This week’s 11 x 11 crossword from the Guardian intended to teach cryptic crosswords, found here
This puzzle is the 19th Quick Crytic from Ludwig. This puzzle has anagrams and hidden words with all the letters in the clues, charades and reversals where the words and letters need to be found by the solver. Ludwig and Carpathian have both now set the most of these puzzles, with 19 each.
The whole point of these crosswords is support and encouragement of new solvers, so special rules for these crosswords apply – see here – those rules include not posting solving times.
This blog was developed in response to suggestions. We hide the answers and the wordplay descriptions (parsing) too. To find the solution click on “Answer” and to find how the word play works, click on “Parsing” which will reveal the hidden information. You can choose to reveal everything using the “Expand All” button. If you have partially revealed the page, refreshing it will clear that, and allow you to expand all. The definition is in bold and underlined, the indicator is in red.
For additional help click here
There is a summary of the tricks used in the first six months here and a Guardian Crossword blog called the ultimate beginner’s guide has tips which may be useful for some solvers.
For abbreviations and clue tips click here
Fifteen Squared uses several abbreviations and jargon tricks, there’s a full list here, of which I’ve used the following in this blog:
- underlining the definition in the clue – this is either at the beginning or end of the clue
- indicators are in red.
- CAPITALS to indicate which bits are part of the answer, e.g. haVE ALtered for the example.
- anagram – letters being used shown in brackets (SENATOR)* for the clue below to give TREASON.
- anagram minus – letters being used are shown as capitals in brackets, with the unused letter in lower case and square brackets – so fluttering (OWLET[s])* becomes TOWEL.
- anagrind – anagram indicator – in the case below it is “arranged”
- soundalike – is indicated by “Wilde” – so in the example, Oscar “Wilde”, the playwright and author, is indicating the soundalike WILD.
- charades – the description below only gives the example of words being added together, but charades can be more complicated, adding abbreviations or single letters to another word. Examples previously used in this series are: Son ridicules loose overgarments (6) S (son) + MOCKS (ridicules), Get rid of dead pine (5) D(dead) + ITCH (pine) – D ITCH, and early on DR (doctor) + IVE (I have) to give DRIVE.
- reversals – the reversal element of a clue is indicated by < – so in the example clue below, VieTNAm <.
- CAD or clue as definition– where the whole clue gives the definition, sometimes called an &lit. These are rare.
- DBE or definition by example – e.g. where a dog might be clued as a setter – often using a question mark, maybe, possibly or e.g. to show that this is an example rather than a definition.
- surface – the meaning from reading the clue – so often cryptic clues use an English that could only be found in a cryptic crossword, but a smooth surface is a clue that has a meaning in English, which can be pointed or misleading.
TODAY’S TRICKS – from the crossword site – because the clues have moved on from the clue descriptions below, I am now adding more to the descriptions hidden above. Clues begin or end with a definition of the answer. The rest is one of these:
- Anagram Anagram of answer and hint that there’s an anagram
‘Senator arranged crime (7)’ gives TREASON (crime) - Hidden word(s) Answer hidden in clue’s words
‘Some haVE ALtered meat (4)’ gives VEAL - Charade Combination of synonyms/abbrevs
‘Qualify to get drink for ID (8)’ gives PASSPORT (pass + port)
This definition has not moved on – charades can use abbreviations, see above. - Reversal Answer backwards, and a hint that we’re reversing
‘Deity’s pet returns (3)’ gives GOD from DOG (pet) <.
