Alan Connor demystifies the devices used in cryptic crosswords for beginners. This time: numbers turning into letters
Welcome back, beginners, to our ongoing series which tries to show that cryptic clues are considerably less baffling than they tend to seem.
This time, it’s a device that you’re already familiar with from your non-crosswording life, but also one which you may not always realise you’re being asked to put into solving action.
16d Four-year climber (3)
[ Roman numeral for “four” + abbrev. for “year” ]
[ IV + Y ]
11a Scientific pioneer, 50, appearing in long film (9)
[ L inside synonym for “long” and synonym for “mist”]
[ L inside ACHE and MIST ]
13ac Excursion transporting a hundred female partners to watch men? Rascals! (10)
[ synonym for “excursion” containing Roman numeral for “a hundred”, then term for “female partners to watch men”]
[ C inside SALLY and WAGS ]
5ac Well-known batsman gets 500 and is honoured (6)
[ name of a “well-known batsman” + Roman numeral for “500” ]
[ GRACE + D ]
16ac Six abandoning support for members somewhere in 23 (4)
[ remove Roman numeral for “six” from a synonym for “support for members”]
[ VIAGRA – VI ]
14d 50% off 1 ice cream? (6-4)
[ half of the answer to one down ]
[ half of CHIC ]
11ac Sex with a spiteful person (5)
[ Roman numeral corresponding to “sex” + synonym for “a”]
[ VI + PER ]
15d Top Forty in Rome on radio (5)
[ Roman numeral for “forty”, as you would hear it on the radio ]
[ soundalike for XL ]