Tuesday 7 October 2008

The Thirteen Problems

mystery

I wrote this set of clues for a crossword forum on Orkut. Have a go at solving them.

The solutions to the clues have something in common. Can you figure out what?

1. For a biker, city limits nearly shorten the way (7)
2. Deal with unknown agreement (6)
3. Famous, but suits our ill-design (11)
4. Oozed out of an empty conch and became colorless (8)
5. I need medical care for a little spat I entered into (7)
6. Weary again, he gave up work (7)
7. Game that provides an overpass? (6)
8. Single creator of Illusions with an unconventional role (8)
9. Nearly red - else almost with fury (6)
10. They say she cried, but not openly (6)
11. Clark's titles for peaked roofs? (6)
12. My sense of self - and I injure it. Why? (8)
13. Salaam to those that launch box office wonders (3)

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9 comments

Chaturvasi said...

It is not always easy to solve clues cold, but I have solved many of the above but I am yet to cotton on to what you say is common to them!
I find that you have done so much study of clues - analysing them, grouping them, naming them and so on.
That's the way to go from being a solver to a compiler.
I look forward to your trying your hand at a full-fledged crossword. I will be happy to solve it!

Shuchi said...

Thanks for the encouraging words, CVasi Sir.

About the common theme for the clues, a fan of this theme (like me) can probably recognize it quickly - it would not be obvious otherwise! If you put the words together in Google, the search results would give away the theme in an instant.

Raghunath said...

4. Oozed out of an empty conch and became colorless (8) CREEPING?

8. Single creator of Illusions with an unconventional role (8)ENGINEER?
9. Nearly red - else almost with fury (6) DANGER???

Shuchi said...

Hi Raghunath, some hints for these, give it another shot...

4. empty conch => take out letters from "conch", "colorless" is the definition.

8. "Single" is the definition, Illusions is the book, "unconventianal" is an anagram indicator.

9. almost with fury => the end trimmed from a word that means fury. "Nearly red" is the definition.

Raghunath said...

Thanks Shuchi, I had tried with the same hints that you gave me, but I could not get the ans. earlier.

Now with your help:

4. Oozed out of an empty conch and became colorless (8) BLANCHED. Is it BLED [oozed] + AN + CH [empty conch]?

8. Single creator of Illusions with an unconventional role (8) BACHELOR. Very Good, i.e about Richard Bach.

9. Nearly red - else almost with fury (6) ORANGE?

Shuchi said...

All correct this time :)

9. anno. is OR ANGE{-r}

Anonymous said...

Elementary, my dear Watson :)

1. For a biker, city limits nearly shorten the way (7) C(-it)Y CLI(-p) ST

2. Deal with unknown agreement (6) TREAT Y

3. Famous, but suits our ill-design (11) ILLUSTRIOUS*

5. I need medical care for a little spat I entered into (7) PATIENT [T]

6. Weary again, he gave up work (7) RE-TIRED

7. Game that provides an overpass? (6) BRIDGE[2]

10. They say she cried, but not openly (6) VEILED (~WAILED)

11. Clark's titles for peaked roofs? (6) GABLE-S (?)

12. My sense of self - and I injure it. Why? (8) I DENT IT Y

13. Salaam to the first box-office wonder! (3) B(-ow) O(-ffice) W(-onder)

Shuchi said...

Hi Balaji, Hooray!

11A: Yes, Gable from Clark Gable.

Col_Gopinath said...

Hi Shuchi,
i managed 10 out of 13 and based on your hint got the theme of Sherlock Homes titles :-)
You need to become a compiler for the Hindu