CRYPTO CLUES LXXXVI

GAMES Magazine

February, 2000

Todd McClary

 

It is easy to miss the dividing point in crypto clues between the defined answer and the wordplay that also defines it. For example, in the clue, STOP TROUBLE IN CONVERSATION, the dividing point is between STOP and TROUBLE. The answer to the clue is WHOA (stop). TROUBLE is a synonym for WOE, and WHOA and WOE are homophones. IN CONVERSATION suggests the similarity in the sounds of the two words.

1. Elected official received gold bar

2. Bone wrapped in colorful napkin (hidden word)

3. A choir man plays a musical instrument (anagram)

4. Namely, what you should do if your car breaks down (parsing clue)

5. Fish thrashes about

6. Three Musketeers guarding birds

7. In recital, percussionist is artist who evokes ideas via imagery (homophones)

8. Female student muffling sound of disgust said "ahem" (container)

9. Destroyed lamer kingdom

10. Farm building is mutually-owned residence (differ by a hyphen)

Answers:

 

1. INGOT (elected official = IN)

 

2. ULNA (colorful napkin) 

 

3. HARMONICA (A choir man)

 

4. TOW IT (To wit = namely)

 

5. FLOUNDERS

 

6. EMUS (Three Musketeers)

 

7. SYMBOLIST (cymbalist)

 

8. COUGHED (CO UGH ED)

 

9. REALM

 

10. COOP (co-op = mutually-owned residence)