Puzzling

Happy New Year all! I'm pleased to announce the winners of the last cryptic clue writing competition, for the word CENTENNIAL. First prize: For the hundredth time Len, nice tan job (GrizNHeph) — A lovely concise clue, with LEN NICE TAN as the anagram fodder, and job as the anagram indicator. Second prize: Celebrate one hundred years by shaking 50 Romans in canteen (sandbox74)— an anagram of 50 Romans (L) with IN CANTEEN, indicated by shaking. Third prize: CNN late in e-broadcast, spoil 100th year anniversary (Asuquo) — an anagram of CNN LATE IN E. Broadcast and spoil  could be the anagram indicators (although only one is needed). I know that sandbox74 and Asuquo are both outside of the regions where I can gift apps, sorry people ... but you can have that peaceful inner glow and smugness of knowing you did good  ;) GrizNHeph, drop me an email to let me know where you live, and hopefully I can send an app to you!

Today's the day!   One hundred years ago, on 21 December 1913, Arthur Wynne published the first crossword ( you can try solving it here !). He called it 'Wordcross' ... But a few weeks later, a typesetter made a mistake and wrote Crossword ... And we've called them that ever since! This puzzle has grown in that time to be one of the most popular puzzles around, worldwide. To celebrate this special occasion, Google and famous American setter Merle Reagle got together and created this interactive crossword .  And from me, here is a new cryptic clue competition for you all to enter! Rule Thingies 1) Write an anagram clue for the word CENTENNIAL . Your clue has to contain a definition for CENTENNIAL, an anagram indictor, and the anagram fodder (an exact anagram of CENTENNIAL). See below for more information. 2) Submit your clue as a comment on this post. Please sign your clue with your first name or alias (especially important for those of you posting A...

Well, I gotta say guys, I'm impressed! Those were a good bunch of clue entries, and it was tricky to select the three prize winners. But with the help of my friend the Puzzle Wizard (thanks Greg!), I've settled on three winners for this clue competition. Griff's impressed too ... As you'll all recall, the competition was for an anagram clue for the word INTERCHANGE. 1st Prize: Tech grannie flipped switch (Mike Weepie) Switch is the definition in this clue, and the wordplay is an anagram (indicated by flipped ) of tech grannie. Great mental image, too! I wonder if she works as a DJ ... or an electrical engineer perhaps? 2nd Prize: Bizarre etching near confluence of highway (Norm H) Confluence of highways is the definition, the anagram indicator is bizarre,  and the anagram fodder is  etching near. I wonder if the etching is evidence of aliens?! 3rd Prize: Cloverleaf in modified gene chart (Len Elliott — who was a prize winner in my first clue comp...

It's clue writing competition time again!  Griff is eagerly awaiting your entries! Write a cryptic clue of your very own, using an anagram, for the answer word INTERCHANGE.  Write your clue, and then post it in a comment below this post. Don't be scared, you can do it. It's even fun (honest)! Your clue can be silly, weird, funny, serious, whatever you like. It needs to read well, like a mini phrase or sentence (not just a random assortment of words stuck together). Creativity and clue accuracy are what I will be looking for. Here are some tips to help you get started.  Remember that the basic anatomy of a cryptic clue is: Wordplay + Definition = Answer or Definition + Wordplay = Answer So — (a bit of wordplay) (definition) (rest of wordplay) is  not  allowed. The definition has to sit at the start or end of the clue, and not be interrupted by the wordplay. In an anagram clue, the Wordplay = the fodder + the anagram indicator  (or i...

Wow, guys! What a great selection of cryptic clues you've sent in, I've really enjoyed reading all of them. I hope you've all had fun writing them too, and that you've got a bit of a taste for what cryptic clue writing entails  :) My good friend and colleague Greg Parker (he of Puzzle Wizard fame) and I have discussed all your entries, and have agreed on the following winners: FIRST Island weaves its charms (Len) Christmas Island is the definition here, a really nice lateral take on the word Christmas! And the rest of the clue ( weaves as the anagram indicator, and its charms as the fodder) just flows beautifully. Great job, Len. SECOND Noel crashed Smith's car (Golem) Noel  is the definition, with a nice bit of ambiguity as to whether Noel is a holiday or a man's name.   Crashed  is the anagram indicator, and Smith's car  is the fodder. Really smooth surface reading. THIRD March sits awkwardly as a time to celebrate (Des) A time to...