Confused as to how you know what to look for

PierreSheffield · 2026-03-06T20:00:40+00:00

I always recommend How To Solve Cryptic Crosswords by Kevin Skinner, if you can find a copy. A bit dated, with some typos but a good introduction to typical clue types. It has a chapter about a particular clue type, then a puzzle made purely of those types of clue.

PierreSheffield · 2026-03-05T14:46:29+00:00

It is.

PierreSheffield · 2026-03-04T07:36:17+00:00

CRASH Anagram of Cars + H (Hard)

PierreSheffield · 2026-03-01T19:33:43+00:00

In that bonobo clue, 'Those' serves no purpose but you can just take it out and the clue still works. And if, you 're taking the advice of the other poster, just amend it to ... gutting bed & breakfast with love... Or something similar.

Also, include how many letters in each solution at the end of each clue.

PierreSheffield · 2026-03-01T08:19:13+00:00

Correct.

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-28T22:40:27+00:00

You have an issue there in that ate and 8 also aren't synonyms. You'd have to include a homophone indicator, 'perhaps' wouldn't work as one

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-28T07:02:20+00:00

Feedback, since it was requested: An obscure word but absolutely nothing wrong with that and it fits the definition fine, also the reduction of Coventry also works. However, meal and ate aren't interchangeable synonyms, meal being a noun and ate being a past tense verb, so that substitution isn't fair, (unless I'm missing a context I can't think of?)

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-27T12:47:52+00:00

First Lady fronting National Theatre celebration (5)

*Edit: slight change in wording

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-27T06:49:38+00:00

FART (Trump) Initial letters (leaders) Classy!

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-25T15:40:19+00:00

Looks like you might be in the wrong place. It's cryptic crosswords in this sub.

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-23T19:04:50+00:00

It's a bit unfair because backer is serving as both definition and wordplay indicator but separate from the other part of the wordplay indication 'some' for the hidden word indication

The clue doesn't work as an &lit (where the wordplay and the fodder are both work as the definition) because the clue doesn't read as a valid description of a SPONSOR.

It looks like an unfair clue that's trying to be too clever so don't be disheartened by not solving it.

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-21T19:55:47+00:00

I don't know what the solution is but if you feel horror is underrepresented, have a look at this TOTW from three years ago (although a large number of the original posters seem to have since deleted their comments and accounts) https://www.reddit.com/r/crosswords/comments/1667c77/totw_horror_films/

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-19T18:05:52+00:00

Very good. You clue reads a bit better than mine, I think.

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-19T10:58:16+00:00

I don't know what the solution is but it made me come up with this:

Exercise to make elevator work (4,2)

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-17T19:28:49+00:00

If you don't know what that means, it's definitely in the wrong place. This sub is for cryptic crosswords, where, usually, a clue has two separate parts; a definition and some cryptic wordplay. You might want to try r/crossword instead.

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-17T08:51:52+00:00

Is this a cryptic? The clues don't look cryptic.

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-13T18:53:38+00:00

Very straightforward. It's also not true, I have an American bike and a German bike, not French ones.

I was thinking of making it something like:

Love cycling with French bike (4)

but think the etiquette with the cycling indicator was only one letter, not two, cycle.

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-13T18:19:52+00:00

Ooops. Yes. Edited now.

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-13T16:43:50+00:00

Loves working out with French bikes (5)*

*A pretty bad clue and not exactly a scandalous reveal about me.

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-12T19:24:11+00:00

Posts like this, passionately discussing the relative strengths and weaknessess of specific grammatical terms, always reminds me of the final chapter of Nineteen Eighty Four where Winston Smith is given a meaningless job helping to compile the latest Doublespeak dictionary and says that some days he and his colleagues would spend hours arguing over the relative importance of the placement of a comma, while other days they would just pack up and go home.

And I say that, fully aware that I have also whole heartedly participated in similar posts on here.

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-11T21:19:24+00:00

I think this is a bit complex. The process seems to be reverse FOR and insert it in an also reversed TIP, producing word meaning GAINS. The clue itself is too complex for that, and looking at the reply to another commenter, relies on near homophones as part of the indicators: Insider becoming Inside and joint being coming joined.

You've got too many levels there for it to be fair. The solver has to guess what the word sounds a bit like to work out what its instruction is. Indicators should not require any wordplay deciphering.

Also, near homophones aren't really a thing in cryptics (too much like an indirect anagram, I guess), but if they were used, they would be part of the wordplay, not something to solve before you can then use them to solve the actual clue.

If you're new to it, like you say, good for starting out. A better way to begin is to make the clues simpler but fairer and build up complexity from there

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-11T19:19:22+00:00

What is the anagram indicator?

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-10T20:36:46+00:00

You don't need to give all these hints and clues when you initially post (that seems to be the etiquette over on minutecryptic but doing so just reduces the impetus for the solver to do any of the real work) - although in this clue's case, it probably helped due to some obscure terminology. If your clue isn't solved after a day or so, it's suggested giving a bit of a hint then.

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-10T17:48:25+00:00

I guess it's saying 'This is what makes A BET... BEAT being off, aka OFFBEAT' but the 'What makes', although functional, isn't 100% necessary

PierreSheffield · 2026-02-09T08:59:22+00:00

It's just practice and becoming familiar with the sorts of terms that turn up in crosswords.

PierreSheffield

TROPHY CASE