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In addition to computer training, Andy Brown is also an addict of the Times Crossword. In this blog Andy takes a break from blogging on software to list his 12 favourites clues from the last 5 years of puzzles.
- 12 best Times Cryptic Crossword clues of the last 5 years?
- 12th position (from puzzle number 26670) (this blog)
- 11th position (from puzzle number 26345)
- 10th position (from Sunday Times puzzle 4698)
- 9th position (from puzzle number 26796)
- 8th position (from Jumbo crossword puzzle number 1171)
- 7th position (from puzzle 25442)
- 6th position (from puzzle 26322)
- 5th position (from puzzle number 26111)
- 4th position (from puzzle number 26734)
- 3rd position (from Sunday Times puzzle 4687)
- 2nd position (from Sunday Times puzzle 4659)
- In 1st position (from puzzle 25482)
Posted by Andy Brown on 11 December 2017
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12th position (from puzzle number 26670)
In 12th position, a clue which seems to be about a flight of health workers landing safely (the number in brackets shows how many letters there are in the answer):
A cryptic clue should have two readings. One (the surface reading) should ideally tell a story which has got nothing whatsoever to do with the final answer; the other reading typically contains a definition of the answer, and some wordplay leading you to it.
So let's try this clue again - but this time I've put the definition in capitals:
This gives the answer: EARTHED. You can see this more clearly with more capitals:
So another way to read this clue is that the phrase HEAR THE DISTRICT nurses a definition of the phrase GOT TO GROUND SAFELY.
A hidden clue like this is one of the less common types of cryptic clue. The Times crossword has a self-imposed limit of at most one hidden clue per puzzle.
Now you've got the idea, see if you can solve these hidden clues:
| Puzzle | Clue |
|---|---|
| 25538 | Academic rose, condemning boxing in an instant (11) |
| 25591 | Run out of gear? Avoid lending clothes (4) |
| 26258 | Devastate a fort, wounding a number inside (3,3,3) |
Note that there always has to be an indicator that you're looking for a hidden word: in the above clues, this is BOXING, CLOTHES and INSIDE respectively.
- 12 best Times Cryptic Crossword clues of the last 5 years?
- 12th position (from puzzle number 26670) (this blog)
- 11th position (from puzzle number 26345)
- 10th position (from Sunday Times puzzle 4698)
- 9th position (from puzzle number 26796)
- 8th position (from Jumbo crossword puzzle number 1171)
- 7th position (from puzzle 25442)
- 6th position (from puzzle 26322)
- 5th position (from puzzle number 26111)
- 4th position (from puzzle number 26734)
- 3rd position (from Sunday Times puzzle 4687)
- 2nd position (from Sunday Times puzzle 4659)
- In 1st position (from puzzle 25482)