Puzzling

Time for another Gemini analysis. This is for the Gemini cryptic #7043, which was published in The Canberra Times  on 15 July 2014. A usual, the definition part of the clue is underlined, except for double definition and cryptic definition clues. ACROSS Photo By  Great British Chefs Team  via  http://imagefinder.co/ 1. Eggs it's nice to scramble (7) = INCITES The definition is a nice confusion here — it's a verb, as in egging on someone, not a noun! Anagram indicated by scramble  of it's nice. Ignore that apostrophe. 4. It's mean to the players (5) = MEZZO Cryptic definition. MEZZO is a musical term meaning 'middle'. Mean is an average, or the middle. So MEZZO is a term that means 'middle' to musicians ( players ). 7. A stake in a buoyant economy (4) = ANTE Hidden word clue, indicated by in. You can see it in buoy ant e conomy. 8. On the edge and somewhat alarming (8) = MARGINAL Anagram, indicated by somewhat , of alarming. ...

It's been a while since I dissected a Gemini Cryptic; here's the first one for 2014 ... This one appeared in the Monday 13 January issue of The Canberra Times.  The Gemini Cryptic is a British cryptic, set by two people. More detail here.   As ever, the definition is underlined (except in double and cryptic definition clues).  ACROSS 1) He requires staff for the spring (4-7) = POLE-VAULTER Cryptic definition. Nothing to do with hiring people, this guy needs a pole to spring up with! 9) Vindication of French miscreant (7) = DEFENCE Charade clue. Of French  = DE ('of' in French) + FENCE (a miscreant, as in someone who received stolen goods). 10) Cool courage is never shattered (5) = NERVE Anagram ( shattered ) of never. 11) She's not improved by the golden touch (4) = LILY Cryptic definition. Reference to 'gild the lily' and a girl's name. 12) In use can turn into a problem (8) = NUISANCE Anagram ( turn into ) of i...

This is the Gemini Cryptic from The Canberra Times  of 6 August 2013. A quick reminder that this cryptic is from the UK (and isn't Australian). I'm trying a new thing here — I'll put the answer in white text within square brackets, and you can reveal it by selecting it. Give it a try --> [ Peek-a-boo! ]. This way you can have a good try of solving the clue without seeing the answer. So that you can have a chance at solving them, I won't underline the answer, and the 'description' after each clue is more of a set of hints, not a complete reveal. Hopefully this will be more fun for you! So, on with the clues! After yet another dose of CutePuppy™ from Griff. ACROSS 1) It's eaten with cream (7) = [ CRACKER ] Cryptic definition. A UK-centric clue, so dig out your list of British foods, and think of water biscuits. 5) Balance between September and October (50) = [ LIBRA ] A zodiac clue! Cryptic definition. 8) They filled up a form at t...

This is my explanation of the clues from the Gemini Cryptic Crossword #6639, from The Canberra Times  yesterday (6 June 2013). As usual, the definition is underlined, except in cryptic definition and double definition clues. My new app, CrypticGuide, in use ... it will be ready for release in a few weeks. Stay tuned! Across 1) A Royal in Canadian capital surrounded by a crowd (8) = PRINCESS Nothing to do with Ottawa! A container clue — put IN + C (the capital letter of Canadian) inside ( surrounded by ) PRESS ( a crowd ). 5) Book of plays (4) = ACTS Cryptic definition, of sorts. I guess Book  might refer to the Bible, and Acts of the Apostles. And of course, plays are written in acts too. 9) As you can see it forms a ring (5) = ATOLL Charade, A + TOLL ( ring ), as in the tolling of a bell. And an atoll does form a ring. Maybe an &lit clue? What do you think? 10) Twice mother holds the hat for a revered sage (7) = MAHATMA (Ghandi) Twice mother ...

Here we go again, my analysis of the clues in The Canberra Times' Gemini cryptic crossword. This is the one published on Thursday March 28th 2012. The definitions are underlined (except in double definition and cryptic definition clues). Across 1. Man of action? (8) = LITIGANT Cryptic definition. Someone who takes legal action is a LITIGANT. 5. A sticky appointment? (4) = DATE Double definition, cryptic definition. A DATE can be an appointment , and it's also a sticky fruit. 9. Little girl all round the house (5) = VILLA Abbreviation + reversal. Little girl  = VI (yeah, I know, it could be any  two-letter short name for any  girl's name! Not that fair.) + LLA ( all  run round , or backwards). 10. Rushing madly in great confusion (7) = TEARING Anagram indicated by confusion , the fodder is in great. 11. One in favour of the classics (7,5) = PERSONA GRATA Cryptic definition. This one w as hard! While we're familiar with the term 'person...

