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 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 ...

Homophone cryptic clues are rather fun. But first, let's figure out what a homophone is. Homo  means 'same', and phone  means 'sound' — so homophones are words which sound alike, but have different meanings. I'm sure you know a ton of these: ATE & EIGHT. FLOUR & FLOWER. FOWL & FOUL. WRIGHT & RIGHT. And that's just for starters! When a cryptic clue uses a homophone, it tells you that the answer sounds like  some other word. The wordplay tells you this. Homophones must have indicator words that give a sense of something being heard, spoken, broadcast, or audible in some way. Here's a little example: Take bites noisily (6) Now, another word for bites  could be CHEWS. And, look, CHOOSE is also another word for take.  I think we have a winner! Noisily is the homophone indicator, it's telling you that if you say CHEWS aloud, it will sound like CHOOSE, which is the answer. One problem with homophone clues is that sometimes ...

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 ...

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...