# A Crosswords Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 24, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245 "2020-07-24T19:42:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/1 "2020-07-24T19:42:30Z")
Where people can post and solve crossword puzzles. Does it sound like fun? I’ve just made a first crossword puzzle and I will post it right away. I look forward to your complete or partial solutions. * * * > **[crosswords hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/MpNSYTf)** > > Image crosswords hosted in ImgBB **ACROSS** **1.** They take you where you have never been before. **2.** (a) It causes you to lean. – (b) Not everyone can join there. **3.** (a) To keep the wolf from the door. – (b) They produce silk in India (singular). **4.** (a) D. – (b) He caused the first great deluge. – (c ) It’s smaller than a tribe in the North Caucasian region. **5.** (a) They toil the land in India (singular). – (b) They say God cares for all of them. **6.** A didactic book of the Roman Catholic canon of the Old Testament (abbreviation). **7.** (a) The first toy soldiers to be mass-produced. – (b) They are attracted by opposites (singular). **8.** (a) It’s used to express inclusion. – (b) Poor copycats. **9.** (a) In the manner of (two words). – (b) Almost black or black. **10.** Far from being helpful. **DOWN** **1.** It doesn’t make sense. **2.** (a) A tux front. – You give one and they take a mile (abbreviation). **3.** (a) A procedure that allows French institutions to grant degrees based on work experience (abbreviation). – (b) To be blessed with something. – (c ) Number 85 in a familiar tabular arrangement (abbreviation). **4.** (a) The direction of the sunrise (abbreviation). – (b) And. – (c ) To peter out. **5.** (a) Thank you. – (b) They help scientists classify different plants (singular). **6.** (a) An inexact unit of cargo capacity (abbreviation). – (b) An element of Japanese school uniform. **7.** (a) A long overcoat. – (b) Greenhouse Gas Emissions (French abbreviation). **8.** (a) Ascended. – (b) One who travels extra-light. **9.** (a) An old-fashioned case. – (b) Ill will in one’s actions. **10.** To meander. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/2 "2020-07-24T20:10:28Z")
I am re-posting the definitions to add a small correction. 🙂 **ACROSS** **1.** They take you where you have never been before. **2.** (a) It causes you to lean. – (b) Not everyone can join there. **3.** (a) To keep the wolf from the door. – (b) They produce silk in India (singular). **4.** (a) D. – (b) He caused the first great deluge. – (c ) It’s smaller than a tribe in the North Caucasian region. **5.** (a) They toil the land in India (singular). – (b) They say God cares for all of them. **6.** A didactic book of the Roman Catholic canon of the Old Testament (abbreviation). - (b) It shows off something you like (abbreviation). **7.** (a) The first toy soldiers to be mass-produced. – (b) They are attracted by opposites (singular). **8.** (a) It’s used to express inclusion. – (b) Poor copycats. **9.** (a) In the manner of (two words). – (b) Almost black or black. **10.** Far from being helpful. **DOWN** **1.** It doesn’t make sense. **2.** (a) A tux front. – You give one and they take a mile (abbreviation). **3.** (a) A procedure that allows French institutions to grant degrees based on work experience (abbreviation). – (b) To be blessed with something. – (c ) Number 85 in a familiar tabular arrangement (abbreviation). **4.** (a) The direction of the sunrise (abbreviation). – (b) And. – (c ) To peter out. **5.** (a) Thank you. – (b) They help scientists classify different plants (singular). **6.** (a) An inexact unit of cargo capacity (abbreviation). – (b) An element of Japanese school uniform. **7.** (a) A long overcoat. – (b) Greenhouse Gas Emissions (French abbreviation). **8.** (a) Ascended. – (b) One who travels extra-light. **9.** (a) An old-fashioned case. – (b) Ill will in one’s actions. **10.** To meander. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/3 "2020-07-25T03:04:07Z")
I am surprised that no one has tried to find a word in the puzzle yet. I have decided to reveal one word as a starting clue. 🙂 * * * > **[PUZZLE hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/rc1W2Q6)** > > Image PUZZLE hosted in ImgBB **ACROSS** **1.** They take you where you have never been before. **2.** (a) It causes you to lean. – (b) Not everyone can join there. **3.** (a) To keep the wolf from the door. – _**(b) They produce silk in India (singular)**_. **4.** (a) D. – (b) He caused the first great deluge. – (c ) It’s smaller than a tribe in the North Caucasian region. **5.** (a) They toil the land in India (singular). – (b) They say God cares for all of them. **6.** A didactic book of the Roman Catholic canon of the Old Testament (abbreviation). - (b) It shows off something you like (abbreviation). **7.** (a) The first toy soldiers to be mass-produced. – (b) They are attracted by opposites (singular). **8.** (a) It’s used to express inclusion. – (b) Poor copycats. **9.** (a) In the manner of (two words). – (b) Almost black or black. **10.