CRYPTO CLUES XVI

BIG BOOK OF GAMES

Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

 

Each clue in a cryptic crossword contains two parts: A direct or indirect definition of the answer and a second description of the answer through wordplay. Finding the dividing point between the parts is the key to solving.

 

For example, consider the clue, "Votes for President after Grant is beheaded." This clue is  divided into "Votes for" and "President after Grant is beheaded." Beheading means dropping the first letter. It's tempting to want to behead GRANT and get RANT, but that won't answer the clue. The President after Grant was HAYES. If you behead HAYES, dropping the H gives you AYES - which are "votes for". A careful reading of the clue to find the diving point between the two parts is the challenge and fun of cryptic crosswords.

 

Try to answer the six cryptic clues below. A hint to the wordplay used is given after the clue: 

1. Preacher is beheaded for setting fire to a building (Deletion)

2. Nest among kangaroos temporarily (hidden word)

3. Coiled adder inspires fear (anagram)

4. Anger in commercial is televised (container)

5. Twenty songs in a musical (second definition)

6. No member of the Kennedy family is famous (charade)

 

Answers:

 

1. ARSON (PARSON) 

 

2. kangaROOS Temporarily

 

3. DREAD (anagram of ADDER)

 

4. AIRED (televised), aIREd (anger), AireD (commercial)  

 

5. SCORE (20, notes and lyrics)

 

6. NOTED  NO (given) + TED (member of the Kennedy family) = NOTED (famous)