I figured out 14D as follows. There's probably much more elegant ways of seeing the clue!Grandpa wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:18 am Wish I understood cryptic crosswords. Even knowing the answers I can't see it...
Is there something simple I am missing, or am I just simply missing?
Spoiler
Show
I realized that "iced tea" was likely to be a partial anagram because of the word "cocktail". This led me to think that the first part of the clue, "Take out of service" was probably a definition of the missing word. My challenge was that "iced tea" was too short to be a full anagram, and a couple of letters would have to come from a different part of the clue, likely to be the "tax" part. The only tax I know from the UK is the VA (is that right?). So I thought those were the two letters I needed to add to "iced tea" and start messing around with to find my solution. Because the "take out of service" just screams "de-something" it didn't take me long to untangle the rest of the letters to DEACTIVATE
Looking at FujiKiwi's explanation I think I may have to retire now, so that I can focus all my energies into this. Cryptic seems to be an understatement. Surely this is how the Enigma code was broken?Globus wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 10:48 amHello Grandpa. It's like learning a new language and it takes time. Best to look at some of the answers and ask a member of the crossword team on here to give an explanation.Grandpa wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:18 am Wish I understood cryptic crosswords. Even knowing the answers I can't see it...
Is there something simple I am missing, or am I just simply missing?
Armed with this you will learn the basics.
Thanks FK. Hell of an explanation! Not sure it helps...FujiKiwi wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 12:34 pmAs an example I figured out 14D as follows. There's probably much more elegant ways of seeing the clue!Grandpa wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:18 am Wish I understood cryptic crosswords. Even knowing the answers I can't see it...
Is there something simple I am missing, or am I just simply missing?
That process looks tortuous, and to be honest it all took place over in about a twenty second burst. I bet the old campaigners here would have seen it almost instantly.SpoilerShowI realized that "iced tea" was likely to be a partial anagram because of the word "cocktail". This led me to think that the first part of the clue, "Take out of service" was probably a definition of the missing word. My challenge was that "iced tea" was too short to be a full anagram, and a couple of letters would have to come from a different part of the clue, likely to be the "tax" part. The only tax I know from the UK is the VA (is that right?). So I thought those were the two letters I needed to add to "iced tea" and start messing around with to find my solution. Because the "take out of service" just screams "de-something" it didn't take me long to untangle the rest of the letters to DEACTIVATE
We call it VAT. But that works too. As for Take out of Service screaming de-something. I guess it's a mind-set you guys get into...
So we have DE and VAT.... where did ACTI and "E" come from?
Not quite! I have links to that having worked with Tony Sale at Bletchley Park. My hero is Alan Turing.Grandpa wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 12:44 pmLooking at FujiKiwi's explanation I think I may have to retire now, so that I can focus all my energies into this. Cryptic seems to be an understatement. Surely this is how the Enigma code was broken?Globus wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 10:48 amHello Grandpa. It's like learning a new language and it takes time. Best to look at some of the answers and ask a member of the crossword team on here to give an explanation.Grandpa wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:18 am Wish I understood cryptic crosswords. Even knowing the answers I can't see it...
Is there something simple I am missing, or am I just simply missing?
Armed with this you will learn the basics.
14D The tax is VAT and around it an anagram of ICED TEA.
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tabascoboy
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Globus wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:31 pm On the composer theme, have a go at 12A in the Toughie today.
Eminent composer accepting large maiden causes big confusion (9)
Spoiler
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= maelstrom > maestro with 'L' inside + ' m'
Yep, TB. Let's hope it doesn't put Grandpa off!!tabascoboy wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:57 pmGlobus wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:31 pm On the composer theme, have a go at 12A in the Toughie today.
Eminent composer accepting large maiden causes big confusion (9)SpoilerShow= maelstrom > maestro with 'L' inside + ' m'
Ahhh thanks. That makes more sense.Globus wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:18 pmNot quite! I have links to that having worked with Tony Sale at Bletchley Park. My hero is Alan Turing.Grandpa wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 12:44 pmLooking at FujiKiwi's explanation I think I may have to retire now, so that I can focus all my energies into this. Cryptic seems to be an understatement. Surely this is how the Enigma code was broken?Globus wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 10:48 am
Hello Grandpa. It's like learning a new language and it takes time. Best to look at some of the answers and ask a member of the crossword team on here to give an explanation.