** Far from being helpful. **DOWN** **1.** It doesn’t make sense. **2.** (a) A tux front. – You give one and they take a mile (abbreviation). **3.** (a) A procedure that allows French institutions to grant degrees based on work experience (abbreviation). – (b) To be blessed with something. – (c ) Number 85 in a familiar tabular arrangement (abbreviation). **4.** (a) The direction of the sunrise (abbreviation). – (b) And. – (c ) To peter out. **5.** (a) Thank you. – (b) They help scientists classify different plants (singular). **6.** (a) An inexact unit of cargo capacity (abbreviation). – (b) An element of Japanese school uniform. **7.** (a) A long overcoat. – (b) Greenhouse Gas Emissions (French abbreviation). **8.** (a) Ascended. – (b) One who travels extra-light. **9.** (a) An old-fashioned case. – (b) Ill will in one’s actions. **10.** To meander. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/4 "2020-10-07T09:00:26Z")
All right, my original crossword puzzle didn’t tempt anyone but maybe this word search will. It includes 13 words that make up a sentence I found in a novel. The words go in any direction and can be found individually - they do not overlap. The shortest word in the sentence is 3 letters long and the longest, 12 letters long. Here’s the word search for those interested in giving it a try: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/LvSZ7xY.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/LvSZ7xY) ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/5 "2020-10-07T12:33:16Z")
> [@PlaceboTarget](#): > > All right, my original crossword puzzle didn’t tempt anyone but maybe this word search will. The crossword you made was not like any American crossword I’ve ever seen. There’s a lot of Yanks on the SDMB so maybe that was part of the problem. I’m not that familiar with the British crossword form but yours didn’t seem to resemble that either. I know it confused me and thus I did not attempt it. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/6 "2020-10-07T12:36:26Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > I know it confused me and thus I did not attempt it. Okay, I understand. That form is the norm in Romania. And it is quite challenging, actually. Here’s an example: [![](https://anotimpurihd.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/revista7rebus.jpg?w=640) ](https://anotimpurihd.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/revista7rebus.jpg?w=640) * * * What about the word search? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/7 "2020-10-07T12:39:16Z")
> [@PlaceboTarget](#): > > What about the word search? I’m afraid I didn’t look too closely at it. I’ve never been a big fan of word searches. Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/8 "2020-10-23T06:58:51Z")
I still think it would be nice to have an active crossword thread, so I’ll try something else for crossword fans. A crossword puzzle may be more interesting when the definitions do not follow a dictionary form and are intended to function as some sort of riddles. I have made a simple one, with only five words. Please take a shot at this tiny puzzle; I will answer any questions you may have too. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/iBRjafZ.png "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/iBRjafZ) **ACROSS** **1.** The source of the source of truth (singular). **2.** Fake news. **3.** It’ll pass. **DOWN** **4.** Not fine at all. **5.** Property (plural). ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/9 "2020-10-24T05:38:35Z")
Yeah, not much enthusiasm. I mean, not at all. I knew my chances were slim, but I had hope. I’ll be posting the solution now and see whether there’ll be any reactions. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/WIL7v9B.png "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/WIL7v9B) ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/10 "2020-10-24T05:58:14Z")
I couldn’t guess any of the words without being able to figure out #1 - But I don’t know if I’ve ever hear “grape” mean “the source of the source of truth (singular)”. It’s not in any of my dictionaries. And we wouldn’t use “props” to mean “Property (plural)” ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/11 "2020-10-24T06:06:55Z")
I think you’re dealing with a lot of us who are used to American crosswords. We had an American crossword puzzle constructor and editor here some years ago ( **twickster** , for those of you who can remember), who posted some informative things about the puzzles. From what I can remember: – American puzzles are symmetrical, right-and-left, and up-and-down. The pattern of the black squares is not seemingly at random (as your Romanian example is); rather, the black squares form a pattern. Your five-word puzzle meets this parameter, but see further: – Every letter in an American crossword is used twice: once for the Across word, and once for the Down word. Your five-word puzzle breaks this rule, since some letters are only used once. This is common in British cryptic crosswords, though, so if you could come up with cryptic clues, you’d be fine. I like your idea of a crossword thread, as I love doing crosswords. New York Times Sunday puzzles are my favourites. But I also think that if we have a crossword thread, it’s got to be about the American-style puzzles that most of us would be familiar with. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/12 "2020-10-24T06:13:30Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > – Every letter in an American crossword is used twice: once for the Across word, and once for the Down word. Your five-word puzzle breaks this rule, since some letters are only used once. I’m fine with PlaceboTarget’s more open grid regardless of whether it’s the typical American format. It’s just that it’s a lot harder to complete when there are words that can’t be found, since there’s less to work off of. And I’m terrible at cryptics, and see no reason to try to make cryptic-style clues to match the grid. PlaceboTarget’s grid reminds me of the crossword puzzles from when we were kids (but with tougher clues!) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/13 "2020-10-24T06:21:43Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > And we wouldn’t use “props” to mean “Property (plural)” Well, we could, in a certain context: “props” are the properties that actors carry and use on stage. So, the gamblers’ guns, the cop’s gun, and the dice and fake cash that the gamblers are using are all props. In _Guys and Dolls_, anyway. Thinking back to **twickster** ’s clue threads (in which she challenged us to devise Easy, Medium, and Hard clues for a single word), you couldn’t use part of the answer in the clue. So, “Property (plural)” wouldn’t be acceptable. Better might be, “Actors’ carry-ons,” to state one example. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/14 "2020-10-24T06:26:36Z")
Thank you for your replies and for your clarifications. Let me process this information and I’ll get back here as soon as I can. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/15 "2020-10-24T06:28:22Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Well, we could, in a certain context: “props” are the properties that actors carry and use on stage. Yes, I’m aware of what the word “props” means. But even if the clue didn’t contain the word, it would be a terrible clue. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/16 "2020-10-24T06:28:25Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I’m fine with PlaceboTarget’s more open grid regardless of whether it’s the typical American format. It’s just that it’s a lot harder to complete when there are words that can’t be found, since there’s less to work off of. > > And I’m terrible at cryptics, and see no reason to try to make cryptic-style clues to match the grid. PlaceboTarget’s grid reminds me of the crossword puzzles from when we were kids (but with tougher clues!) I remember being in London years ago. Jet lag messed me up a bit, and I spent my first night sleepless. So I did the crosswords in the newspaper I bought. The first was American-style, and was pretty easy, thanks to the “each letter must be used twice” rule. The second was a British layout (i.e. no “each letter must be used twice” rule), but with American-style clues, so it was doable, though it took me a while. The third was a British cryptic, and impossible. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/17 "2020-10-24T06:29:31Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > The third was a British cryptic, and impossible. I’m in awe of people who can do them! It’s like a foreign language to me. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/18 "2020-10-24T06:35:02Z")
I’m in awe as well. My Grandmother (who was not British) loved them and could do them. It might take her a couple of hours, but she could get it done. However, she was amazed that I could actually do the diagramless crossword puzzles in the weekend paper. So I guess it all worked out. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/19 "2020-10-24T06:38:21Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > But I don’t know if I’ve ever hear “grape” mean “the source of the source of truth (singular)”. It’s not in any of my dictionaries. Where I come from, a degree of creativity and trickiness is allowed (which is why I mentioned the riddle as a way to define words). “In vino veritas” gives the idea that wine can be the source of truth - and wine comes from grapes (there would be no need to mention “singular” otherwise). “Property” would be tricky because it is almost too obvious to be true - but I agree it is not a great definition. I am grateful for all the explanations. I will study the matter a little bit and I’ll think of something that can appeal to American people. Thank you. 👍 ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/20 "2020-10-24T06:43:25Z")
I see! That makes sense and is a good clue, I just wasn’t clever enough. There are no doubt lots of posters here who are more advanced than I am at crosswords and could have figured out your puzzle - I can only do the NYTimes Sunday puzzle maybe half of the time all the way through. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245.md?page=2)