| ACROSS | Click on “Answer” to see the solutions | |
| 1 |
Eastern European involved in antislavery (4)
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AnswerSLAV |
Parsinghidden word(s) (involved in) in antiSLAVery. |
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| 4 |
Where badger’s hiding in Massachusetts (4)
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AnswerSETT |
Parsinghidden word(s) (in) in MassachuSETTs – for the word for a badger home, so where a badger is hiding. |
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| 7 |
Always eco-friendly and never unpopular (9)
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AnswerEVERGREEN |
Parsingcharade of EVER (always) + GREEN (eco-friendly) – something that is always popular is never unpopular. |
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| 8 |
Poker payment from Italian smoker on the counter (4)
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AnswerANTE |
Parsingreversal (on the counter) of ETNA (Italian smoker) < reversed – a smoker because it’s an active volcano, producing smoke, and currently lava, cancelling flights. |
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| 9 |
Use this for hacking, chesty spasms. (6)
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AnswerSCYTHE |
Parsinganagram of (CHESTY)* with an anagrind of “spasms” – which suggests an upheaval of the letters, and a slightly cryptic definition. |
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| 10 |
Revolutionary to slaughter Grand National winner (3,3)
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AnswerRED RUM |
Parsingreversal (revolutionary) of MURDER (to slaughter) to produce this Grand National winner – and this reversal turns up in the full fat cryptics too. |
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| 13 |
Band sets ashore, losing some characters (4)
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AnswerSASH |
Parsinghidden word(s) (losing some characters) in setS ASHore – the sort of band that appears in some uniforms. |
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| 14 |
What’s poisonous if eaten? Amphibians, idiot! (9)
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AnswerTOADSTOOL |
Parsingcharade of TOADS (amphibians) + TOOL (idiot) – the question mark is because not all are poisonous to eat, some are edible (and are usually safer as they are distinctive, so easily identified). TOOL for idiot is in the dictionaries. |
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| 15 |
Correct: movement of the sea is ebbing (4)
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AnswerEDIT |
Parsingreversal (is ebbing) of TIDE (movement of the sea) reversed (ebbing) <. |
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| 16 |
Right, is energy to increase in price? (4)
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AnswerRISE |
Parsingcharade of R (right) + IS (from the clue) + E (energy – from physics). |
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DOWN
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| 2 |
‘Untruth? Good!’ (English Lord) (5)
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AnswerLIEGE |
Parsingcharade of LIE (untruth) + G (good – condition of coin or book) + E (English) for an old fashioned word for lord. |
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| 3 |
Measure of automotive gasoline somewhere in America (5)
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AnswerVEGAS |
Parsinghidden word(s) (measure of) in automotiVE GASoline for this place in America. |
4 |
Observe Duke with yen to be disreputable (5)
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AnswerSEEDY |
Parsingcharade of SEE (observe) D (Duke) + Y (yen). I’ve muttered this before, the D for duke seems to have come via D for Duc, the French, where it is a valid abbreviation. And Y for yen is an Anglicisation of the ¥ symbol. |
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| 5 |
Silent, with malfunctioning musical instrument (3,7)
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AnswerTIN WHISTLE |
Parsinganagram of (SILENT WITH)* with an anagrind of “malfunctioning” for this musical instrument, heard here. |
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| 6 |
Intervened unwisely and created once again (10)
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AnswerREINVENTED |
Parsinganagram of (INTERVENED)* with an anagrind of “unwisely” and these single word anagrams are a trademark of Everyman / Ludwig. |
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| 11 |
Big meal that’s part of Zoroastrianism (5)
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AnswerROAST |
Parsinghidden word(s) (part of) in ZoROASTrianimsm – for the shorthand for what used to be a regular Sunday meal, less commonly now. |
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| 12 |
Skinflint emirs, after your change (5)
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AnswerMISER |
Parsinganagram of (EMIRS)* with an anagrind of “after your change” – I think that this is suggesting when the solver changes the letters around … . |
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| 13 |
Finishes, as pimples coming up. (5)
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AnswerSTOPS |
Parsingreversal (coming up) of SPOTS (pimples) < (coming up – in a down clue). |
Thanks Shanne. An enjoyable solve this morning. RED RUM brought back memories of “The Shining’!
Thanks Ludwig
Thanks Shanne and Ludwig. Enjoyable puzzle. Some trademark Ludwig hidden word tricks – the answer word hidden completely inside another, plus some slightly tricksy charades. RED RUM was my favourite of today. I initially thought it was a charade and I’d put in RED for ‘revolutionary’ but couldn’t understand how RUM would work for ‘slaughter’ – doh, then the penny dropped LOL 😂.
This one felt smooth after finding the last couple of weeks a harder challenge. But the tougher ones make us stronger, I’m feeling. Well done the Guardian 👏 as I’d tried for years to understand crosswords and this has been the best introduction.
A fun solve with just the right level of challenge for me today. Particularly enjoyed 15 across. Thanks to all
Great puzzle today. I thought the same as @2 thecronester, a clever diversion. LIEGE was my favourite. Thanks Shanne & Ludwig