Contests started: ANY &LIT. CLUE THAT MAKES REFERENCE TO A WORK OF LIT![ERATURE] (EITHER IN WORDPLAY OR ANSWER) (?), A CLUE THAT MUST SOLVE TO BOTH BENGALS AND RAMS, DEPENDING ON HOW WORDPLAY IS PARSED (7) AND (4), ANY CLUE THAT BEGINS "IN SOVIET RUSSIA..." (?), THYMINE (7), SURNAME OF ANY U.S. PRESIDENT - NO REPEATED ANSWERS (?), ANY ICONIC DUO “X AND Y” E.G. “FISH AND CHIPS”, “TOM AND JERRY” ETC. (X, 3, Y), INDIRECT ANAGRAM (8,7), SIBELIUS (8), ANY CLUE IN THE STYLE OF SONG LYRICS TO “WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE”, WHERE EACH ITEM REFERENCES A 21ST CENTURY EVENT. EXTRA CREDIT FOR RHYME SCHEME (?), KUEBIKO (7), ANY BATMAN SUPERVILLAIN (?), OISEAU, FOR ALL TIME (3,3,4), HELLO THERE (5,5), GET A LIFE (3,1,4), ET TU (2,2), ANY TITLE OF A SONG, WHEREIN THE CLUE MUST CONTAIN LYRICS FROM THAT SONG (?), CODA (4), CLOUDS (6), HÉLOÏSE (7), BLOOD PACT (5, 4), CONCERTO (8), A CLUE THAT HAS A DIFFERENT ANSWER DEPENDING ON WHETHER AMERICAN OR BRITISH ENGLISH IS USED (?), GENTOO (6), EGREGIOUS (9), A CLUE THAT ONLY WORKS IF ONE ASCRIBES TO A WIDELY DEBUNKED CONSPIRACY THEORY (?), DARKHOLD (8), ECCEDENTESIAST (14), A CLUE THAT WORKS WHEN READ BOTH LEFT-TO-RIGHT AND RIGHT-TO-LEFT (? OR ?), IOUEA (5), CHTHONIC (8), ZUGZWANG (8), A CLUE IN WHICH EVERY WORD IS (OR IS PART OF) A COMMONLY ACCEPTED ANAGRIND (?), SPLOOT (6), A CLUE WHERE EVERY WORD, AS WELL AS THE ANSWER, ARE ALSO VALID WORDS IN NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE(S) (?), ELEVEN (6), OEUVRE (6) OR, IF YOU PREFER, ŒUVRE (5), SWIATEK (7), SATISFIED (9), ANY CLUE THAT IS A MASSIVE SPOILER (OF A BOOK/MOVIE/SHOW ETC.) (?), A CLUE THAT WORKS AS THE LAST TWO LINES OF AN ENGLISH SONNET (W/ VALID METER & RHYME SCHEME) (?), IDIOCY (6), SUPERTEAM (9), A CLUE WHOSE SURFACE READS LIKE A TWITTER BIO. EXTRA CREDIT FOR EMOJIS (?), A CLUE THAT USES A PHONETIC ANAGRAM INDICATOR (?), PATERISSA (9), ANY CLUE THAT ENDS WITH "... THIS IS NOT A PUZZLE." (?), CUCKOO (6), SEVERANCE (9), POLITICAL (9), CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING), CLUE CONTAINING NO WORDS OF INDO-EUROPEAN ORIGIN (?), 11780 (5), A CLUE THAT COULD GET YOU CHARGED WITH A CRIME IF SPOKEN/PUBLISHED IN A PARTICULAR CONTEXT (?), CLUE THAT HAS A DIFFERENT ANSWER DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT’S INTERPRETED BEFORE OR AFTER THE YEAR 1868 (?), CLUE THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY SATISFIES AS MANY PREVIOUS PROMPTS AS POSSIBLE (?), H.G. WELLS, CRUDITÉ (7), BURSAR (6), PACER (5), GUITALELE (9), MÉNIÈRE (7), BIOCHEMISTRY (12), CROSIER (7), C MAJOR (1, 5), FEDERER (7), A STRAIGHT CROSSWORD CLUE THAT IS ALSO PARSEABLE AS A CRYPTIC CLUE (HAVING A DIFFERENT ANSWER) (?), VIVACE (6), SCHERZO (7), CADENZA (7), CORONIAL (8), LOOKDOWN (8), FOR GOOD (3,4), MEMORY (6), ORACULAR (8), FAÇADE (6), VICTUALS (8), ANY PUZZLEHUNT TEAM (?), CALVARY (7), VERDIGRIS (9), INHOTIM (7), ANY (GRAMMATICAL) CLUE WITH 3 OR MORE POSSIBLE ANSWERS (? OR ? OR ? ...), VUELIE (6), DRACARYS (8), WINNIE OR POOH (6/4), WHAT COMES NEXT? (4, 5, 4), MARICOPA (8), MULE (4), INDITE (6), CHORALE (7), EROICA (6), SYNE (4), SACRILEGE (9), SPEECHLESS (10), XENIAL (6), XEME (4), CARNIVOROUS (11), @ME (3), 爱 (1), ARCTURUS (8), HÁČEK (5), TRIQUETRA (9), STEVIA (6), SUDAFED (7), RICIN (5), COCOBOLO (8), WAKANDA (7), ARENDELLE (9), GOSSAMER (8), TACHYCARDIA (11), TULLE (5), MYCOLOGY (8), ANANASSA (8), TÁR (3), CZÁRDÁS (7), WAS (3), INSTEAD (7), YOUR (4), VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR (6, 8, 2, 1, 5), AN "ANTI-&LIT" IN WHICH THE WHOLE CLUE FUNCTIONS AS WORDPLAY AND IS ALSO A DEFINITION FOR AN ANTONYM OF THE ANSWER (?), HUMORESQUE (10), BLUE-EYES WHITE DRAGON (4-4, 5, 6), INDICATED (9), CHARLOTTE (9), BONGCLOUD (9), ESTIVAL (7), INCEPTION (9), ATARAXIA (8), BAYMAX (6), AUTUMNAL (8), AFORESAID (9), EIGENLETTER (11), HONJOK (6), OFFICER (7), CRÈME BRÛLÉE (5, 6), TIMEOUT (7), BLATANT (7), NATICK (6), MERCURIAL (9), BUTTERFLY (9), COPIUM (6), LOTUS (5)
Contests won: CUPID (5), ANY &LIT. CLUE THAT MAKES REFERENCE TO A WORK OF LIT![ERATURE] (EITHER IN WORDPLAY OR ANSWER) (?), BLEEP (5), NOTA BENE (4, 4), ANY ANAGRAMLESS CLUE WITH AN ANSWER THAT IS 15+ LETTERS LONG (?), REIGN (5), ANY ICONIC DUO “X AND Y” E.G. “FISH AND CHIPS”, “TOM AND JERRY” ETC. (X, 3, Y), NUMBER ONE (6, 3), INDIRECT ANAGRAM (8,7), ELDEN (5), SCRABBLE (8), MAESTRO (7), LIFETIME (8), INIMITABLE (10), MATCHLESS (9), CONSEQUENCE (11), ANY CLUE THAT HAS A DIFFERENT ANSWER BASED ON WHETHER IT'S AN ACROSS CLUE OR A DOWN CLUE (?), DEMAGOGUE (9), FAIL-DEADLY (4-6), WONT (4), A CLUE WHERE EVERY WORD, AS WELL AS THE ANSWER, ARE ALSO VALID WORDS IN NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE(S) (?), ANY URL (?), OEUVRE (6) OR, IF YOU PREFER, ŒUVRE (5), SWIATEK (7), ASPHODEL (8), GREEN EGGS (5, 4), ANY CLUE THAT IS A MASSIVE SPOILER (OF A BOOK/MOVIE/SHOW ETC.) (?), STANCHION (9), A CLUE THAT WORKS AS THE LAST TWO LINES OF AN ENGLISH SONNET (W/ VALID METER & RHYME SCHEME) (?), CLEANSE (7), GRANULAR (8), IDIOCY (6), ANY CLUE ENTIRELY MADE UP OF WORDS FROM PREVIOUS CONTESTS' PROMPTS (?) , UNICODE (7), EQUIVALENCE (11), AWESOME (7), ANY CLUE WHERE THE ANSWER IS ONE OF THE WORDS IN THE CLUE ITSELF (EXCEPT THE DEFINITION) (?), ANY CLUE WHICH IS ALSO A TRUE SENTENCE (?), ANY CLUE THAT IS ALSO A COMPLETE LIE (?), PODCAST (7), ANY CLUE WITH TWO DIFFERENT ANSWERS DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT’S INTERPRETED IN BRITISH ENGLISH OR AMERICAN ENGLISH (?), GRADUATION (10), SECRETARIAT (11), AUTONOMY (8), CAVE (4), CUCKOO (6), KEY CHANGE (3, 6), BOWSER (6), ROUND TRIP (5, 4), POLITICAL (9), ROSE (4), CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING), CLUE CONTAINING NO WORDS OF INDO-EUROPEAN ORIGIN (?), A CLUE THAT COULD GET YOU CHARGED WITH A CRIME IF SPOKEN/PUBLISHED IN A PARTICULAR CONTEXT (?), OXEYE (5) OR OXEYE DAISY (5, 5), TENNIS (6), SUSURRUS (8), ANY CLUE WITH AN "OBVIOUS" ANSWER THAT'S ONLY RULED OUT BY THE ENUMERATION (?), ANY CLUE THAT CAN BE INTERPRETED IN TWO OR MORE WAYS THAT ALL GIVE THE SAME ANSWER (?), JESUS (5), ANY TRIPLE-OR-MORE DEFINITION CLUE (?), SANDSTORM (9), CREME DE LA CREME (5, 2, 2, 5), SCRUMP (6), HAMILTON (8), JEFFERSON (9), BURSAR (6), TASTHING (8), LABOUR (6), MÉNIÈRE (7), LIBRARY (7), BIOCHEMISTRY (12), CANAL (5), LEVEE (5), GOD SAVE THE QUEEN (3, 4, 3, 5), CHARLES III (7, 3), POLYDACTYLY, CROSIER (7), TALKING HEADS (7, 5), FLOAT (5), BELLES-LETTRES (6-7), SKYSCRAPERS (11), ODD FUTURE (3, 6), A STRAIGHT CROSSWORD CLUE THAT IS ALSO PARSEABLE AS A CRYPTIC CLUE (HAVING A DIFFERENT ANSWER) (?), BILLOWY (7), DAVID BOWIE (5, 5), BOOLEAN (7), SUCKY (5), CROP TOP (4, 3), FIG LEAF (3, 4), OLIVE BRANCH (5, 6), CORONIAL (8), DESCARTES (9), CORNCOB (7), SONG 2 (4, 1), STAND (6), LILLIPUTIAN (11), BOO (3), OVERWATCH (9), NIGHTHAWKS (10), BREAK (5), OUTLIER ()7(), DOOBLYDOO (9), FAÇADE (6), ADZE (4), CALVARY (7), DISCO (5), CAVALRY (7), VERDIGRIS (9), BOOST (5), SHORTEST (8), INHOTIM (7), PIKASHOCK (9), ANY (GRAMMATICAL) CLUE WITH 3 OR MORE POSSIBLE ANSWERS (? OR ? OR ? ...), HYGGE (5), REAL TALK (4, 4), DRACARYS (8), MALAPHOR (8), AMALGAM (7), ARCTURUS (8), RÄT (3), BORODIN (7), GLINKA (6), BALAKIREV (9), CORELLI (7), INSTEAD (7), KHACHATURIAN (12), TRUISM (6), EDELWEISS (9), TOREADOR (8), Q (1), R (1), S (1), IMBROGLIO (9), V (1), ANACONDA (8), GUINEA PIG (6, 3), AUTUMNAL (8), ANY CLUE THAT USES A TONE TAG (?), CHARLATAN (9), BAR NONE (3, 4), MORTADELLA (10), VERMOUTH (8), LIED (4), TELEGRAM (8), MIHOYO (6), ANY CLUE THAT IS ALSO A METAPUZZLE (?), ANY CLUE USING “PRIDE MONTH” (?), OREO O'S (4 2), ENSORCELL (9), FELON (5), BONELESS (8), VECTOR (6), PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE (12, 6)
| Clue ID | Contest | Clue | Explanation (hover) | Submitted By | Likes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9857 | A CLUE THAT COULD GET YOU CHARGED WITH A CRIME IF SPOKEN/PUBLISHED IN A PARTICULAR CONTEXT (?) | “Senator, I invaded in Capitol riot” (10) | INCA(I)PITOL* = POLITICIAN | rpl | 7 |
| 12145 | ANY CLUE THAT IS ALSO A METAPUZZLE (?) | META: Platitude (3rd); Forever (1st); Eternity (penultimate); Remembrance (last); Haunter (last) [5] | (Cryptic clue) def: meta wordplay: plA_ F_ ..Ty _E _R = AFTER [5] (a meaning for the Greek root "meta-") (Meta puzzle) Word-indexing into the winning clues for PLATITUDE, FOREVER, ETERNITY, REMEMBRANCE, and HAUNTER yields: "First endlessly topless barrier Pokémon [5]" This is another cryptic clue that solves to EEVEE. (def: Pokémon; wordplay: E_ lEVEE) Notice that EEVEE is also a previous contest word on this site. The word that comes "AFTER EEVEE" in the contest archives is KAHAU [5], which is the final answer. |
rpl | 7 |
| 9816 | CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING) | Un caballero loco... ¡Quite jodón! (3,7) | Surface reading: "Silly knight... f*** off, ass!" def: "Un caballero" (a knight) = DON QUIJOTE (native spelling) wp: [QUITE JODON]* ("loco") |
rpl | 5 |
| 11230 | TRUISM (6) | A moral politician leaves right-wing movement (6) | def = A moral // TRU(-mp)ISM | rpl | 5 |
| 8897 | NUMBER ONE (6, 3) | Disheartened and upset Espeon hugs Umbreon cheerfully as a best friend (6,3) | N__E< around ("hugs") [UMBER ON]* ("cheerfully") def. "a best friend" |
rpl | 4 |
| 9544 | GHOTI (5) | Search for unspoken letters from benignly charismatic Catholic Apostle on quiet business (5) | def = "Search for", fish (verb) GHOT = (unspoken letters from) beniGnly cHarismatic cathOlic aposTle on = juxtaposition I = (quiet) busIness |
rpl | 4 |
