Welcome all cryptic crossword solvers.
Some cryptic crosswords are tough purely because local lingo is used and not understood by all, especially those living outside of Australia. This post seeks to fill this vernacular gap.
The clues listed here may contain a component not familiar to all outside of Australia.
(click on the clue number to see the inside information)
Like to add something I’ve missed to help others, or comment on a meaning, term or expression? Please leave a reply below.
A word or phrase that defines the answer. All cryptic clues usually have a minimum of one definition which will be located at the beginning or end of the clue.
I’ve talked about difficulty recently, but only in terms of how a puzzle grid can add its own complexity to the overall crossword. A crossword’s difficulty in general comprises so many factors that it’s almost impossible to get it right for everyone. I regularly get conflicting emails about the difficulty of a particular crossword, which reflects the varying levels of solving ability among solvers and the need for a middle-ground. So how do I know how difficult I’ve made a puzzle? In a perfect world I would pay a team of people to test-solve my puzzles, and adjustments would be made based on their feedback. This process is done by The New York Times who relies on public submissions for their crossword puzzle content. Without this luxury, I must rely on my experience and a consistent approach which I believe yields a consistent, balanced outcome. Generally I aim for easyish to moderate clues throughout, with one or two harder ones to cover all levels of solvers. I don’t always get it right but be assured a great deal of thought goes into it.
I’m often asked about the meaning of a question mark (“?”) at the end of a clue. When I’m solving, I’m struck by a lack of consistency by individual setters and across setters in general when using it. Solvers need to rely on certain aspects of a setter’s work, so they don’t feel that the rules are changing from puzzle to puzzle. Different setters do different things, sure, but there is still a need for consistency from each setter. I use a question mark in three circumstances: 1) where I’ve employed language abuse, that is, some aspect of the clue may not be taken at face value (in 13-down, REPRESENTED must be interpreted as RE-PRESENTED in order for the clue to work); 2) the clue is in the form of a question; 3) the defining part a clue is more of an example, suggestion or implication, than being synonymous. I’ve seen a question mark used where a definition isn’t quite right, or something in the clue isn’t right (like the use for double-duty) – one thing they are not, is an excuse for poor clue-writing, or a catch-all for lazy work.
Difficulty of a puzzle is determined by a multitude of factors. It starts before the setter even enters a word – with the grid. Regardless of what follows in terms of word selection and clue complexity, certain grids will always lead to harder puzzles. Those that have many answers with missing initials and those that contain slots where more than half of the answers can’t be obtained from crossing letters, pose a built-in difficulty from the off. These grid variables, of course, can be considered as part of a setter’s armoury, and deployed accordingly. (As long as a setter has thought about what they are doing, it’s alright with me). Some publications have strict rules on what they consider acceptable grids and take the choice of grid out of the setter’s hands by supplying a standard set.
