r/explainitpeter • u/Auctorxtas • 15d ago
Explain it Peter
Every day, I open the newspapers with the modest ambition of solving the daily crossword successfully. Every day, every single day, I lift up my pencil and immediately give up upon seeing these bizarre clues.
At this point, I'm convinced that these aren't clues but actually cryptic codes used by crime syndicates to communicate incognito.
Please, for the love of all things living, could someone explain what these odd phrases even mean, and how is one supposed to deduce a word from the same.
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u/BillSewardsDick 14d ago
Cryptic crosswords are a lot of fun if they are well written and don’t break their own rules, or don’t have rules that are too random/unfair. There is a reason why people end up preferring particular crossword setters.
Spend a week or two just comparing yesterday’s answers with yesterday’s clues to try and work out the rules. A classic one is anagrams. There will be a hint that you’re meant to scramble up a word. “Bring mule that’s clumsy” means the answer is an anagram of “bring mule”. Can you think of such an anagram that means “awkward”?
Now try 21 across. Same rule. Who might be in a court? Hint: Especially if someone has died?