| 9677 | EQUIVALENCE (11) | Agreement with corrupt evil Queen having a heart of ice (11) | Agreement - def with - link corrupt - anagrind [EVIL QUEEN + (having) + A + iCe]* = EQUIVALENCE |
rpl | 4 |
| 9757 | CUCKOO (6) | Crazy dictator's attempt to overthrow government twice (6) | homophone (dictator's) of "coup"x2 | rpl | 4 |
| 9797 | CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING) | 在美国, 我听说她是总统 (1) | 在美国, - "In the United States", English indicator 我听说 - "I heard", homophone indicator 她 - feminine 3rd person pronoun homophone of "she" = XI 是 - "is", link 总统 - def "president" = 习 (XI) |
rpl | 4 |
| 9856 | OXEYE (5) OR OXEYE DAISY (5, 5) | Margeurite’s ex-love refused to see Gatsby’s ex-love (5,5) | def - Margeurite/OXEYE DAISY XO< (ex-love refused) + EYE (to see) + DAISY (Gatsby’s ex-love) |
rpl | 4 |
| 10253 | CANAL (5) | Firth and de Armas wearing Chanel clothes (5) | def - firth wordplay - ANA ("de Armas") in ("wearing") C__L ("clothes") |
rpl | 4 |
| 10479 | BOOST (5) | Surge in disapproval ends in Truss retiring (5) | Surge {in} // BOO S__T< | rpl | 4 |
| 11231 | TRUISM (6) | It's rum mixed with bromide (6) | (ITS RUM)* // def = bromide | rpl | 4 |
| 11426 | TOREADOR (8) | Man facing charges in Oregon after broke lawyer retired (8) | Man facing charges = def; in = link TORE = broke (v.) AD< = lawyer retired OR = Oregon |
rpl | 4 |
| 8702 | MINISTER (8) | Magical Fudge, for one bite-sized British pound? (8) | def. "Magical Fudge, for one" i.e. Cornelius "Fudge", the MINISTER of Magic MINI = bite-sized STER. = British pound (abbrev.) |
rpl | 3 |
| 8704 | ANY &LIT. CLUE THAT MAKES REFERENCE TO A WORK OF LIT![ERATURE] (EITHER IN WORDPLAY OR ANSWER) (?) | ___, originally a book by the French, follows the French man losing Javert’s trail! (3 10) | "originally A B(ook)": AB "by": connector "the French": LES "follows"... "the French": LES “Man losing javerT’s trail”: MIS(t)ER &lit. the central plot of LES MISERABLES |
rpl | 3 |
| 9495 | DEMAGOGUE (9) | Divisive leader primarily espousing “Make America Great Again” without end, and criminal who cancels Republicans, say (9) | Divisive leader = D_ primarily espousing = E_ “Make America Great Again” without end = MAG(-a) Criminal who cancels Republicans, say = (-r)OGUE &lit. |
rpl | 3 |
| 9496 | FAIL-DEADLY (4-6) | Disfigured and deformed, I fled with a lady from mutually-assured nuclear destruction (4-6) | Disfigured and deformed - anagrind [I FLED + A LADY]* = FAIL-DEADLY def. mutually-assured nuclear destruction |
rpl | 3 |
| 9501 | WONT (4) | Habit of putting weight on over time (4) | def. Habit W. = weight abbrev ON "over" = vertical juxtaposition T. = time abbrev |
rpl | 3 |
| 9508 | AREPA (5) | In Caracas, she opens revolutionary cuisine (5) | "In Caracas, she opens" = APERA (3rd person sg. conjugation for "open" in Spanish) def cuisine = APERA< |
rpl | 3 |
| 9575 | SWIATEK (7) | French Open champion is Nadal in Catalonia, in Warsaw? (7) | def. French Open champion NADAL is the Catalan word for “Christmas” ŚWIĄTEK is the Polish word for “Christmas” “Nadal in Catalonia, in Warsaw” => translate NADAL from Catalan to Polish => ŚWIĄTEK |
rpl | 3 |
| 9582 | ASPHODEL (8) | Lily hopes to dance with lad (8) | Lily - def to dance with - anagrind [HOPES + LAD]* = ASPHODEL |
rpl | 3 |
| 9629 | ANY CLUE THAT IS A MASSIVE SPOILER (OF A BOOK/MOVIE/SHOW ETC.) (?) | (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) ||Dumbledore's killer, gutted after rejection, has crush on Harry's dead parent (5)|| | Dumbledore's killer - SNAPE gutted after rejection - E(-pan)S< = ES ... has ... on - vertical juxtaposition (in the sense of wearing a hat) crush - JAM (verb) JAM+E(-pan)S< = JAMES = def. Harry's dead parent |
rpl | 3 |
| 9644 | A CLUE THAT WORKS AS THE LAST TWO LINES OF AN ENGLISH SONNET (W/ VALID METER & RHYME SCHEME) (?) | Machine to steal old books with drugs enclosed, // Back east to tour, and famous question posed? (2,2,2,3,2,2) | BOT+TO ROB+OT - Machine, to steal, old books [OT = Old Testament] BOTTORO(E)BOT - with drugs [E. = Ecstasy] enclosed (TOBEOROTTOB)<+E - Back [reversal] + E(ast) TOBEOR(N)OTTOBE - to tour [contains] [and = 'N] def - famous question posed? |
rpl | 3 |
| 9705 | PODCAST (7) | Radio show announcement about Capital One (7) | Radio show - def announcement - POST about - containment Capital One - DC+A PO(DC+A)ST |
rpl | 3 |
| 9747 | AUTONOMY (8) | With Alito's fringe, disheartening opinion, SCOTUS disregarded precedent, peeled away, and overturned my constitutional right. (8) | With - juxtaposition Alito's fringe - A_ disheartening opinion - O__N SCOTUS, disregarded precedent [delete lead], peeled away [delete ends] - _cOTUs and overturned - reversal my - MY A_+(O__N+_cOTUs)< + MY = AUTONOMY |
rpl | 3 |
| 9754 | CAVE (4) | Fall in love after California bans partying LOL (4) | def. Fall in = CAL+LOVE-LLO* = CAVE | rpl | 3 |
| 9761 | VIEW (4) | I’ve changed wife’s opinion (4) | IVE*+W. = def. opinion | rpl | 3 |
| 9774 | BOWSER (6) | King sent down in search for tank (6) | R. (king) sent down in BROWSE: B(r)OWSE -> BOWSE(r) def - tank |
rpl | 3 |
| 9788 | ROSE (4) | Jack’s partner didn’t sink? (4) | ddef Jack’s partner = didn’t sink | rpl | 3 |
| 9801 | CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING) | Zhormen dalen ma som akkelenak, yer mel Khaleesi (8) | Translation (Dothraki): "Heartless thousand with no leader, you evil Queen" zhormen DALEN - DA_EN ma - juxtaposition SOM akkelenak - S_ (akkelenak = "leader") yer mel - YER* (mel = "evil" anagrind) DA_EN+(S__YER)* = DAENERYS = def. Khaleesi |
rpl | 3 |
| 9957 | JESUS (5) | I’m in Notre Dame without a savior (5) | I’m - JE SUIS in Notre Dame - French indicator without a - delete I ("one") JE SU(-i)S |
rpl | 3 |
| 10125 | ANY TRIPLE-OR-MORE DEFINITION CLUE (?) | Scarlet is a Stanford athlete and ecclesiastic major who plays football for Arizona? (8) | quintuple def. CARDINAL Scarlet (red) a Stanford athlete (university team) ecclesiastic (noun, priest) major (adj, important) who plays football for Arizona? (NFL team) |
rpl | 3 |
| 10260 | LEVEE (5) | During `____` apocalypse, Evelyn returned `____` ... when the `____` breaks, originating from Kansas and Memphis (5) | wordplay: "During ____ apocalyps(E, EVEL)yn returned ____" (extraneous punctuation ignored) def: "... when the ____ breaks, originating from Kansas and Memphis" ("When the Levee Breaks" is a lyric and original song by blues duo Memphis Minnie & Kansas McCoy -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_the_Levee_Breaks; a more popular version of that original work was later covered by Led Zeppelin) |
rpl | 3 |
| 10749 | ARCTURUS (8) | Alpha Boötes' Curve Donut Expressed (8) | def: Alpha Boötes (Arcturus is the brightest star in the constellation Boötes -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayer_designation) wp: Curve Donut Expressed => "arc torus" homophone |
rpl | 3 |
| 10868 | RÄT (3) | Viral song upset conductor with wrong accent (3) | viral song = def upset = reversal conductor = TÁR with wrong accent = change Á to Ä |
rpl | 3 |
| 10896 | BORODIN (7) | Composer for Berlin orchestra leads finale of *Thor: Love and Thunder* (7) | def = Composer, for = link B_O_ (leads) (finale of) _R O (love) DIN (thunder) |
rpl | 3 |
| 10914 | INSTEAD (7) | Rather than being "woke", DeSantis cancels "The Last of Us" (7) | Rather than = def being = link "woke" DeSantis = anagram *DESANTIS (the meaning of "woke" is arbitrary, so it's perfectly valid as an anagram indicator!) cancels "the last of uS" = delete _S *INSTEAD(-_S) |
rpl | 3 |
| 10950 | KHACHATURIAN (12) | Russian emperor receives a bad haircut (12) | KH(A *CHATURI)AN | rpl | 3 |
| 11681 | AUTUMNAL (8) | Abdomen broke, ulna fractured after a concerning fall (8) | Abdomen = TUM broke = contained in Ulna fractured = UNAL* A U(TUM)NAL* |
rpl | 3 |
| 12133 | TELEGRAM (8) | PM to inform a BBC talk show host on air (8) | def = PM (i.e. a private message sent/encrypted using the app - noun or verb both work) TELL A GRAHAM (Norton) = "to inform a BBC talk show host" homophone = "on air" |
rpl | 3 |
| 8691 | ANY CLUE WITH A WORD USED MULTIPLE TIMES (?) | Catch-22's Major Major Major is under East cover, over (7) | Definition = "Catch-22" M = Major major MA = Major DILE = ELID< (East + "cover", over) DILE + MMA ("under") |
rpl | 2 |
| 8694 | ANY &LIT. CLUE THAT MAKES REFERENCE TO A WORK OF LIT![ERATURE] (EITHER IN WORDPLAY OR ANSWER) (?) | Play with themes of betrayal, corrupting ambition, envy, and madness leading to tragic hour (7) | (“themes of”)[B_ C_A_ E_ M_]* (“play with”) + (“leading to”) T_H_ = MACBETH, &lit. Shakespeare's tragic play | rpl | 2 |
| 8754 | BLEEP (5) | Cover-up of terrible epidemic is censored in media (5) | cover-up of "terriBLE EPidemic" def. is censored in media |
rpl | 2 |
| 8769 | ANY CLUE THAT IS FORMATTED LIKE A "YO MAMA" JOKE (?) | Yo mama ____, she.. can be stuffed in the walls of Athens (2 3) | def.: "Yo mama ____, she.." wordplay: can be stuffed in "the wallS OF AThens" |
rpl | 2 |
| 8829 | MODEL (5) | It can lead to joy when used in machine learning?! (5) | ODE = "It can lead to joy", as in _Ode to Joy_ ML = "Machine learning" M(ODE)L |
rpl | 2 |
| 8856 | ANY ANAGRAMLESS CLUE WITH AN ANSWER THAT IS 15+ LETTERS LONG (?) | Wonderful song title, for one! (34) | ddef. SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS | rpl | 2 |
| 8857 | REIGN (5) | "Empire's fall!" - they sang (5) | homophone of RAIN ("fall") def. "Empire" |
rpl | 2 |
| 8869 | NUMBER ONE (6, 3) | Wee are the champion (6,3) | ddef. Wee = the champion | rpl | 2 |
