• A wicked thing? (6) = Saxon
• A jammed cylinder (5,4) = Judas Preist
• Presumably one doesn't run after it? (4,5) = Stiff Little Fingers
• He was rushed almost from the start (5) = Stranglers
• 014? (6,5) = The Clash

Am I right?

SteveStrummerUK

craigb

I love puzzles of this type, but am not familiar with this exact type.  Got a simple example?  I don't know what's implied by the numbers in parenthesis either...  Guess I'll go Google "Cryptic puzzles" while I wait to see your reply...

Craig, the numbers in brackets are just there to tell you the number of letters/words in the answer.
 
e.g: hair (4); Great Britain (5,7); low-budget (3-6) etc.
 
There are quite a few conventions and types of cryptic clues.
 
Here are a few examples:

• Multiple definitions - two or more words that all mean the same as the answer, but are written in such a way that you are misled:
  • Broken statue (4) = BUST (Broken = BUST; Statue = BUST)
  • Take notice of Gospel (4) = MARK (Take notice of = MARK; Gospel = MARK)
• Anagrams - the setter must always indicate an anagram, and which words/letters are to be anagrammed:
  • Weapon destroyed gnu (3) = GUN (We are told to 'destroy' gnu to find a weapon)
  • Neat prose translated into a universal language (9) = ESPERANTO (If we 'translate' the letters of neat & prose we will find a universal language)
• Bits and pieces/Additions/Subtractions - this can include literally putting together and/or removing bits and pieces of words/phrases/abbreviations to form the answer:
  • Finishing with a boxed ear - charming! (9) = ENDEARING (the word ear is literally 'boxed' inside a word for 'finishing'; i.e. ending to reveal: ENDEARING
  • Rubbish outside lair may suit this creature (6) = RODENT ('rubbish' = ROT is literally placed 'outside' 'lair' = DEN to reveal the creature RODENT
  • Headgear on communist invokes intense dislike (6) = HATRED ('headgear' = HAT is literally 'on' 'communist' = RED to get 'intense dislike' - HATRED
  • Endlessly talk about the field event (6) = DISCUS ('talk' = DISCUSS; we are told that it is literally 'endless' so we knock off the final 'S' to reveal the field event - DISCUSS
• Reversals - letters that you are told to reverse right to left (for across clues) or upside down (for down clues):
  • Have a little look round part of the fortification (4) = KEEP ('have a little look' = PEEK is [turned] round to get KEEP)
  • Exist the wrong way? That's bad (4) = EVIL ('exist' = LIVE, the wrong way [round] gives you EVIL)
• Hidden words - the word is literally written in front of you:
  • Some overenthusiastic kissing - one draws blood (4) = TICK ('some' [letters] of the phrase 'overenthusiastic kissing' reveal something that 'draws blood')
  • Powder used in ancient alchemy (4) = TALC (similarly, 'used' tells us that the phrase 'ancient alchemy' 'uses' the letters of TALC)
• Puns, homophones and soundalikes - words that sound similar:
  • Such a range of food is said to be satisfactory (4) = FARE ('satisfactory' = fare, which, when 'said', sounds like FARE = 'range of food')
  • Shakespeare in speech? It should be precluded (6) = BARRED (similarly, 'in speech', we hear BARRED as well as 'bard')
• Abbreviations/Numbers etc:
  • Miss West embraces novice man (4) = MALE (Miss West = MAE 'embracing' a novice 'L' [for learner] to give us our 'man' = MALE)
  • One hundred, very old and shut in (5) = CAGED ('One hundred' in Roman Numerals = 'C' + 'AGED' = 'very old' to give CAGED)

 
There are others types, and some clues may include more than one of the devices listed above.
 
