CRYPTO CLUES X

Cryptic crosswords add a level of complexity to regular  crosswords by not only answering the clues, but also describing the answers through word play. Finding the dividing point between the definition and the wordplay is the key to solving and the challenging part of the puzzle. The following are examples of cryptic clues, their solutions, and the type of wordplay involved.

1. Steak order in Ankara restaurant

    RARE - ankaRA REstaurant (hidden word)

2. Biggest exam covers everything

    TALLEST - TEST(exam) covers ALL (everything)

                         TALLEST (biggest) - container 

3. To put it another way, others had dinner

   RESTATE - REST ATE - charade (two or more words clued individually)

4. Domesticated animals walk backward.

    PETS - STEP backward - (reversal)

5. Answer from no-good rotter

    RETORT (answer) - (anagram) of ROTTER

    Anagram clues always contain a word suggesting mixing or re-arranging (ruin, crazy, upset, etc.)

6. Enjoy hamburger topping

    RELISH - double meaning - (second definition)

7. Tell of churchman who lost his head

    RELATE (tell) PRELATE (churchman) loses head(letter) - (beheadment/deletion)

8. Reportedly filches metals

    STEELS - homophone of STEALS - (homophone)

    Homophone clues always contain words suggesting how a word sounds ("we hear/they say")

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Try to solve the cryptic clues below. The type of wordplay is indicated in ( )

9. Rule breaker ruined the race (anagram)

10. Sailor attains goal (charade)

11. Overthrow in coups, etc. (hidden word)

12. Wrote in confinement (second definition)

13. Cheese produced the wrong way (reversal)

14. Uncovered bent charm (beheadment/deletion)

15. Counted frozen chicken out loud (homophone)

 

16. It's tucked into the brim of a hat for a guest. (container)

Answers: 

 

9. CHEATER

    anagram of THE RACE

    cheater is a rule breaker

 

10. TARGET (goal)

      TAR + GET (attain)

      TAR is a term for a veteran sailor 

 

11. UPSET (overthrow)

      in coUPS ETc. 

12. PENNED

      PENNED means both wrote and confined

13. EDAM

      EDAM is a kind of cheese and it's MADE the wrong way

 

14. ENCHANT

      PENCHANT (bent) loses P

      ENCHANT (charm)

 

15.  NUMBERED (counted)

       NUMB BIRD (frozen chicken)

16. VISITOR (guest)

      VISOR - brim of a hat

      visITor

      

Credits:

1-8, 9, 11: GAMES Magazine

       February, 1983

       Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon 

10, 12-15: 

      GAMES Guide to Solving Cryptic Crosswords

16: Unknown