| 8885 | ANY ICONIC DUO “X AND Y” E.G. “FISH AND CHIPS”, “TOM AND JERRY” ETC. (X, 3, Y) | That is principal tragedy which follows central characters in Verona, with love cutting between feuding name, two juvenile delinquent leads’ rebellion, and cruel heart loss!! (5,3,6) | IE = “That is” T = “principal T_” connector: “which follows” RO = “central characters in veROna” “with”: connector ME(O)AN = “love” (O, as in tennis) “cutting between” [NAME]* (“feuding”) DJ< = two “Juvenile Delinquent” leads’ rebellion “and”: connector U = “crUel heart” L = “loss” abbrev. &lit. Shakespeare’s ROMEO AND JULIET (double ! just for funs) |
rpl | 2 |
| 8902 | INDIRECT ANAGRAM (8,7) | Trading American puzzles is something banned for many UK cryptic writers (8,7) | [TRADING AMERICAN]* (“puzzles”) = INDIRECT ANAGRAM def. something banned for many UK cryptic writers |
rpl | 2 |
| 8908 | ELDEN (5) | Ring that’s destroyed in the Netherlands leads to the French Revolution (5) | def. "Ring that’s destroyed" “the Netherlands” = NED; “leads to” = concat. indicator; “the French” = LE; “Revolution” = reversal (NED + LE)< = ELDEN |
rpl | 2 |
| 8975 | MAESTRO (7) | Is French king captured by revolutionary leader? | MA(EST+R.)O = def. "leader" | rpl | 2 |
| 9038 | LIFETIME (8) | Transmit corrupted file back for days (8) | (EMIT + EFIL*)< = def. "days" | rpl | 2 |
| 9041 | INIMITABLE (10) | Unique and stylish, I'm willing to collect it (10) | IN (stylish) + IM(IT)ABLE = def. "unique" | rpl | 2 |
| 9045 | MATCHLESS (9) | Best in class meth chemistry (9) | CLASS METH* = def. "Best" | rpl | 2 |
| 9368 | ANY CLUE THAT HAS A DIFFERENT ANSWER BASED ON WHETHER IT'S AN ACROSS CLUE OR A DOWN CLUE (?) | Orientation of chiefly anti-conservative party to orange leader over with Nazis, primarily (4 or 6) | Orientation of chiefly anti-conservative party to orange leader over with Nazis, primarily (4 or 7) def. = “Orientation” for both ACROSS and DOWN DOWN clue D(emocratic) = “Chiefly anti-conservative party” “to” = concat. indicator O_ = “orange leader” “over” = vertical/down clue concat. indicator W/ = “with” abbrev N_ = “Nazis, primarily” ACROSS clue A_C_ = “Chiefly anti-conservative” R(epublican) = “party to orange leader” i.e. Donald T**** O. = “over” (cricket abbrev) SS = “Nazis, primarily” |
rpl | 2 |
| 9518 | A CLUE WHERE EVERY WORD, AS WELL AS THE ANSWER, ARE ALSO VALID WORDS IN NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE(S) (?) | Rogue interjection or volume engagés Europe? (2,6) | def = Rogue interjection = AU VOLEUR or = gold = AU volume = VOL (abbrev) engages = juxtaposition indicator Europe = EUR (abbrev) rogue = French for rogue interjection = French for interjection or = French for gold volume = French for volume engagés = French conjugation for engaged Europe = French for Europe |
rpl | 2 |
| 9539 | ANY URL (?) | in.cia.gov/traitor (4) | def traitor = cIAGOv | rpl | 2 |
| 9550 | OEUVRE (6) OR, IF YOU PREFER, ŒUVRE (5) | After heart to heart in Paris, break up over loveless work (5) | After = juxtaposition heart to heart in Paris = cŒUr (French word for “heart”) break up = anagrind over loveless = (-o)VER (O, as in tennis) _ŒU_ + VRE* = "work" = def |
rpl | 2 |
| 9585 | YANK (4) | "I'm for Russia and North Korea!" - an American (4) | YA = I'm for Russia ("I am" in Russian) NK = North Korea def - an American |
rpl | 2 |
| 9588 | GREEN EGGS (5, 4) | Regularly aggrieved man endlessly refusing to sample goods at first, comes around to Sam’s offering? (5,4) | _G_R_E_E_ + GENt< + S_G_< = def. Sam’s offering? | rpl | 2 |
| 9632 | STANCHION (9) | No! I refused to wear hat of heartlessly loyal supporter (9) | NO+I< (“to wear hat of”) STAuNCH STA_NCH+(I+ON)< = def. supporter |
rpl | 2 |
| 9657 | IDIOCY (6) | Supported with certainty on both sides, man is banned from saying stupid things (6) | Supported with - vertical juxtaposition certainty on both sides - C__Y man (M) is banned from saying (n. IDIOM) - IDIO(-m) IDIO(-m)+C___Y = def. stupid things |
rpl | 2 |
| 9666 | ANY CLUE ENTIRELY MADE UP OF WORDS FROM PREVIOUS CONTESTS' PROMPTS (?) | Hunt for cashew, abandon with puzzles (5) | CASHE*-w = CHASE = def. Hunt | rpl | 2 |
| 9669 | UNICODE (7) | French article that's about sham tech standard (7) | UN (French article) + IE (that is) around (about) COD (sham) = def. tech standard | rpl | 2 |
| 9676 | AWESOME (7) | Boss’s first letter: “Sadly, woe is me − yours truly” (7) | def - Boss (slang) A (first letter) + [WOE IS ME]* (sadly) − I (yours truly) = AWESOME |
rpl | 2 |
| 9690 | ANY CLUE WHERE THE ANSWER IS ONE OF THE WORDS IN THE CLUE ITSELF (EXCEPT THE DEFINITION) (?) | Hexes and talking trees guard Middle-Earth and close off the entrances of Camelot and Earthsea | Hexes - def and - connector talking trees - ENTS guard - containment middle eaRth - _R_ AND, close off [delete ending] - AN_ the entrances of Camelot and Earthsea - C_+E_ ENT(_R_+AN_+C_+E_)S = ENTRANCES = def. Hexes (verb) |
rpl | 2 |
| 9714 | ANY CLUE THAT IS ALSO A COMPLETE LIE (?) | "A truth is, to admit it, I love you..." say (10) | A truth is - FACT + 'S to admit - containment it, I love - IT+I+O (as in tennis) you... say - U (say = homophone) FACTITIOUS = FACT(IT+I+O+U)S def./&lit. - The quoted statement is indeed FACTITIOUS (meaning fake/false), because I don't actually love you (sorry) |
rpl | 2 |
| 9722 | ANY CLUE THAT IS A WINNING CLUE YOU'VE STOLEN OFF A PAST CONTEST, BUT INTERPRETTED TO SOMEHOW SOLVE INTO A DIFFERENT ANSWER (?) | Kill; behead; chop up (4) | kill = SMASH (e.g. smashing a rebellion) sMASH = def. chop up original: https://cryptics.jackbrounstein.com/contest/56-ice-3 |
rpl | 2 |
| 9724 | ANY CLUE WITH TWO DIFFERENT ANSWERS DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT’S INTERPRETED IN BRITISH ENGLISH OR AMERICAN ENGLISH (?) | Football player Beckham in action: dove a lil’ regularly in front of defense (5) | Football player Beckham - def in action:... - anagrind in front of Defense - D_ UK: *[D_V_A_I_ + D_] = DAVID (Beckham), famous soccer player US: *[_O_E_L_L + D_] = ODELL (Beckham), famous American football player |
rpl | 2 |
| 9730 | SECRETARIAT (11) | Big _Red Scare_ threat I fabricated to kick out top horse (11) | def - "Big Red" [SCARE THREAT I]* (fabricated) - (to kick out) H_ (top horse) = SECRETARIAT |
rpl | 2 |
| 9789 | POLITICAL (9) | Almost everything behind a form of art, including love and literature, relates to government. (9) | ALl - almost everything behind... P(O+LIT)IC - a form of art (PIC), including love (O) and literature (LIT) |
rpl | 2 |
| 9809 | CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING) | вітання! смілива лідерка Ава що ріже цибулю в Москві – жахлива а́їр, ні? (5,7) | (Ukrainian) Greetings! Brave leader Ava cutting onions in Moscow – terrible plant, isn't it? def - вітання! (salute) = СЛАВА УКРАЇНІ смілива лідерка - С_ (лідерка = "leader") Ава - АВА ("Ava", female name) що ріже - containment цибулю в Москві - ЛУК ("onions in Moscow", Russian) жахлива А́ЇР - РАЇ* ні - НІ С_+Л(АВА)УК+РАЇ*+НІ = СЛАВА УКРАЇНІ |
rpl | 2 |
| 9815 | CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING) | Θα αποκεφαλίσω γάιδαρο! Παληάνθρωπος! (5) | (Greek) "I will behead donkey! Villain!" def - Παληάνθρωπος (villain, specifically someone who hates humankind) = Θανος (THANOS, English transliteration) Θα + _νος (όνος = γάιδαρο, donkey synonym) = Θανος |
rpl | 2 |
| 9894 | SUSURRUS (8) | Murmurs of US-USSR war ending badly over uranium (8) | def Murmurs = US-USSR _R* ("badly") contains ("over") U(ranium) | rpl | 2 |
| 10190 | JEFFERSON (9) | He chastised England's King in France: "I very strongly doubt US in Spain's Revolution" (9) | def: He chastised England's King (Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence) JE - in France: "I" FF - very strongly (music abbrev.) ER - doubt SON< - "us" in Spain = NOS; 's Revolution = reversal indicator |
rpl | 2 |
| 10192 | HAMILTON (8) | Hit Lin-Manuel original composition about America's beginning, embraced greatly by the audience! (8) | H - Hit (baseball abbrev) H+MILN* - LIN-M_ ("-Manuel original") anagram ("composition") H(A_)MILN - contains ("about") A_ ("America's beginning") HAMIL("TO")N - contains ("embraced") "TOO" ("greatly" i.e. excessively) homophone ("by the audience") def/&lit: Hamilton is a widely-acclaimed popular musical show , composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, about America's founding |
rpl | 2 |
| 10194 | BURSAR (6) | A. Burr first to shoot, murdered treasurer (6) | A BURR S_* (murdered = anagrind) def - treasurer |
rpl | 2 |
| 10264 | CHARLES III (7, 3) | He reacted with Sicilian opening in response, losing knight to king (7,3) | ("reacted with" = anagrind) *[HE + SICILIAN + R_ ("opening in response")] - N ("losing knight") = CHARLES III link - {to} def - "king" |
rpl | 2 |
| 10281 | FLOAT (5) | Propose love inside condo (5) | def - propose (i.e. to "float" an idea) FL(O)AT |
rpl | 2 |
| 10329 | BOOLEAN (7) | True or false: Luke is evacuated, sheltered in Naboo by arrangement (7) | L__E - Luke is evacuated {container} - sheltered in BOO AN* - Naboo, by arrangement BOO(L__E)AN* |
rpl | 2 |
| 10333 | BOOLEAN (7) | True or false: Bail Organa leads a clone rebellion, abandoning Coruscant's capital (7) | B_O_ - Bail Organa leads A(-c_)LONE* - A CLONE ("rebellion" = anagrind), delete C(oruscant)'s capital B_O_+OLEAN*(-c) |
rpl | 2 |
| 10338 | SUCKY (5) | Shitty Senate leader neglecting half of Kentucky (5) | S_ = Senate leader _____UCKY = neglecting half of (-kent)ucky |
rpl | 2 |
| 10427 | BREAK (5) | Dark switching sides to dawn (5) | B(L->R)EAK = def "to dawn" (sense: "to break" a new day) | rpl | 2 |
| 10438 | OUTLIER ()7() | US traitor heard amongst fringe element on the extreme right? (7) | LI ("lee" homophone) inside OUT()ER (fringe) // def = element on the extreme right? | rpl | 2 |