What they all have in common, in keeping with the 'fairness' aspect of composing clues, is that somewhere in the clue there will be a 'straight' definition of the answer, even if that definition is itself 'cryptic'; the rest of the clue will be there only to show you how to get to the answer. The key in writing a good clue is in how well you can disguise the 'real' meaning. Punctuation is generally allowed to go out of the window, providing the sentence still makes sense. You're not permitted to write gobbledegook (the clue must be grammatically correct) or have a different tense between the clue and the answer; for example, you can't include "reversed into a space" as the definition part of a clue if the answer is "parking" - you would have to use "reversing into a space".
 
It's generally accepted that the 'better' clues are often the 'simplest'.
 
I once pondered for days over this beauty that appeared in a Times (Jumbo) puzzle:

• The inner state of the sausage (3,6,6,2,7)

 
 
 

[Pendantic]
FYI - Exempli gratia is abbreviated as "e.g." (you left a pregnant pause when you skipped a period ) and that long "G" word is spelled "gobbledygook" but why I don't know.
[/Pendantic]
 

italin wedding invitation

, to the wedding
Rosa mister . 

One that gets me is when a customer is looking for something. They see it and say "there it goes".
It makes me want to say, "No, there it is. It's not going anywhere!"

Janet



My language has changed so much it's scary.  I no longer say 'he said' and 'I said' but 'he was like' and 'I was like,' which is so stupid actually...but it just happened.  :(  

Go and stand in the corner and repeatedly say " I am not fifteen" until you are cured. It's the only way. ;)

paulo

The way that people speak that makes a statement sound like a question is another thing that gets me. I don't know how to describe that one any better than that, but it's the way they say the last word.   

I couldn't agree more* mate, this really annoys old Straummy
 
Australians and Californians appear to be particularly guilty of this
 
The last syllable is stressed, and also raised in pitch as if expecting the listener to 'answer' a question. The technical term is 'High Rising Terminal', a form of 'Raised Tonal Inflection', although it has also been described as 'Australian Question Intonation'.
 
I'll go along with Rory McGrath who rather succinctly calls it the 'moronic interrogative'. Apparently, it so annoys Stephen Fry that he consigned it to Room 101 when he appeared on the show.
 
Stewie Griffin gets it just right HERE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* Or should I say "I could agree more"
 
 
 

SteveStrummerUK

paulo

The way that people speak that makes a statement sound like a question is another thing that gets me. I don't know how to describe that one any better than that, but it's the way they say the last word.   

I couldn't agree more* mate, this really annoys old Straummy
 
Australians and Californians appear to be particularly guilty of this
 
The last syllable is stressed, and also raised in pitch as if expecting the listener to 'answer' a question. The technical term is 'High Rising Terminal', a form of 'Raised Tonal Inflection', although it has also been described as 'Australian Question Intonation'.
 
I'll go along with Rory McGrath who rather succinctly calls it the 'moronic interrogative'. Apparently, it so annoys Stephen Fry that he consigned it to Room 101 when he appeared on the show.
 
Stewie Griffin gets it just right HERE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* Or should I say "I could agree more"
 
 
 

Yep ! That's exactly it.

It's like the whole world thinks they're from Neighbours or something.

Janet, you are correct.

I used "I could agree more" to parody those who say "I could care less" when they clearly mean "I couldn't care less"

And has anyone noticed how the word "Absolutely" seems to have replaced the word "Yes"?

It's almost like 'Yes' isn't strong enough a word to show someone how completely you agree with what they've just said.

I am guilty of this one
 
 

SteveStrummerUK


And has anyone noticed how the word "Absolutely" seems to have replaced the word "Yes"?

It's almost like 'Yes' isn't strong enough a word to show someone how completely you agree with what they've just said.

I am guilty of this one
 
 

Absolutely.

You guys are too fast.

Paulo...at least spell it right!  :) 

But not fast enough for Janet and I

SteveStrummerUK

Janet


You guys are too fast.

Paulo...at least spell it right!  :) 

 
Absolutly!!
 
He was fast Janet - some quick editing there Paul

Dunno wot ur talking about !