The humble double-definition clue in some ways defines what cryptic crosswords are all about (two distinct paths to the answer), but in other ways is nothing like a typical cryptic clue. Let me explain. It’s very tempting to cite double definitions to new solvers as they are simple to explain, however, there’s very little in a standard double-definition clue that provides insight into the world of cryptic solving. Despite their simplicity in construction, solving them can be extremely difficult, as there are no pointers or indicators to help arrive at an answer. Worse still, there’s no easy way to determine whether a clue is a double definition: while most of them are short, they don’t have to be. There are two types of double-definition clue: true ones and pseudo ones. A true double-definition clue gives two meanings for two different words, that is, the two words are spelt the same but have different origins and are listed separately in a dictionary. “Heavy metal guitarist (4)” = LEAD is an example. A pseudo one gives two meanings for the same word, that is, the two meanings are related but their relationship is disguised in the clue. This is often done using a different part of speech. “Suspect brains (5)” = SENSE is an example. Here a verb and noun of the same word have been used. I’m not a big fan of pseudo double definitions and actively avoid them, however, they are popular in Australian, NZ and UK cryptics.
Setters can play a role in determining how hard a double-definition is by their choice of crossing letters. If the initial is missing and cross letters are common (E, I, A etc), then solving is going to be difficult, and there is always the possibility an alternative answer is available especially if it’s a psuedo double-definition clue.
Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
1 | FURBELOW | |
Silky stuff underneath flounce (8) | FUR + BELOW | |
6 | PURIM | |
Jewish festival turned up before key part of spectacles (5) | UP reversed + RIM | |
9 | SAVER | |
Welcome accepted by sister, one in recovery (5) | SR outside AVE | |
11 | EVICTORS | |
They put out last of the winners (8) | TH(E) + VICTORS | |
12 | BARBEL | |
Be after rod with long catfish feature (6) | (BE after BAR) + L | |
14 | SANDHILL | |
Feature of beach, including hotel, cutting through a layer of rock (8) | (AND + H) inside SILL | |
15 | TEEN | |
Youngster’s tin pinched from tuckshop (4) | CANTEEN minus CAN | |
18 & 28-ac |
DRUG CHEAT | |
Athlete who uses doctor caught wrongly taking ecstasy (4,5) | DR + (anagram of CAUGHT outside E) | |
20 | SNAPPISH | |
Sharp back pains reduced by one with dodgy hips (8) | (PAINS reversed minus I) + anagram of HIPS | |
24 | FEINTS | |
Federer’s first set irregularly punctuated by popular plays (6) | (F)EDERER + (anagram of SET outside IN) | |
25 | LYREBIRD | |
Try leaving new production of terribly dry mimic (8) | Anagram of TERRIBLY DRY minus TRY | |
27 | ICEBLOCKS | |
Confused bloke is holding two separate lots of cold treats (9) | Anagram of BLOKE IS outside (C + C separately) | |
29 | GULLS | |
Lazy person moved around collecting large mugs (5) | SLUG reversed outside L | |
30 | SUNDRESS | |
Narrative’s primary character, penned by Dr Seuss, fashioned a frock (8) | (N)ARRATIVE inside anagram of DR SEUSS | |
Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
2 | UNVEILS | |
Reveals representation of Venus inscribed by the Italian? (7) | Anagram of VENUS outside IL | |
3 | BERATING | |
Live with rank carpeting (8) | BE + RATING | |
4 | LAGERPHONE | |
Record broken by mature shearer finally – perfect top ringer (10) | LP outside [AGE + SHEARE(R)] + HONE | |
5 & 10-ac |
WIND GENERATOR | |
Turn to river after a green ruined clean power source (4,9) | WIND + [(TO + R) after anagram of A GREEN] | |
6 | PURDAH | |
State of social isolation, that’s pure mostly, had returned (6) | (PUR)E + HAD reversed | |
7 | RETABLE | |
Shelf placed behind an altar by retired expert (7) | RET + ABLE | |
8 | MARBLING | |
Distribution of fat spring lamb arranged with special reduction (8) | Anagram of SPRING LAMB minud SP | |
9 | SPEC | |
Small muscle’s detailed description (4) | S + PEC | |
13 | CLAP EYES ON | |
Spot large parrot definitely involved in scam (4,4,2) | (L + APE + YES) inside CON | |
16 | EDIFYING | |
Instructional direction provided in final (8) | E(ast) + (IF inside DYING) | |
17 | SILENCER | |
Report suppressor sincerely mistreated before the end (8) | Anagram of (SINCEREL)Y | |
19 | UNIDEAL | |
Education arrangement is not perfect (7) | UNI + DEAL | |
21 | HAILERS | |
Attention getters feel unwell wearing her clothes ultimately (7) | (AIL inside HER) + CLOTHE(S) | |
22 | STALES | |
Cargo picked up from vessel at seaport loses freshness (6) | vesSEL AT Seaport reversed | |
23 | EDIT | |
Check reversal of current (4) | TIDE reversed | |
26 | ACTS | |
Follower of John, for instance, seen outside court (4) | AS outside CT |
I’m proud to say that Di and I managed to complete this one. Big thanks to Di for FURBELOW. I once played a lagerphone at school, so that was my favourite.