| 10442 | FAÇADE (6) | "Masquerade" note sung with top four characters in cadence (6) | def = Masquerade // FA ("note sung", from solfege) + (top four characters in) CADE__ | rpl | 2 |
| 10500 | ANY (GRAMMATICAL) CLUE WITH 3 OR MORE POSSIBLE ANSWERS (? OR ? OR ? ...) | *Vogue* feature once put out odds of candied lye (5) | *Vogue* feature once = def put out = indicator for deletion (like "extinguished"), or anagram (like "spread out") odds of ... = letter selection 1. ADELE (Adkins) = _A_D_E_ L_E (delete odds) 2. CINDY (Crawford) = C_N_I_D _Y_* (anagram odds) 3. CYNDI (Lauper) = C_N_I_D _Y_* (anagram odds) |
rpl | 2 |
| 10513 | REAL TALK (4, 4) | Republican lunatic Lake embraces alternative "facts" (4, 4) | R(epublican) E(ALT.)ALK* def = "facts" |
rpl | 2 |
| 10912 | CORELLI (7) | He bowed to men in orchestra section (7) | def = He bowed (as in "bowing a violin", Corelli was a violinist) men = OR ("original regiment", military men) in = container orchestra section = CELLI |
rpl | 2 |
| 11550 | S (1) | Second letter of the alphabet (1) | Second (unit of time) = S def = letter of the alphabet |
rpl | 2 |
| 11677 | GUINEA PIG (6, 3) | Lab test with a tailless penguin doctored on Instagram (6, 3) | def = Lab test (subject) link = with GUINEA P* = (A PENGUI_)* doctored [on] IG = Instagram |
rpl | 2 |
| 11690 | LEFTIST (7) | "Nancy's the fearless leader. It is time to follow." -- Biden to Republicans | LE = Nancy's the ("the" in French // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy,_France) F_ = fearless leader TIS = it is T. = time (to follow) def = Biden, to Republicans |
rpl | 2 |
| 11951 | ANY CLUE THAT USES A TONE TAG (?) | Sierra: Um... I love you! /s (sincere) [7] | S = Sierra (NATO) ER = um I O (love) U /s def = sincere |
rpl | 2 |
| 12013 | CHARLATAN (9) | White spider spoke and many heard a quack (9) | White spider = "charlotte" (from Charlotte's Web by E.B. White), spoke = homophone many = "ton", heard = homophone a quack = def // homophone of "charlotte ton" |
rpl | 2 |
| 12091 | BAR NONE (3, 4) | GF entertains nurse, is not turned off to a man (3, 4) | GF = BAE; nurse = RN; is not turned off = ON BA(RN ON)E def: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/to-a-man |
rpl | 2 |
| 12116 | VERMOUTH (8) | Must product of roots have half the real numbers, say? (8) | __VE = haVE half ℝ = the real numbers MOUTH (v.) = say def: vermouth is a product made from "must" (i.e. grape juice) and herbal "roots" |
rpl | 2 |
| 12618 | OREO O'S (4 2) | Queen's castle is welcoming for a breakfast meal (4 1'1) | Queen's castle = OOO (chess abbrev) is = 'S welcoming = containment for = RE O(RE)OO 'S |
rpl | 2 |
| 12634 | ENSORCELL (9) | Remove cover from alarm on prison entrance (9) | (-s)ENSOR = Remove cover from alarm CELL = prison def = entrance (v. "to bewitch") |
rpl | 2 |
| 12721 | PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE (12, 6) | Liberal DA baited senile Tr**p with political smackdown (12 6) | *DABAITEDSENILETRP | rpl | 2 |
| 8692 | CUPID (5) | Matchmaker fool having a change of heart of love for you, embodies a transcendental Greek character (5) | def. Matchmaker C(o->U)D: COD (“fool”), change center letter from O (“love” i.e. in tennis) to U (“you”) CU(PI)D: embodies PI (“a transcendental Greek character") |
rpl | 1 |
| 8699 | SOULMATE (8) | Ideal paramour’s French assistant exchanges final letter with first lover, friend in London (8) | Def. Ideal paramour SOUS = “French assistant” SOU(s -> L): “exchanges final letter with L_” MATE = "friend in London" (UK def.) |
rpl | 1 |
| 8708 | CUPID (5) | Dense street taken over by Charlie’s Angel of love (5) | (st->C)UPID: STUPID (“dense”), ST (“street”) replaced by C (“Charlie”) def. “Angel of love” |
rpl | 1 |
| 8719 | COBALT (6) | Colts give up safety, trading loss for Baltimore's vital B-12 center? (6) | COLTS - S: "give up S(afety)" CO(l->BAL)T: "trade L(oss) for BAL(timore)" (all are accepted Am. football abbreviations) def. "vital B-12 center?" i.e. COBALT is the central component of vitamin B12 |
rpl | 1 |
| 8732 | TE AMO (2, 3) | Make love with mate in Spain to say "I love you" (2 3) | [O (love, as in tennis) + MATE]* ("make") def = in Spain to say "I love you" |
rpl | 1 |
| 8743 | SUPERB (6) | The Reverend A. A. Milne wrote about him: "perhaps Djokovic can't be beat" (6) | "A.A. Milne wrote about him" = POOH "perhaps Djokovic" = SERB def. can't be beat Spoonerism of POOH SERB = SUPERB |
rpl | 1 |
| 8798 | ANY CLUE THAT BEGINS "IN SOVIET RUSSIA..." (?) | In Soviet Russia, a rebellion disposes of Putin perhaps (0) | Wordplay: [IN + USSR + A]* (“rebellion”) - RUSSIAN (“Putin perhaps”) = (0) Def: “” |
rpl | 1 |
| 8822 | ANY GEOGRAPHICAL PLACE (?) | In short, what brought about world peace after the war? Hearing lyrics by Gangnam Style artist (10) | wordplay: sounds like (“hearing”) VERSE (“lyrics”) + PSY (“Gangnam Style artist”) def: “In short, what brought about world peace after the war?”, as in: (The Treaty of) VERSAILLES, to end World War I |
rpl | 1 |
| 8927 | SIBELIUS (8) | If Spanish and Han dynasty emperors seized British Empire for Finland’s greatest composer? (8) | SI = "If Spanish"; LIUS = "Han dynasty emperors"; BE = "British Empire" abbrev.; containment = "seized" SI(BE)LIUS = def. "Finland's great composer" |
rpl | 1 |
| 8940 | SCRABBLE (8) | First man is born in anagram tile game (8) | "First man" = m; "born" abbrev. = B; "anagram" = SCRAMBLE SCRA(m_->B)BLE = def. "tile game" |
rpl | 1 |
| 8959 | SPRIGATITO (10) | Doctor, got a spirit Pokémon? (10) | SPRIGATITO = [GOT A SPIRIT]* ("doctor") | rpl | 1 |
| 8988 | ANY CLUE THAT USES A MATHEMATICAL SEQUENCE OTHER THAN EVENS/ODDS TO INDEX (?) | Perfect "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!" recording (2) | 6, 28 into superCalifragilisticexpialiDocious = CD = def. "recording" |
rpl | 1 |
| 9072 | CONSEQUENCE (11) | Meaning with I know what, Eleven needs no introduction in Spain (11) | def: "Meaning" wordplay: CON + SE + QUE + (-o)NCE (everything in Spanish) |
rpl | 1 |
| 9477 | PERPETUITY (10) | In Paris, you and I first talked. Why? After wearing face masks around emergency room at all times. (10) | Def = at all times TU (In Paris, you) + I + T_ + Y, after P(ER)PE (wearing face masks around ER) |
rpl | 1 |
| 9487 | THANOS (6) | Universe balancer who asked for a drop of your blood without medical drama? (6) | def = “Universe balancer” THERANOS = “Who asked for a drop of your blood” (-ER) = “Without medical drama” |
rpl | 1 |
| 9499 | DEMAGOGUE (9) | Incendiary US lib who heads Justice Department initially orders assault rifle ban in fight (9) | def. Incendiary [noun] DEM (US lib) + AG (who heads Justice Department) + O_ (initially orders) + (-AR)GUE (assault rifle ban in fight) |
rpl | 1 |
| 9517 | REDEEM (6) | “Save some ecstasy…” I’d beg, even in that sleep where dreams may come? (6) | def = Save some ecstasy = E. (abbrev) I’d beg, even = _D _E_ in = containment that sleep where dreams may come? = REM (stage of sleep where dreaming occurs) |
rpl | 1 |
| 9552 | EPEE (4) | Rousseau’s philosophical system lacks the principal of Montesquieu’s and Kant’s… is a deadly weapon? (4) | "Rousseau’s" - French indicator "philosophical system" - ÉPISTÉME, properly diacriticized French cognate for “episteme” meaning philosophical system "lacks" - deletion indicator "the principal of Montesquieu’s" - M_ "Kant’s is" - IST (German indicator) ÉPÉE = ÉP(-ist)É(-m)E = def. a deadly weapon? |
rpl | 1 |
| 9590 | SATISFIED (9) | Broadway show hit with low-grade bomb after bit of teasing by Schuyler lead about Alexander's "heart and eyes" in song (9) | Broadway show hit - def with - link F+IED = low-grade + bomb after - juxtaposition SAT = S_+T_ around _A_ - bit of T(easing), by S(chuyler) lead, about alexAnder's heart and - juxtaposition I'S = “eyes” in song (homophone) |
rpl | 1 |
| 9615 | BOX (3) | Strike out first baseman over strike (3) | def: Strike, or strike wordplay: (O.+B_)< over X, or (X+O.+B_)< O. for out is baseball abbrev X for strike is bowling abbrev |
rpl | 1 |
| 9620 | ANY CLUE THAT IS A MASSIVE SPOILER (OF A BOOK/MOVIE/SHOW ETC.) (?) | _Tragedy of Hamlet_ essentially spoiled for the audience: ||in last Act, final Scene, everyone dies|| (6) | "Tragedy" - def "of" - link "Hamlet essentially, spoiled" = _LAME*_ "for the audience: in" = N (homophone) "last Act, final scene" = N + _T + _E "everyone dies" - delete E. (video game rating abbrev) _LAME*_+N+_T+_E-E. = LAMENT = def. Tragedy |
rpl | 1 |
| 9625 | ANY CLUE THAT IS A MASSIVE SPOILER (OF A BOOK/MOVIE/SHOW ETC.) (?) | (Stranger Things, S1): ||Will’s trapped in the “Upside Down” of Hawkins without any trace, missing family (4)|| | "Will" - def "'s" - IS "trapped in" - containment "the “Upside Down” of" - reversal "HAWKINS without [A(ny) trace]", "missing [family (KINS)]" => H(-a)W(-kins) IS in H(-a_)W(-kins)< = W(IS)H = def. Will |
rpl | 1 |
| 9638 | ABANDON (7) | Flee from Mafia boss crowned by an outlaw (7) | Mafia boss - DON crowned by - vertical juxt. an outlaw - A BAN A BAN+DON = def. Flee |
rpl | 1 |
| 9640 | A CLUE THAT WORKS AS THE LAST TWO LINES OF AN ENGLISH SONNET (W/ VALID METER & RHYME SCHEME) (?) | A trite proposal’s endless wish with time // Though brief, short Virgin sung last pair in rhyme. (4,4,5,2) | A trite proposal = WIL(l)+T. + THOUgh (brief, short) + MARRY (homophone Mary) + (last pair in) rhyME | rpl | 1 |
| 9643 | CLEANSE (7) | Wash tips to bathe in after Christ's birth (7) | def. Wash = LEANS (tips) contained by (to bathe in) CE (after Christ's birth) | rpl | 1 |