Armed with this you will learn the basics.
14D The tax is VAT and around it an anagram of ICED TEA.
Turing is indeed a hero. I lived near Bletchley Park many many years ago... before I knew who he was... behind all the inspiration and brilliance... what a tragically sad story...
No. But would like to understand. Maelstrom for confusion makes sense? With L standing for Large and M for Maiden? That bit I find difficult to understand.Globus wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 2:03 pmYep, TB. Let's hope it doesn't put Grandpa off!!tabascoboy wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:57 pmGlobus wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:31 pm On the composer theme, have a go at 12A in the Toughie today.
SpoilerShow= maelstrom > maestro with 'L' inside + ' m'
Eminent composer accepting large maiden causes big confusion (9)
The "Eminent composer" is a MAESTRO.Grandpa wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:34 pmNo. But would like to understand. Maelstrom for confusion makes sense? With L standing for Large and M for Maiden? That bit I find difficult to understand.
Eminent composer accepting large maiden causes big confusion (9)
Yes, sorry I get that.... I just don't get the L and M bit...Globus wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:10 pmThe "Eminent composer" is a MAESTRO.Grandpa wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:34 pmNo. But would like to understand. Maelstrom for confusion makes sense? With L standing for Large and M for Maiden? That bit I find difficult to understand.
Eminent composer accepting large maiden causes big confusion (9)
Think I better shut up before I become annoying...
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tabascoboy
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Yes, 'L' = large, and 'M' for maiden ( from cricket usage I suppose ).Grandpa wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:47 pm
Yes, sorry I get that.... I just don't get the L and M bit...
Think I better shut up before I become annoying...
There are dozens of abbreviations used in clues, e.g.
O = nothing
P = quiet, F = loud (from music)
RE, OR = Royal Engineers, Ordinary Ranks (men) from military
H = husband
B = bishop
ER = the Queen or royal
T = time
The compass points N,E,S,W
X or Y = unknown
These are the most common ones but there are many more
Thanks for this. I'm beginning to think I just suffer from a lack of educationtabascoboy wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 6:41 amYes, 'L' = large, and 'M' for maiden ( from cricket usage I suppose ).Grandpa wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:47 pm
Yes, sorry I get that.... I just don't get the L and M bit...
Think I better shut up before I become annoying...
There are dozens of abbreviations used in clues, e.g.
O = nothing
P = quiet, F = loud (from music)
RE, OR = Royal Engineers, Ordinary Ranks (men) from military
H = husband
B = bishop
ER = the Queen or royal
T = time
The compass points N,E,S,W
X or Y = unknown
These are the most common ones but there are many more
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tabascoboy
- Posts: 6803
- Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2020 8:22 am
- Location: 曇りの街
Not always about education but an ability to remember useless facts!Grandpa wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:31 am
Thanks for this. I'm beginning to think I just suffer from a lack of education
I know a lot of useless facts! In fact more useless facts than useful facts...tabascoboy wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:52 amNot always about education but an ability to remember useless facts!Grandpa wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:31 am
Thanks for this. I'm beginning to think I just suffer from a lack of education
But I shall continue to observe... until one day... I may be able to correctly guess one... though I would say 50% of the words in the spoiler answers, I have not heard of before. Must have a small vocabulary.
(And to be fair I find normal crosswords hard enough!)
Despair you not (a bit of Yoda).Grandpa wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 10:05 amI know a lot of useless facts! In fact more useless facts than useful facts...tabascoboy wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:52 amNot always about education but an ability to remember useless facts!Grandpa wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:31 am
Thanks for this. I'm beginning to think I just suffer from a lack of education
But I shall continue to observe... until one day... I may be able to correctly guess one... though I would say 50% of the words in the spoiler answers, I have not heard of before. Must have a small vocabulary.
(And to be fair I find normal crosswords hard enough!)
Fellas. We need to provide the parses. I confess to being the worst at this. We need to give Grandpa a bit of a lift. (I used to design them)!
You meet a decent sort of poster on these threads Grandpa. Very pleased to have you in the "team".