CRYPTO CLUES CCXLI

GAMES Magazine  

January/February, 1981

Will Shortz (1-8)

December, 2000 

Richard Lee Clark (9-11) 

 

Note from JA: Every cryptic crossword clue has two parts: A direct or indirect definition of the answer and a description of the answer in wordplay. The key to solving, and the fun of cryptics, is separating the two parts. Below is a clue from the above puzzle which illustrates the cleverness of a good cryptic clue. 

 

Foe has men in the old switcheroo

 

The answer is ENEMY - defined by FOE. But the wordplay is the clever part: ENEMY has MEN in it in reverse (switcheroo). The EY is YE in reverse, and YE is the "old" form of "the". 

 

1. Birds fight fights

 

2. Dislike a rendition

 

3. Soft drink for an elf 

 

4. Partly woodless lots

 

5. Ordered direct acknowledgement

 

6. Most are waving to the conductor 

 

7. Reportedly travels to sell bicycles 

 

8. A New Hampshire city is overwhelmed

 

9.  Unfinished flower platform

 

10. Dashing hero tempts Dad's new wife 

 

11. Starts to try on gowns after shedding old robes 

 

HINTS:

1. Two definitions

2. Definition - two words 

3. Homophone

4. Hidden word

5. Anagram

6. Anagram

7. Homophone

8. Homophone

9. Curtailment (drop final letter)

10. Anagram

11. Initial letters

 

Answers:

 

1. SPARROWS (spar + rows) [rows = fights]

2. AVERSION ( a + version)

3. Sprite (sprite)

4. OODLES (wOODLESs)

5. CREDIT (direct) [credit = acknowledgement]

6. MAESTRO (most are)

7. PEDALS (peddles)

8. CONQUERED  (Concord)

9. DAIS (daisy) 

10. STEPMOTHER (hero tempts)

11. TOGAS (Try On Gowns After Shedding) 

  

 

 

 

 

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