| 9645 | ANY CLUE THAT STARTS WITH "ANY CLUE THAT" (?) | ANY CLUE THAT STARTS WITH ONE ENDLESSLY LONG ANAGRIND, SAY (6) | ACTION = A_C_T_ + I + _ON_= def. ANAGRIND, SAY | rpl | 1 |
| 9652 | A CLUE THAT WORKS AS THE LAST TWO LINES OF AN ENGLISH SONNET (W/ VALID METER & RHYME SCHEME) (?) | My foot perhaps for ears the source of Greek // Beginning only words a tree could speak. (8, 3 wds.) | wp: I AM (IAMB homophone / "my foot, perhaps, for ears") + ("the source of") G_ + ROOT ("beginning" syn.) def: only words a tree could speak (i.e. the only words in Groot's vocab) |
rpl | 1 |
| 9674 | ANY CLUE THAT HAS NO LETTERS IN COMMON WITH ITS ANSWER (?) | Surprised Pikachu // Possesses neither this nor // Puzzlers Club cipher? | PIKACHU* - HAIKU - PC = "" = def. cipher? (0) | rpl | 1 |
| 9698 | A CLUE WHOSE SURFACE READS LIKE A TWITTER BIO. EXTRA CREDIT FOR EMOJIS (?) | Outsider. ❤️ MIT '00. Instagram research lead. @AcceptingKnight (9) | Outsider - def ❤️ MIT - heart mIt = _I_ '00 - 2000 = MM Instagram (abbrev) - IG Research lead - R_ @AcceptingKnight - A(N)T = AT (accepting) N (knight, chess abbrev) IMMIGRANT = def. outsider |
rpl | 1 |
| 9704 | ANY CLUE WHICH IS ALSO A TRUE SENTENCE (?) | Corruptly installed conservative jurists focus on overturning _Roe_ before end of period. (6) | def. Corruptly installed = RIGGED R - conservative (noun), i.e. Republican _I_ - jurIsts focus juxtaposition - on GGE< - overturning roe (EGG) juxtaposition - before _D - end of perioD (pretty much taken from the headlines) |
rpl | 1 |
| 9717 | ANY CLUE WITH TWO DIFFERENT ANSWERS DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT’S INTERPRETED IN BRITISH ENGLISH OR AMERICAN ENGLISH (?) | Train’s under first with bottom-side direction (6 or 11) | def - Train US: ’S + U_ (under first) + (with) + B_ (bottom-side) + WAY (direction) UK: {’s - link}; UNDER (bottom-side direction) + (with) + GROUND (under first [floor]) |
rpl | 1 |
| 9723 | GRADUATION (10) | Commencement video ends with guardian rambling for promotion (10) | [_T + _O + GUARDIAN]* (rambling) = GRADUATION = {link - for} def. promotion | rpl | 1 |
| 9735 | SECRETARIAT (11) | Crown champion in private _La donna è mobile_ concert finale (11) | def. Crown champion = SECRET (private) + ARIA ("La donna è mobile") + _T (concerT finale) | rpl | 1 |
| 9762 | KEY CHANGE (3, 6) | Instrumental adjustment?! (3,6) | KEY (syn. instrumental) + CHANGE (syn. adjustment) def/&lit - some instruments can be adjusted (e.g. guitar/horn/sax etc.) to produce the effect of a key change |
rpl | 1 |
| 9763 | VIEW (4) | Judge's conviction (4) | ddef - judge (i.e. perceive) = conviction (i.e. belief) | rpl | 1 |
| 9772 | SEVERANCE (9) | Mind technology in _Stranger Things_ finale reveals origin to Vecna and beginnings of evil empire (9) | def - Mind technology ("Stranger") *[_S (finale) + R_ (origin) + VECNA + (beginnings of) E_E_] = SEVERANCE |
rpl | 1 |
| 9780 | ROUND TRIP (5, 4) | Earth loses gravity with rupture outside of time loop (5,4) | Earth loses gravity - (-g)ROUND with rupture - ROUND+RIP outside of time - ROUND(T.)RIP def - loop |
rpl | 1 |
| 9794 | CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING) | Un país está tranquilo, escuchando a la actriz de "Gambito de dama". (6) | Translation: A country is quiet, hearing "The Queen's Gambit" actress. def - Un país = ESPAÑA ES - está (synonym) P - tranquilo ("piano", music abbrev.) AÑA - escuchando a la actriz de "Gambito de dama" / ("ANYA" homophone) |
rpl | 1 |
| 9818 | CONVEX (6) | Wasting no time, a group of nuns kiss a mirror, maybe (6) | delete NT (wasting no time) from CONVE(-nt)+X (a group of nuns + kiss) def - a mirror, maybe |
rpl | 1 |
| 9822 | CREEK (5) | Tributary believes Spanish king (5) | CREE (3rd person conjugation for "believe" in Spanish) + K | rpl | 1 |
| 9835 | RESIGN (6) | Take leave, end post (6) | R.("take", Latin abbrev) + _E ("leave end") + SIGN ("post") | rpl | 1 |
| 9836 | COMPASS (7) | See with representative tool (7) | def see = CO+MP+ASS | rpl | 1 |
| 9867 | A CLUE THAT COULD GET YOU CHARGED WITH A CRIME IF SPOKEN/PUBLISHED IN A PARTICULAR CONTEXT (?) | Take off his head! Decapitate Putin violently in a cell? (2,4) | _IS _UTIN* = IN SITU (def - in a cell?) | rpl | 1 |
| 9871 | TENNIS (6) | Game of returning 1st serve in net (6) | def Game = S_+IN+NET< | rpl | 1 |
| 9874 | ANY CLUE CONSISTING OF LETTERS FROM A SINGLE ROW OF YOUR KEYBOARD (?) | Gas gal’s flask (5) | G(as) + LASS = def flask | rpl | 1 |
| 9876 | ANY CLUE CONSISTING OF LETTERS FROM A SINGLE ROW OF YOUR KEYBOARD (?) | Rout pouty twitterer (5) | ddef trump | rpl | 1 |
| 9905 | ANY CLUE THAT CAN BE INTERPRETED IN TWO OR MORE WAYS THAT ALL GIVE THE SAME ANSWER (?) | Inhabit vile evil (4) | VILE* = EVIL* = LIVE | rpl | 1 |
| 9908 | ANY CLUE WITH AN "OBVIOUS" ANSWER THAT'S ONLY RULED OUT BY THE ENUMERATION (?) | Evil, vile settle (6) | not LIVE* def Evil = BAD+DIE |
rpl | 1 |
| 10170 | CREME DE LA CREME (5, 2, 2, 5) | Clarè and I, in possession of cocaine, took medicine from French boss (5,2,2,5) | CLARÈ+ME - Clarè and I CLA(C)RÈME - in possession of [containment] C(ocaine) C(REMÈDE)LACRÈME - took [containment], medicine from French [REMÈDE, "medicine" in French] def - boss (informal, i.e. "the best") |
rpl | 1 |
| 10175 | SANDSTORM (9) | Random rioting on street following top secret investigation of financial crimes (9) | Random rioting - ANDORM* on street - AND(ST)ORM* following top secret - S_+AND(ST)ORM* def - investigation of financial crimes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandstorm_report) |
rpl | 1 |
| 10178 | SCRUMP (6) | Second Circuit chief judge holds right to contract (6) | S - Second C_ - Circuit chief UMP - judge contains R - holds R(ight) def = to contract (verb, "to shrink") |
rpl | 1 |
| 10213 | TASTHING (8) | Enigmatic sign that puzzler created on Aug 26? (8) | SIGN THAT* anagram Aug 26 is TASTHING's birthday (according to PC discord) |
rpl | 1 |
| 10230 | LABOUR (6) | Disheartened lover goes on about timeless Shakespearean work? (6) | Disheartened lover - L__R goes on - contains (i.e. putting clothes "on") about timeless - ABOU(-t) def - Shakespearean work = LABOUR (British spelling) |
rpl | 1 |
| 10236 | LIBRARY (7) | Study of literature ends in the swapping for a book (7) | Study - def of literature - LITERARY ends in the - T_E swapping for a B(ook) - LI(te->B)RARY |
rpl | 1 |
| 10238 | MÉNIÈRE (7) | French doc and I entered gate two at Tiananmen East (7) | French doctor - def I entered - I contained in... "gate" - MÉN (pinyin) "two" - ÈR (pinyin) at Tiananmen - Chinese indicator East - E MÉN(I)ÈR+E |
rpl | 1 |
| 10242 | TRUSS (5) | 🇬🇧🏛️👩💼⛓️🤝🇷🇺 (5) | UK government woman 🇬🇧🏛️👩💼 imprisoned by/in ⛓️ communisT RUSSia 🤝🇷🇺 |
rpl | 1 |
| 10249 | BIOCHEMISTRY (12) | ⚤❤️😭🤗⌛🕛🕐🤪🔬🧬(12) | ⚤❤️ BI+O(love) 😭🤗 C()RY ⌛🕛🕐🤪 H(our)+TIMES* BI+O+C(H.+EMIST*)RY |
rpl | 1 |
| 10258 | GOD SAVE THE QUEEN (3, 4, 3, 5) | The Spanish Inquisition interrupts the Father's prayer to English national anthem (3, 4, 3, 5) | the "Spanish Inquisition" - THE "QUE" interrupts - contained in... the Father's - GOD'S prayer - AVE (i.e. "Ave Maria") {to} English - EN (abbrev.) GOD'S+AVE(THE QUE)EN = def. "national anthem" |
rpl | 1 |
| 10262 | VAGUE (5) | Cryptic from _Enigmatic Variations_: `In short binding opal's turn? (5)` | def = "Cryptic" EV = "Enigmatic Variations: In short", i.e. as abbreviated by the crossword community {container} = "binding" UGA = "opal" (RNA stop codon) {reversal} = "'s turn" E(UGA)V< |
rpl | 1 |
| 10269 | POLYDACTYLY | Written as so to condition for monkey possessing more thumbs than me? (11) | double def "condition for monkey possessing more thumbs than me?" (standard definition for POLYDACTYLY i.e. having more fingers than expected) "written as so" The clue is written in dactylic hexameter ("POLY-DACTYL-Y"), consisting of 6 long-short-short syllabic feet: WRIT-ten as//SO to con-//DI-tion for//MON-key pos-//ESS-ing more// THUMBS than me? |
rpl | 1 |
| 10275 | CROSIER (7) | Fern is disheartened over Charlotte's case--||butchered Wilbur at last|| (7) | def. Fern (type of plant) [IS+O__R+C__E]* ("butchered") + _R ("Wilbur at last") |
rpl | 1 |
| 10317 | SKYSCRAPERS (11) | Walter White's wife is wrapping waste without last of Saul's lofty properties (11) | SKYLER'S - Walter White's wife is SKYL(SCRAP)ERS - wrapping waste SKY(-L)SCRAPERS - without last of sauL def - lofty properties |
rpl | 1 |
| 10330 | DAVID BOWIE (5, 5) | Iconic English actor playing Obi-wan nearly died holding Vader's helmet (5,5) | Iconic English actor - def playing - anagrind OBIWA_ DIED* containing V_ ("Vader's helmet") DA(V_)IDBOWIE* |
rpl | 1 |
| 10375 | DESCARTES (9) | "No, I aserted [_sic_]" - miswrote a French philosopher (9) | wp: ASERTED S(-i)C* ("miswrote" = anagrind) = DESCARTES(-i)* def: a French philosopher |
rpl | 1 |
| 10388 | CORNCOB (7) | Crop ear off big heads after CEO sides with RNC (7) | Crop ear = O_B_ after C_O+RNC | rpl | 1 |
| 10398 | SONG 2 (4, 1) | "Blur" number so no big governments ban cipher (4, 1) | "Blur" number = SO N(o) G2(-0) ("big governments" = G20; "cipher" means 0) |
rpl | 1 |
| 10406 | STAND (6) | Super tiny animal faces North Dakota bear (5) | S_T_A_ ("faces" = 1st letter indicator) + ND = bear (verb) | rpl | 1 |
| 10411 | LILLIPUTIAN (11) | I'll put in a revision after the lead in line–one minute (11) | I'll put in a revision = (ILL PUT IN A)* the lead in L(ine) = L_ one = I L_ I + LLIPUTIAN* def = minute (adj. tiny) |
rpl | 1 |
| 10413 | BOO (3) | Display offense in something that stinks (3) | display Offense in = O (sports abbrev for offense) contained in... something that stinks = BO (body odor) B(O)O - &lit. whole clue is the definition |