My analysis of the clues from the Gemini Cryptic Crossword from The Canberra Times , Friday 14 December 2012. As usual, the definitions are underlined (except in double definition and cryptic definition clues). Across 1. Son of Susie? (5) = ISSUE An anagram that doesn't really have an anagram indicator, although it could be argued that the question mark serves that purpose. I don't think it's fair, though. The anagram fodder is Susie. ISSUE is defined here as progeny/children (hence son ) . 4. Constitutional nature's changed (7) = SAUNTER Changed  is the anagram indicator, and nature's  is the fodder. A constitutional  is a rather old-fashioned term for a regular walk (good for the constitution, don'tcha know). 8. Dad's silent partner (3) = MUM Cute double definition clue. Mum is Dad's partner, but it's also a word that means to be quiet. 9. An order without speech (9) = TRAPPISTS Cryptic definition. The Trappist monks are an ...

It's been a while, sorry! Anyway, here is the analysis of the Gemini Cryptic from The Canberra Times, Monday 19 November. The definition is underlined, except in double definition and cryptic definition clues. ACROSS 1) Oversight the foreman's responsible for ? (11) = SUPERVISION Cryptic definition. 'Over sight' is sort of a coined definition for 'super vision'. What the foreman is responsible for  is the definition. 9) Threatens to finish in bad spirits (7) = IMPENDS Container. Finish = END. Put it in  IMPS ( bad spirits). IMP(END)S. 10) It limits the field to insure against betting losses (5) = HEDGE Double definition. A HEDGE can limit the field  (as in bordering a garden or field), and a HEDGE fund is one that insures against betting losses  (speculation losses, rather than race track betting losses). 11) Rent is said to have been raised (4) = HIRE Homophone, indicated by is said . As is common with homophone clues, it's not ...

This is the Gemini Cryptic from Friday 31 August's Canberra Times . And what a freezing cold snowy day it was! Best to be curled up inside with a hot cup of something and a nice cryptic to work out. As usual, the definition is underlined, except in double definition and cryptic definition clues. ACROSS 1. Has second thoughts about a hundred workers (7) = RECANTS Charade. About  = RE + a = A + hundred = C + workers  = ANTS 5. Approaches a listener in two directions (5) = NEARS A container clue. A listener = EAR, put in two directions (North and South) > N(EAR)S 8. Dead Roman exchanged for wife of Perseus (9) = ANDROMEDA An anagram ( exchanged ) of dead Roman. 9. Left with a thousand to beat (3) = LAM Charade. Left =  L + a = A + thousand = M 10. They take turns on and off (4) = TAPS Cryptic definition. Taps turn, and turn on and off ... 12. Plant it in haste (8) = CELERITY Container. Put it in a plant (CELERY) - CELER(IT)Y 14. Di...

Here's my break down of the clues from the Gemini Cryptic Crossword from The Canberra Times , Monday 13 August 2012. I solved this one on the train up to Sydney (the only civilised way to travel!),  on a very foggy wintery morning: As usual, definitions are underlined (except in double definition and cryptic definition clues). Across 1. Tries to correct extreme spin (11) = EXPERIMENTS An anagram (indicated by correct )  of extreme spin 9. Reversion to type puts Mavis at variance (7) =   ATAVISM An anagram ( variance ) of Mavis at.  Atavism is a less common word (I had to look it up). Its dictionary definition is: "reversion to something ancient or ancestral" 10. Issue foreign coins (5) = SCION An anagram ( foreign ) of coins.  A scion is a descendant from a notable family, so issue  here has the meaning of "children". 11. Touch with an oral greeting (4)  = KISS A double definition clue. Billiard balls can kiss, meaning to li...

My analysis of the clues in the Gemini Cryptic from  The Canberra Times Friday 6 July 2012 Definitions are underlined (apart from double definition and cryptic definition clues).  Across 1. Tales of feet? (7) = LEGENDS Cryptic definition, feet are leg ends, get it? 5. Demoted at the centre, get all worked up (5) = EMOTE Deletion, it's the centre part of d emote d 8. Demanding porridge with fish (9) = GRUELLING Charade. GRUEL ( porridge ) + LING ( fish ) 9. Return of Eastern opponent (3) = FOE Reversal and charade. Of returns = FO + E (Eastern) 10. A gem of a girl? (4) = RUBY Double definition, both a possible girl's name, and a gem stone 12. Jumper , pocket-size originally (8) = KANGAROO Cryptic definition, I guess? I don't see any clear cryptic device at play in this one. Kangaroos have pockets, and baby kangaroos are originally very little and kept in pockets ... 14. The rest of the layers depends on them (6) = ROOSTS Cryptic defini...

Here's my analysis of the Gemini Crossword from The Canberra Times , Friday 1 June. Definitions are underlined (apart from double definition and cryptic definition clues). There are several Libertarian clues in this one, so look out! Griff as a little puppy ... he still loves this position! Super Griff! ACROSS 1. They may blow the lights out (5) = FUSES Cryptic definition. 4. He often resorts to a piece in colour (7) = HABITUE Container clue.  A piece  = A BIT, and you put it in  HUE ( colour) 8. Old agreement from extremely early times (3) = YEA Hidden word clue. Extremel y ea rly times. Times  isn't really needed in this clue. From is a rather broad hidden word indicator. Thanks to m1k1 for her more accurate analysis of this clue than mine! 9. Gives up an office from a basic date (9) = ABDICATES Another anagram clue that's missing a clear indicator! Basic date  is the fodder, but there's no anagram indicator. From ...