Continuing our series for those tempted or daunted by the cryptic crossword: some little abbreviations beginning with R
In the example clues below, I explain the two parts of each: the definition of the answer, given in bold type, and the wordplay – the recipe for assembling its letters. In a genuine puzzle environment, of course, you also have the crossing letters, which greatly alleviate your solving load. Hence “crossword”.
Often, a cryptic clue is made up of little bits and bobs which give you one, two or three letters of the answer. Very often two. Many of these are straightforward: an “afternoon” in a clue suggests there’s a PM in the answer; “peacekeepers” for UN, and so on.
11acArtist to sketchundesirable existence (3,4)
[ wordplay: abbrev. for ‘artist’ + synonym for ‘sketch’ ]
[ RA + TRACE ]
[ definition: undesirable existence ]
1dAlarm when engineers put inanything worn (7)
[ wordplay: synonym for ‘alarm’ containing abbrev. for ‘engineers’ ]
[ APPAL containing RE ]
[ definition: anything worn ]
10acA jolly girlsent to sea? (6)
[ wordplay: A (‘A’) + abbrev. for ‘jolly’ + girl’s name ]
[ A + RM + ADA ]
[ definition: those sent to sea by King Philip II ]
22acGunners dropunremitting quest for success (3,4)
[ wordplay: abbrev. for ‘Gunners’ + synonym for ‘drop’ (as a noun) ]
[ RA + TRACE ]
[ definition: unremitting quest for success ]
Here’s a collection of all our explainers, interviews and other helpful bits and bobs
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