rpl | 1 |
| 10424 | NIGHTHAWKS (10) | The Reverend's top hits are a piece of art (10) | Spoonerism of HEIGHT (top) KNOCKS (hits) // def = a piece of art (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nighthawks_(Hopper)) | rpl | 1 |
| 10426 | BREAK (5) | Stop, stop, I said! (5) | Stop def = "brake" homophone | rpl | 1 |
| 10437 | DOOBLYDOO (9) | Bully frequently surrounded by poop down below? (9) | DOO(B_L_Y)DOO | rpl | 1 |
| 10462 | ADZE (4) | Hear commercials for knife (4) | "ads" homophone | rpl | 1 |
| 10469 | DISCO (5) | Is company supporting Democratic party? (5) | D(emoratic) IS CO. supporting = vertical juxt. |
rpl | 1 |
| 10476 | CALVARY (7) | Suffering soldiers moving left-left-left (7) | CAVA(<-L)RY (= soldiers) CAV(<-L)ARY CA(L)VARY (= suffering) |
rpl | 1 |
| 10477 | CAVALRY (7) | Nancy's greeting every other of Larry's men with big arms? (7) | (greeting in Nancy, [France]) "ÇA VA" (every other of) L_R_Y | rpl | 1 |
| 10490 | INHOTIM (7) | "Museum of Interesting Things" (MIT) :coin: Hunt is oddly over... (7) | "Museum of Interesting Things" = def (MIT) :coin: = MIT O (looks like a circle) HuNt Is, oddly = H_N_I_ over = reversal _I_N_H O TIM< |
rpl | 1 |
| 10521 | MALAPHOR (8) | Mike crushed AlphaZero with rook blunder of sorts (8) | M = Mike (nato) *ALAPH = crushed Alpha O = Zero R = rook def = blunder of sorts |
rpl | 1 |
| 10534 | MAO (3) | Authoritarian is partial to American insurrection (3) | t]O AM[erican < (insurrection = vertical reversal) |
rpl | 1 |
| 10659 | SNOOZE (6) | Sleep with conman wearing one’s disguise (6) | Sleep = def conman = OZ (the literary character or the doctor) wearing = containing one's disguise = SNO()E* |
rpl | 1 |
| 10691 | YAKITORI (8) | Skewer independent conservative for Speaker supporting Gab (8) | def = (a chicken) skewer I = independent TORI = conservative for Speaker ("Tory" homophone) supporting = vertical juxtaposition YAK = Gab |
rpl | 1 |
| 10741 | 爱 (1) | 喜欢勃朗特的女主角 (1) | Translation: To be fond of Brontë's heroine ddef 喜欢 (to be fond of) = 爱 勃朗特 (Brontë) 的 ('s) 女主角 (heroine) = 爱 ("Eyre" is transliterated as "爱" in the Chinese translation Brontë's novel) |
rpl | 1 |
| 10748 | 爱 (1) | 听说伦敦眼激发激情 (1) | Surface: It's said that the London Eye inspires passion 听说 - It's said (homophone indicator) 伦敦 眼 - London['s] (English indicator) "eye" 激发 - inspires / {link} 激情 - passion (def) wp: homophone of 眼 (translated to English "eye") = "ai" |
rpl | 1 |
| 10848 | POTOOOOOOOO (11) | MJ loves horse (11) | MJ = POT (marijuana) "love"s = "O"s (x8) horse = def |
rpl | 1 |
| 10902 | BALAKIREV (9) | Musician composed a live bar to capture Tchaikovsky's heart (9) | def musician = *(A LIVE BAR) {contains} __K__ | rpl | 1 |
| 10903 | GLINKA (6) | Polish Hamlet's ring in reflective silver (6) | Polish hamlet = def (village in Poland) ring = LINK reflective silver = GA< (element abbrev) |
rpl | 1 |
| 11406 | EDELWEISS (9) | Daisy Ridley taking no sides after Star Wars opening scene oddly rewritten (9) | Daisy = def RIDLEY, taking no sides = _IDLE_ Star Wars opening = S_W_ SCENE, oddly = S_E_E rewritten = anagrind (S_W_ S_E_E _IDLE_)* |
rpl | 1 |
| 11498 | BORK (4) | Controversial judge to back case involving curtailment and reversal of *Roe* (4) | def - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bork_Supreme_Court_nomination (semi-&lit) link - to B(_OR<)K = BacK case contains (involving) ROe< (curtailed and reversed) |
rpl | 1 |
| 11536 | Q (1) | Conspiracy in *Succession* revealed to audience (1) | Conspiracy = def; in = link Succession, revealed to audience = "queue" homophone |
rpl | 1 |
| 11573 | IMBROGLIO (9) | Microbiologist spilled liquid CO - it's leaving a mess (9) | MICROBIOLOGIST spilled = IMBROGLIOcoist* liquid CO ITS leaving = IMBROGLIO(-*coist) a mess = def |
rpl | 1 |
| 11579 | V (1) | The origin of Valjean as a revolutionary (1) | the origin of Valjean = V_ as = link; a revolutionary = def (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_(character) |
rpl | 1 |
| 11656 | ANACONDA (8) | Video game company invested in first programmer of Python (8) | Video game company = NACON https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nacon invested in = containment first programmer = ADA (Lovelace) of = link A(NACON)DA |
rpl | 1 |
| 11730 | PAISLEY (7) | Fabric from Spanish country land (7) | Spanish country = PAÍS land = LEY |
rpl | 1 |
| 12115 | MORTADELLA (10) | La carne di la donna non è mobile sopra (10) | Surface: The woman's complexion is not changing on top (cheeky ref to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_donna_e_mobile) def: la carne ("meat" or "complexion") MORTA ("dead") = non è mobile ("is not moving/changing") [sopra = "on top"] D' = di (contraction) ELLA = la donna ("the woman") |
rpl | 1 |
| 12118 | LIED (4) | Delivered PM to Carol (4) | homophone ("delivered") of LEAD ("PM" / project manager) = def carol (a song) | rpl | 1 |
| 12655 | FELON (5) | Part of lifelong con (5) | liFELONg | rpl | 1 |
| 12701 | VECTOR (6) | Radical voter embraces cult leader of course (6) | VE TOR* contains C_ of = link course = def |
rpl | 1 |
| 12711 | GLEE (4) | GOP leader and insurrectionist creates drama on FOX (4) | G_ + (Robert E) LEE def - Glee was a musical drama show that aired on FOX |
rpl | 1 |
| 8701 | WATER (5) | Legendary bird fires last breath of air: "molecular splash" (5) | Def. splash (verb) HO-OH ("legendary bird") loses ("fires") last O ("breath of air") = HO-H HO-H molecular = structure of WATER |
rpl | 0 |
| 8703 | CARDIOLOGY (10) | B. singer? O yes! Replaces finale of MIT's very first acapella band work with lovely organ? (10) | def: work (n.) with lovely organ? CARDI + O = "B. singer? O!" LOG(s->Y) = "MIT's very first acapella band" (LOGS), "Y(es) replaces finale" |
rpl | 0 |
| 8711 | SOULMATE (8) | O you! Sam plays with Lea endlessly, t'is a true love... (8) | [O + U + SAM + LE(a) + T']* ("plays with") connector: "is" def: "a true love" |
rpl | 0 |
| 8714 | ABSCOND (7) | Make off with 6-pack case on date (7) | def. make off ABS = 6-pack C = abbrev. case D = abbrev. date |
rpl | 0 |
| 8715 | CARDIOLOGY (10) | You nearly go crazy with love at first sight after endless endurance exercise of a broken heart? (10) | def. “of a broken heart?” [YO(u) + GO + L(ove) “at first sight”]* (“crazy”) after CARDI(o) (“endurance exercise”) |
rpl | 0 |
| 8718 | CHURRO (6) | Tail-less bird eats Ben, for one fried dough (6) | HUR = Ben, for one CRO = Tail-less bird C(HUR)RO def. fired dough |
rpl | 0 |
| 8727 | (0) | Machine to steal rigged election: Trump in the lead, claiming "a sham!", is rejected on court appeal, maybe? (0) | [MACHINE TO STEAL]* - [ELECTION + T**** + A SHAM] = (nothing) def. "on court appeal, maybe?" = "love" / 0, as in tennis |
rpl | 0 |
| 8751 | HALFTIME OR HALF TIME (8 OR 4,4) | Essentially, the meter in finale to Beethoven’s 9th symphony (ignore all notes)! (4-4) | [tHe + M_ + FINALE + T + (beethove)N]* (“symphony”) - (ignore all N(ote)'s) = HALF-TIME (4-4) & lit. most of the finale of Beethoven’s 9th symphony is composed in half-time |
rpl | 0 |
| 8784 | INTERROBANG (11) | Exclamation after blundering a rook loss in opening!? (11) | “Exclamation” = BANG “blundering (n.) a rook loss” = ER(r) “opening” = INTRO INT(ER)RO + BANG def: "!?" (since "!" is a questionable definition for interrobang) * not &lit since "?" is used to denote blunders in chess :P |
rpl | 0 |
| 8796 | ANY GEOGRAPHICAL PLACE (?) | 1st place to visit? Bulgaria, then travel secondly to Afrika’s North (7 4) | BU + [("secondly") tO + AFRIKAS + N]* ("travel") = BURKINA FASO def. "1st place to visit?" https://puzzles.mit.edu/2019/puzzle/first_you_visit_burkina_faso.html |
rpl | 0 |
| 8809 | THYMINE (7) | It's in genetic material of femur and acidic, they say (7) | def "It's in genetic material" Sounds like ("they say"): THIGH ("femur") + MEAN ("acidic", as in "an acidic comment") |
rpl | 0 |
| 8816 | THYMINE (7) | This essential component of DNA (my chemistry cap ensures) lacks sulfur! (7) | [THIS + dNa + MY]* (“chemistry”) + (“cap”) E_ - S = THYMINE &lit. chemical composition of Thymine doesn't have Sulfur :P |
rpl | 0 |
| 8817 | NOTA BENE (4, 4) | Pay attention to a lying American president?? Not in France. (4 4) | def. Pay attention to "a lying American president??" = NOT ABE "Not in France" = NE |
rpl | 0 |
| 8835 | EUNICE (6) | European storm the focus of day before increases 20-fold and engulfs British college (6) | EVE ("day before") with "the focus increased 20-fold" = E(v->C)E (i.e. Roman numerals) "engulfs" = containment UNI = "British college" (UK term) def. European storm = E(UNI)CE |
rpl | 0 |
| 8849 | CARING (6) | Kind of around circle (6) | CA = around RING = circle def. kind |
rpl | 0 |
| 8850 | SURNAME OF ANY U.S. PRESIDENT - NO REPEATED ANSWERS (?) | Perhaps Pope Paul II abutting on Senator tricky Dick (7) | JOHN = "Perhaps Pope Paul II" "abutting" = concat. connector SON = [ON + S(enator)]* "tricky" |
rpl | 0 |
| 8862 | SURNAME OF ANY U.S. PRESIDENT - NO REPEATED ANSWERS (?) | Overrule judge supporting heartless traitor (5) | T(raito)R + (supported by) + UMP (judge) def = overrule |
rpl | 0 |
| 8867 | RETROGRADE (10) | Road to regret travels backwards (10) | [ROAD + REGRET]* = RETROGRADE = def. backwards | rpl | 0 |
| 8871 | ANY ICONIC DUO “X AND Y” E.G. “FISH AND CHIPS”, “TOM AND JERRY” ETC. (X, 3, Y) | Sisters crushed Carlsen with a losing chess opening; rook sacrifice surprised Anand. (4,3,4) | [CARLSEN + A]* (“crushed”) - C_ - R(ook) = ELSA AN [ANAND]* (“surprised”) = D ANNA def. Sisters = ELSA AND ANNA |
rpl | 0 |
