Comments on Crossword Unclued: Want Help Deconstructing Clues?

Welcome here Ken F. Trees = SALLOWS, with = W (a...

2011-11-05T20:32:42.410+05:30

Welcome here Ken F.

Trees = SALLOWS,
with = W (a standard abbreviation);
'resident' indicates that W is contained in SALLOWS.

For clues from FT, Guardian and more, you must check out the excellent Fifteensquared.

FT Crossword 13,831 by Cincinnus. 17 Down Clue &qu...

2011-11-05T20:13:39.966+05:30

FT Crossword 13,831 by Cincinnus.
17 Down Clue "Trees with resident birds" - Answer "Swallows".

The birds connection is obvious,but where is the link to the rest of the clue?

Ken F

@Anonymous: Can't think of any word that fits....

2011-07-13T10:49:54.862+05:30

@Anonymous: Can't think of any word that fits. Did you find out the answer?

@Nischal:
Support for coppers(4) PROP
Definition: support
for = PRO (i.e. in favour of)
coppers = P. Coppers is slang for coins like the British penny, abbreviated as P.

Hi, This is a clue from Deccan Herald B'lore T...

2011-07-12T03:21:55.069+05:30

Hi, This is a clue from Deccan Herald B'lore Thu 7 Jul,

Support for coppers(4)

Ans: Pro-p

Could u plz explain the annotation

Hi, Clue is from Globe and mail Canada Day 2011 cr...

2011-07-06T00:02:06.892+05:30

Hi,
Clue is from Globe and mail Canada Day 2011 cryptic crossword:

119d
Retailer's favorite putter (4)

Thanks
(so far I have is_e )

Hi KSK Welcome! Revealed what one’s former partn...

2011-03-01T15:21:45.570+05:30

Hi KSK

Welcome!

Revealed what one’s former partner stood for (7) EXPOSED
EX (former partner) POSED (stood)

The clue seems a bit loose - "what one's" and "for" do not fit into the wordplay.

Not sure of the other one. It would be nice if you post the answer and the source with the clue, as I've mentioned in the preamble.

Since you're new to cryptics, I'd recommend solving good quality, easy crosswords to start with. There are blogs for all the popular crosswords that explain each clue. Follow them, you'll soon learn the ropes. All the best!

Strange how Edgar appeared to his friends (9) Reve...

2011-02-28T14:00:54.715+05:30

Strange how Edgar appeared to his
friends (9)
Revealed what one’s former partner
stood for (7)
I know the answers but apparently i don't see the inkling as to why the answers are what they are.. I am new to solving cryptic crosswords and i can tell you it's getting the better of me :(

Hi Anonymous, 'onion' is slang for 'he...

2011-01-27T17:04:34.512+05:30

Hi Anonymous, 'onion' is slang for 'head'...to be off one's onion is to be off one's head.

Hi Suchi, I'm back. I need help with this clu...

2011-01-27T14:15:12.098+05:30

Hi Suchi,

I'm back. I need help with this clue from today's THC

Shakespearean character: worker followed by most of the head (7) - {ANT}{ONIOn}

How is head Onion?

Hi shuchi, I am a beginner at CW and am making on...

2010-12-17T21:23:07.988+05:30

Hi shuchi,

I am a beginner at CW and am making one.Are these clues acceptable?

1)Such a liquid is pure,solid is not.(7)
2)Reduced decaying is still decaying ?(5)
3)From top to bottom, identify expression of approval(4)

Hi febin Do you follow the blog The Hindu Crossword Corner? Explanations of daily THC solutions are published there, and if there's something you don't understand you can ask in their comments.

I can recommend the book How To Master The Times Crossword by Tim Moorey, it works very well as a guide to cryptic crosswords. More on the book here.

All the best.

hi shuchi i am a beginner and i find the thc a bi...

2010-11-25T01:15:49.679+05:30

hi shuchi
i am a beginner and i find the thc a bit tough. can you suggest a good book or any other source of cryptic CW's for beginners.

this blog helped me a lot to understand the intricacies of cryptics
thank you for the time and effort invested in this blog...

Thanks Shuchi. That was one of Rufus' clue. r...

2010-09-13T22:16:28.748+05:30

Thanks Shuchi. That was one of Rufus' clue.

regards
R

Hi R Country professor on staff gets first-cla...

2010-09-13T13:36:51.895+05:30
Hi R

Country professor on staff gets first-class write-up (9)
professor = DON
staff = MACE
professor ON staff => DON after MACE

first-class = A1
write-up => reversal

Put together, it is MACE DON (A1)<

Hi Shuchi, Do help me in understanding how one ar...

2010-09-13T10:24:23.839+05:30
Hi Shuchi,

Do help me in understanding how one arrives at the solution

Clue: country professor on staff gets first-class write-up (9)

Answer: Macedonia.

Thanks and regards

R

Many thanks again Shuchi and also to anax- you'...

2010-08-31T03:01:31.201+05:30
Many thanks again Shuchi and also to anax- you've saved me a lot of sleepless nights again!

Thanks anax. I had the same thoughts about the clu...

2010-08-29T17:28:07.529+05:30
Thanks anax. I had the same thoughts about the clue. Not a very good clue, in that case.

Yes, the reference does seem to be to Hero and Lea...

2010-08-29T17:24:41.353+05:30
Yes, the reference does seem to be to Hero and Leander, although HERO didn't exactly give herself heroic status by chucking herself off t'balcony into t'sea. Taking easy way out, if you ask me.

I think what's happened is that the various figures in Greek legend tend to be listed under hero/heroine.

9d: He was brave so was she (A =Hero -I know a ...

2010-08-27T07:54:23.556+05:30
9d: He was brave so was she (A =Hero -I know a hero is brave but why the so was she part?)

Probably from the Greek myth of Hero and Leander? Not very convincing...let me think a bit more.

18a: Witnesses a key agreement (A =eyes, so to witness is to eye but I dont get the key agreement?)

E = a key (the musical key)
YES = agreement

I've worked out the Ella clue- Salmonella -...

2010-08-27T04:03:01.510+05:30
I've worked out the Ella clue- Salmonella -I woke up and it just occurred to me- amazing!

Can anyone help me to please understand a couple o...

2010-08-26T06:53:50.914+05:30
Can anyone help me to please understand a couple of clues in an old Telegraph puzzle book (2005 -DT Big Book of Cryptic Puzzles)?

9d: He was brave so was she (A =Hero -I know a hero is brave but why the so was she part?)

18a: Witnesses a key agreement (A =eyes, so to witness is to eye but I dont get the key agreement?)

24A: After the salmon she gets food poisoning (A =Ella: I just dont get that at all!

Thanks so much Shuchi I can now get some sleep!

2010-05-25T17:26:38.594+05:30
Thanks so much Shuchi I can now get some sleep!

Have you heard this song? It opens with:

In a cavern, in a canyon,
Excavating for a mine
Dwelt a miner forty niner,
And his daughter Clementine

That's what the clue is alluding to. Issue => the daughter of the miner.

By the Telegraph, do you mean The Daily Telegraph of UK? If so, you must follow Big Dave's blog.

Can you please help with this one from the telegra...

2010-05-25T04:10:21.603+05:30
Can you please help with this one from the telegraph yesterday (24/5/10)?

Issue raised by a gold prospector.

The answer was clementine but I just cant work out why!!!

Thanks Shuchi, you're so clever! All the clues...

2010-04-18T00:35:21.562+05:30
Thanks Shuchi, you're so clever! All the clues make sense now :-)!

The clues are all from The Daily Telegraph Cryptic Crossword Book, Volume 62.