| 8874 | ANY CLUE FEATURING BOTH A SONG AND ITS ARTIST (?) | "Wildest Dreams" (cut edition), by T. Swift (5) | [(-ed)SMAR]* + T. = SMART = def. "Swift" | rpl | 0 |
| 8894 | SPRAY (5) | Shower of USA's last leader in Russia turns up, then seized by agent (5) | SP(R_ _A)<Y "turns up" = rev. indicator "seized by" = containment indicator def. Shower ("of" = connector) |
rpl | 0 |
| 8906 | INDIANA (7) | Wicked Idina tours an American state (7) | [IDINA]* = INDI A ("tours"/around) AN def. American state |
rpl | 0 |
| 8910 | INDIANA (7) | Mike Pence’s state of mind (avoiding the hint of marriage) is on a topless man and a naked man (7) | (-m_)IND + I ("a") + mAN (“topless”) + mAn (“naked”) def. Mike Pence’s state = INDIANA |
rpl | 0 |
| 8973 | ANY BATMAN SUPERVILLAIN (?) | "Little blue is one in misery" - Ms. Stefani sings (7) | Sounds like ("sings") PAIN ("misery") + GWEN ("Ms. Stefani") def. "Little blue is one" = PENGUIN |
rpl | 0 |
| 9046 | ET TU (2,2) | Declare revolutionary beheaded in statement after betrayal (2,2) | Declare = UTTER; revolutionary = reversal; beheaded = delete 1st letter (r)ETTU< = ET TU def. "statement after betrayal" |
rpl | 0 |
| 9491 | THANOS (6) | Originally a character from Titan, gauntlet wearer that sacrifices first daughter to acquire soul stone and finish Avengers! (6) | T_ = “Originally a character from Titan” HAN(-d_) = “gauntlet wearer that sacrifices first daughter” “to acquire” = juxtaposition indicator O = “soul stOne” _S = “finish avengerS” |
rpl | 0 |
| 9513 | A CLUE WHERE EVERY WORD, AS WELL AS THE ANSWER, ARE ALSO VALID WORDS IN NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE(S) (?) | Vice president plus zero assembles animal (5) | BURRO (Spanish) wordplay: BURR (Vice president) + O (zero) assembles = connector def: animal vice = French for vice president = French for president plus = French for plus/more zero = French for zero assembles = French conjugation for assemble animal = French for animal |
rpl | 0 |
| 9524 | EXPONENT (8) | Operand of e^(1+Nt) (8) | def = operand connector = of e^(1+nt) = EXP(ONE+Nt) |
rpl | 0 |
| 9528 | ELEVEN (6) | A telekinetic knight who is the infatuation of an enigmatic Villanelle joins the French Revolution (6) | def = A telekinetic (Eleven, main character from Netflix’s Stranger Things) N = "knight" (chess abbrev) EVE = "who is the infatuation of an enigmatic Villanelle" - from the TV show “Killing Eve”, Villanelle and Eve are two spies who become infatuated with each other LE = "the French" reversal indicator = "Revolution" ELEVEN = (N + EVE + LE)< |
rpl | 0 |
| 9577 | LECHONK (7) | The French king eats donut in China and becomes a Japanese hog (7) | wordplay - LE+K. around CH(O)N link - and becomes def - a Japanese hog |
rpl | 0 |
| 9591 | TÜRKIYE | Identity assumed by Turkey, roughly! (7) | Identity - I. (math abbrev) assumed by - containment indicator roughly - anagrind TURKYE* contains I. &lit - “roughly”, because the umlaut Ü is not properly clued |
rpl | 0 |
| 9607 | ASPHODEL (8) | Snape, lost man with no heart? Holds crush for Lily. (8) | “man with no heart?” = Tin (ala The Wizard of Oz) = Sn (-sn)APE = “Snape, lost man with no heart?” (-sn)[APE + HOLDS]* (“crush”) = ASPHODEL = def. Lily |
rpl | 0 |
| 9613 | TANGIBLE (8) | Clear-cut Disney film features the return of Evan Rachel Wood, maybe (8) | cut Disney film - TANGLE(d) featuring - containment the return of - reversal Evan Rachel Wood, maybe - BI(sexual) TANG(IB<)LE = def. Clear |
rpl | 0 |
| 9633 | ANY CLUE THAT IS A MASSIVE SPOILER (OF A BOOK/MOVIE/SHOW ETC.) (?) | ||(Star Wars, Episode IX)|| Somehow, Sideous… he returned??? (7) | ODISEUS* (alt. spelling, Odysseus https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Odiseus) def - he returned?? refers to Odiseus finally returning home after decades long journey in "The Odyssey" |
rpl | 0 |
| 9642 | COASTER (7) | Barge in over Republican and AOC assuming office (7) | def. Barge = (R+AOC)<(over) containing(assuming) STE.(suite/office) | rpl | 0 |
| 9651 | GRANULAR (8) | Sandy is odd girl, one to run around and about LA (8) | def Sandy = G_R_ + A (one) + NU(LA)R< | rpl | 0 |
| 9682 | ANY CLUE WHERE THE ANSWER IS ONE OF THE WORDS IN THE CLUE ITSELF (EXCEPT THE DEFINITION) (?) | No, it was rejected by Germany half-finished. What’s missing? (10) | DE (Germany) + (half-) FINIshed + TI,ON< (was rejected) = DEFINITION (i.e. What’s missing?) The answer, indeed, is one of the words in “THE CLUE ITSELF (EXCEPT THE DEFINITION)” |
rpl | 0 |
| 9820 | CLUE THAT'S ENTIRELY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (ANSWER, DEFINITION, AND CRYPTIC READING) | A Sith lord? Mesa? Dis nutsen. Yousa takin' off clothes! (7) | def - A Sith lord [I (mesa) + DIS]* (nutsen) + _OUS_ (yOUSa, taking off clothes) = SIDI*_OUS_ |
rpl | 0 |
| 9829 | CLUE CONTAINING NO WORDS OF INDO-EUROPEAN ORIGIN (?) | Tofu kamikaze azimuth sofa (5) | chinese, japanese, arabic, arabic FUTO*+N(orth) |
rpl | 0 |
| 9830 | BELIES (6) | The Reverend of excuses, spills "ash", misleads (6) | spoonerism of ælə,baɪz ("alibis") - æ (spills "ash") = bə,laɪz (BELIES) | rpl | 0 |
| 9915 | ANY CLUE WITH AN "OBVIOUS" ANSWER THAT'S ONLY RULED OUT BY THE ENUMERATION (?) | Do team gathering (5) | def Do = MATE* ddef PARTY |
rpl | 0 |
| 9916 | ANY CLUE WITH AN "OBVIOUS" ANSWER THAT'S ONLY RULED OUT BY THE ENUMERATION (?) | JKR, essentially gas blow? (4) | not _K_ + O(xygen) = def blow ddef FART (see: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=FART%20%28Acronym%29) |
rpl | 0 |
| 9931 | CONTACT (7) | Reach out to visual aid (7) | ddef | rpl | 0 |
| 9943 | CORN (4) | Protuberance of horn for conservative at the fringe (4) | def: protuberance (i.e. callous on the foot: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16896-corns-and-calluses) wp: (h->C)ORN |
rpl | 0 |
| 9944 | CORNER (6) | Protuberance of horn for conservative at the fringe (6) | def: protuberance wp: CORNE(t->R) (R = "conservative") |
rpl | 0 |
| 10177 | DOGMA (5) | ꓔꓰꓠꓱꓕ rewind: a film ending with the beginning? (5) | Tenet - def rewind... - reversal A filM ending - A+_M with - juxtaposition the beginning? - GOD (A+_M+GOD)< = DOGMA |
rpl | 0 |
| 10209 | GAP (3) | Regulatory binder for opening of Galactic test (3) | triple def. "Regulatory binder" (GaP = GTPase-activating protein, which binds G protein to regulate their activity) = "opening" (gap) = "Galactic test" (GAP) OR def. "Regulatory binder" = G_ ("opening of Galactic") + AP ("test") |
rpl | 0 |
| 10231 | BALANCE (7) | Disco party left Democrat wanting tension (7) | BAL(-L + D)ANCE ("wanting" = subtraction indicator) def - tension i.e. hanging in the balance |
rpl | 0 |
| 10280 | TALKING HEADS (7, 5) | Elsa and heartless knight forged some anchors (7,5) | (ELSA + A_N + KNIGHT)* def - some anchors (as in TV show hosts) |
rpl | 0 |
| 10291 | C MAJOR (1, 5) | Simple scale theater rejected _Romeo & Juliet_ leads over, over, and over... (1,5) | def - "Simple scale" CMA< = AMC ("theater") reversal ("rejected") R_J_ = "Romeo & Juliet leads" J_(O.)R_< = over {container} O(ver) {cricket abbrev}, and over {reversal} CMA< + J_(O.)R_< |
rpl | 0 |
| 10294 | PRISM (5) | Returned car's sticker price on a window (5) | MSRP ("car's sticker price") contains I ("a") reversed ("returned") MS(I)RP< |
rpl | 0 |
| 10295 | NEW ORDER (3, 5) | Newordle − #50 ||LATIN QUEEN|| :yellow_square: :yellow_square: :yellow_square: :yellow_square: :yellow_square: → :green_square: :green_square: :green_square: :green_square: :green_square: (3,5) | NEWORDE = Neword(−L)e ("− #50") R = LATIN QUEEN (abbrev for "regina") def: 🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨 (yellow squares) → 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 (green squares) |
rpl | 0 |
| 10300 | BELLES-LETTRES (6-7) | Bestseller novel covering Latin and French literary genre (6-7) | BESTSELLER novel - BELLES TRES* covering - {container} Latin - L. (abbrev) and French - ET literary genre - def BELLES(L.+ET)TRES* |
rpl | 0 |
| 10303 | FEDERER (7) | Queen Serena ❤️ retired under-served tennis GOAT (7) | ER = Queen (short for "Elizabeth Regina") _ER<_ = seREna ("heart"), reversed ("retired") {vertical juxtaposition} = under- FED - served FED+ER+_ER<_ |
rpl | 0 |
| 10305 | TERRITORY (9) | "_Go_, aim for panic," E.G. Thatcher declared (9) | def - "Go" aim (i.e. the goal of Go, the strategy game, is to acquire "territory") TERROR - "panic" TORY - "e.g. Thatcher" (i.e. UK Conservative PM Margaret Thatcher) {homophone} - "declared" |
rpl | 0 |
| 10316 | A STRAIGHT CROSSWORD CLUE THAT IS ALSO PARSEABLE AS A CRYPTIC CLUE (HAVING A DIFFERENT ANSWER) (?) | `____` & `____`' _Communist Manifesto_ (10) | straight: MARXENGELS (10) cryptic: ____ & ____ = RED ACTIONS (10) |
rpl | 0 |
| 10318 | ODD FUTURE (3, 6) | Band of Martians and Veggies riot on Tudor feud (3,6) | Band of (Matt) Martians and (Casey) Veggies = TUDOR FEUD* (riot on = anagrind) | rpl | 0 |
| 10320 | A STRAIGHT CROSSWORD CLUE THAT IS ALSO PARSEABLE AS A CRYPTIC CLUE (HAVING A DIFFERENT ANSWER) (?) | Property of Vivaldi's "Summer"? (6) | standard: PRESTO - the concerto (its most iconic movement) is played very rapidly, officially at a musical tempo marking of "presto" cryptic (ddef): ESTATE = property; "estate" is also Italian for "summer" (Vivaldi = Italian ind.) ref - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL_K5Z1DeCc |
rpl | 0 |
| 10321 | BILLOWY (7) | Characteristic of a big Blue Wave at last, Barrasso (WY) supports S.4204, for one (7) | Characteristic of a big blue wave - def at last, Barrasso (WY) - _O WY supports - vertical juxtaposition S.4204, for one - BILL (i.e. a Senate resolution) BILL+_O WY |
rpl | 0 |
| 10324 | A STRAIGHT CROSSWORD CLUE THAT IS ALSO PARSEABLE AS A CRYPTIC CLUE (HAVING A DIFFERENT ANSWER) (?) | For example: tern, tailless cuckoo, and heron (5) | (standard) BIRDS (cryptic) EG+RET*_ = "heron" (shh close enough to be a def) EGRET matches BIRDS at one position, so we extract the letter R! |
rpl | 0 |
| 10327 | VIVACE (6) | https://postimg.cc/LYNGxycz | def = "con brio" (a musical direction to play lively/briskly, similar to vivace) V|IV = 5|4 time signature A-C-E = chord notes (juxtapose as a vertical clue) |
rpl | 0 |
| 10339 | SCHERZO (7) | A musical "dance" [sic] lacking heart, Oz refused to accommodate her (7) | A musical "dance" = S_C|(HER)|ZO< | rpl | 0 |
| 10343 | FIG LEAF (3, 4) | Finnish girlfriend covers plain wear for modesty? (3,4) | Finnish = FI (ISO lang abbrev) girlfriend covers plain = GF contains LEA (as a meadow) wear (n.) for modesty = FI+G(LEA)F |
rpl | 0 |
| 10344 | CROP TOP (4, 3) | British king to vacation in work wear that's risqué? (4,3) | British king = CR (charles rex) vacation in work = PTO (paid time-off) in OP (opus) wear that's risqué? = CR+O(PTO)P |
rpl | 0 |
| 10359 | CADENZA (7) | Solo passage around Germany set back Asian (7) | Solo passage = CA. (circa/around) + DE (Germany) + NZA< (Asian = AZN, set back) | rpl | 0 |
| 10368 | OLIVE BRANCH (5, 6) | Symbol of peace & love to endure and grow (5,6) | Symbol of peace = O (love) + LIVE (to endure) + BRANCH (grow) | rpl | 0 |
| 10369 | CORONIAL (8) | Villain or occultist's turn to hold a quarantine baby (8) | Villain or occultist = fodder; 's turn = reversal; to hold = hidden word indicator (vil]LAIN OR OC[cultist)< = def. a quarantine baby |
rpl | 0 |
| 10374 | LOOKDOWN (8) | John King, CNN anchor, eats industrial grade fish (8) | John King - LOO+K. CNN anchor - _N eats industrial grade - contains DOW (stock index) LOO+K(DOW)_N = def "fish" |
rpl | 0 |
| 10380 | PAGODA (6) | Previously had some uncomfortable kisses on temple (6) | Previously = AGO Some uncomfortable kisses = PDA (public displays of affection) {X} "had" {Y} "on" = X contains Y (in the sense of putting clothes "on") P(AGO)DA = def "temple" |
rpl | 0 |
| 10389 | FAIT ACCOMPLI (4, 8) | Ran away from California camp to lead poorly-done deal (4,8) | Ran away from - delete RAN from... California camp, To lead, poorly - (CALIFORNIA CAMP T_)* (CALIFORNIA CAMP T_)* - RAN = FAIT ACCOMPLI(-ran)* def = "done deal" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/done%20deal |
rpl | 0 |
| 10399 | ARENA (5) | Performance space, for one (5) | Performance = ARIA space (EN), for one (I) = I -> EN AR(i->EN)A &lit. (entire clue is the def) |
rpl | 0 |
| 10400 | RETURNED (8) | Ed Turner's shot hit back (8) | ED TURNER* ("[i]s shot" = anagrind) def = hit back (as in sports, e.g. tennis) |
rpl | 0 |
| 10401 | FOR GOOD (3,4) | Wicked Tony hit female on head with rod outside of work (3,4) | F(emale) O_ + R(GO)OD = "Wicked" Tony hit (i.e. title of popular song acclaimed at the Tonys - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpm446mRQ2g) | rpl | 0 |
| 10409 | ARENA (5) | Playing area/venue/center (5) | Playing = anagram AREA _N_* &lit. (entire clue is the def) |
rpl | 0 |
| 10418 | MEMORY (6) | Macavity envies Mulan obviously, leads raspy cover for "Reflection" (6) | M_E_M_O_ (leads) R__Y (cover) // {for} reflection = def |
rpl | 0 |
| 10422 | OVERWATCH (9) | Hot RPG thrown, finish off evac in blizzard (9) | Hot RPG = def THROW_ EVAC = thrown, finish off evac in blizzard = anagrind OVERWATCH(-n)* |
rpl | 0 |
| 10428 | NIGHTHAWKS (10) | Evening folks' fancy Hawaii wedding starts and ends with thanks (10) | Evening folks = def (same sense as calling people "night owls") fancy = anagrind [H__I W__G (starts and ends) + THANKS]* = fodder |
rpl | 0 |
| 10433 | OVERWATCH (9) | Safeguard and move central water supply to Switzerland (9) | def = Safeguard, link = and _OV_ ("central") ERWAT* ("supply") + CH ("Switzerland") supply (adverb of supple) means free-flowing |
rpl | 0 |
| 10458 | ANY PUZZLEHUNT TEAM (?) | Belief about California's outside gold over border school divided team (17, 3 wds.) | THE(C__A RO< LINE SCH.)ISM ("over" = reversal) THE(C(OR)A. + LINE SCH.)ISM ("over" = juxtaposition in down clue) |
rpl | 0 |
| 10464 | ANY PUZZLEHUNT TEAM (?) | Some puzzlers: "So we start to solve a pure meta?" Me: 😖 (16, 3 wds) | [SO WE (start to) S_ A PURE META ME]* (confounded) = SUPER TEAM AWESOME |
rpl | 0 |
| 10467 | CARAFE (6) | Pitcher for Golden State abused a ref (6) | def = Pitcher {for} // CA (Golden State) + RAFE* | rpl | 0 |
| 10468 | GOLFER (6) | Player putting on green upset referee after Messi's score (6) | def = Player putting on green // GOL ("goal", Spa.) + (after) FER< (upset referee) | rpl | 0 |
| 10483 | VERDIGRIS (9) | Green coat of mine found in river's ruined (9) | def = Green coat DIG (v. mine) in VER()RIS* (rivers ruined) |
rpl | 0 |
| 10484 | SHORTEST (8) | Tory leader? Toss her out like Putin among Russia's leaders (8) | T_ TOSS HER* (out = anagrind) | rpl | 0 |
| 10491 | DOWN (4) | Feathers of swallow (4) | ddef feathers = swallow (v.) | rpl | 0 |
| 10495 | PIKASHOCK (9) | Kings contain wild chaos after spy makes meme face (9) | K(*ASHOC)K (after) PI (spy) // {makes} meme face = def | rpl | 0 |
| 10496 | LIMITED (7) | Rationed fresh deli sandwiches with German (7) | *LI()ED (fresh deli) contains (v. sandwiches) MIT ("with", German) | rpl | 0 |
| 10497 | TRIPTYCH (8) | Endless cryptic puzzle hidden in the unfinished artwork (8) | CRYPTI_ (endless CRYPTIC) anagram (puzzle) inside T H_ (THE, unfinished) => T(RIPTYC_*)H_ | rpl | 0 |
| 10509 | HYGGE (5) | Husband flipped eggy Danish for comfort (5) | H(usband) YGGE< | rpl | 0 |
| 10514 | HAUNT (5) | Trouble for Henry, Lydia, or Becky (5) | def = trouble (v.) {for} // H(enry) (SI unit) AUNT (Lydia or Becky) | rpl | 0 |
| 10520 | DRACARYS (8) | Rhaenyra's pet losing tail badge over dragonfire (8) | Rhaenyra's pet, losing tail = SYRA(-x) badge = CARD over = reversal DRAC _ARYS< |
rpl | 0 |
| 10523 | AMALGAM (7) | American semi-fascist movement upset about Labour Union (7) | AM. = American A(L.)GAM< = semi-fascist movement [MAGA] reversed [upset], containing [about] L(abour) [UK Party abbr.] Union = def |
rpl | 0 |
| 10546 | MARICOPA (8) | Gerrymandered map containing ~42.85% of Arizona county results in site of many election lawsuits (8) | M PA* = Gerrymandered MAP containing ... ARI = ~42.85% (3/7) of ARIzona CO. = county |
rpl | 0 |
| 10897 | MIGHT (5) | Cologne with absorbing hydrogen gas used up, say (5) | Cologne = German indicator with = MIT (German) absorbing = containing H(ydrogen) G(as) = H G (chem abbreviations) used up = vertical reversal say = def (n. "clout") MI(GH<)T |
rpl | 0 |
| 10915 | ANY CLUE THAT CAN BE SUNG TO TUNE OF TMNT THEME SONG (?) | Heller hero's cloned degree, chief (5, 5, 5, 5) | Sing these words in Turtle Cadence: "Heller hero" definition; "Degree" means MAJOR; "Chief" means MAJOR; "Cloned" means doubled (that makes four times). Answer's sung in Turtle Cadence: MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR |
rpl | 0 |
| 11034 | ARRAIGNMENT (11) | Trial for a far-right Republican left out of order (11) | def = trial; link = for A _R = faR right R = Republican A(-l)IGNMENT = L(eft) out of order |
rpl | 0 |
| 11447 | G (1) | Final note of "Defying Gravity" (1) | _G // def = gravity (g) | rpl | 0 |
| 11537 | BAROQUE (7) | Obama's first order covering up torture by Spanish Inquisition was elaborate (7) | BAR(-rack) = Obama's first ... covering up torture (rack) O = order (abbrev in math/cs) QUE = Spanish Inquisition (i.e. "what?" in Spanish) def = elaborate (link = was) |
rpl | 0 |
| 11543 | NOVELLA (7) | Fitzgerald with new volume that includes love story (7) | ELLA (Fitzgerald) N(O)V = N(ew) V(olume) includes O (love) |
rpl | 0 |
| 11544 | R (1) | Short take is intended for mature audiences (7) | ddef short take - r. is abbrev from Latin for "take" (e.g. Rx prescription) intended for mature audiences - movie rating |
rpl | 0 |
| 11546 | R (1) | Language to be conjugated in speech (1) | def - R is a (programming) language wordplay - "to be" conjugated = "are", homophone (in speech) |
rpl | 0 |
| 11562 | BARBIE (6) | Robbie refuses Oscar with a plastic toy (6) | [R(-O)bbie + A]* (plastic = anagrind) / def = toy | rpl | 0 |
| 11711 | RECOVER (7) | Find Republican Electoral College voter fraud? Not true! (7) | def "find" = R EC OVER*(-t) | rpl | 0 |
| 12113 | WHAT (4) | "Huh? Who's short stop?" "Third base..." "On first base??" (4) | WHO's short = WH_ Stop? = TGA [or TAA] (codon) Third base... of STOP codon = __A [on] firsT base = __T (for a vertical clue) |
rpl | 0 |
| 12127 | BARBADOS (8) | Producer of Rihanna R&B single “Diamonds” wears steamy buns (8) | def = producer of Rihanna (i.e. the singer's birthplace) BA(R&B A D)OS |
rpl | 0 |
| 12132 | MIHOYO (6) | RPG manufacturer redirected ICBM shell to cargo hole (6) | def RPG manufacturer (i.e. the maker of Genshin Impact) M__I< (shell, redirected) HOY (cargo) O (hole) |
rpl | 0 |
| 12148 | SATURNINE (9) | Against the underdog Chiefs, Niners were upset... sad! (9) | [A_T_U_ NINERS]* ("were upset") | rpl | 0 |
| 12149 | MERCURIAL (9) | I'm up first to dance with (ignore the odds) Mr. Kelce & Taylor Swift! (9) | IM U_ anagrammed ("to dance") with even letters of mR kEcLe tAyLoR def = swift |
rpl | 0 |
| 12576 | ANY CLUE USING “PRIDE MONTH” (?) | Alabama embraces most of Pride Month (5) | A(PRI__)L | rpl | 0 |
| 12677 | BONELESS (8) | An Opening to celebrate with some chicken wings (8) | An = ONE; Opening = containment; to celebrate = B()LESS; with = link | rpl | 0 |