# 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:** 3
**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 25, 2020, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/41 "2020-10-25T06:13:07Z")
Thank you again, but I’ve just noticed that every time I click there are different definitions with different solutions, obviously. ---
**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 25, 2020, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/42 "2020-10-25T06:16:15Z")
Yeah, I guess we’d have to find a free crossword site that has puzzles that stay stable in their URLs. Enjoy your breakfast! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2020, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/43 "2020-10-25T06:18:26Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > For example, here’s a puzzle in a free crossword site. It’s American-style (notice the symmetry), and it’s fairly easy. 1A is “ACRE,” for example, and 2D is CANAL. Here you go: > > [boatloadpuzzles.com](https://www.boatloadpuzzles.com/playcrossword) > > ### [Free Online Crossword Puzzles](https://www.boatloadpuzzles.com/playcrossword) That’s like a NYT Monday puzzle, the easiest. And without all the puns. ---
**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 25, 2020, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/44 "2020-10-25T06:19:54Z")
It would be stable if you just enter a puzzle number. But I agree that the puzzles are very easy. ---
**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 25, 2020, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/45 "2020-10-25T06:23:59Z")
> [@PlaceboTarget](#): > > Great suggestion. I’ll be chewing on it during the breakfast that my wife is preparing right now. Breakfast ova: EGGS What a Die Hard quarterback might be: TOAST Corn Flakes kind of killer? : SERIAL Ebert did this to baked treats: PANCAKES Race cars need this: JUICE Hot beverage: COFFEE Hey, this is fun! Wonder if we can make something out of this. ---
**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 25, 2020, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/46 "2020-10-25T06:25:12Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > That’s like a NYT Monday puzzle, the easiest. And without all the puns. Sure, but **PlaceboTarget** is a newbie at American puzzles. Let’s get him eased into them. ---
**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 25, 2020, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/47 "2020-10-25T06:37:34Z")
Changes his mind about what he wants for breakfast: WAFFLES Tasty torus: BAGEL Killer Qrtrbck and bkfst bevrg: OJS Party Paper: CREPE Food for a hangry horse: OATS ---
**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 25, 2020, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/48 "2020-10-25T06:42:08Z")
Great, **needscoffee**! I like it! (And WAFFLES is particularly clever.) Actually, I’ve got an idea for a crossword game that just might work. Similar to the Caption Contest, one person states a solution word, and everybody tries to contribute clues. Best clue (like your one for WAFFLES in relation to breakfast) gets to choose the next word. What does anybody think? ---
**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 25, 2020, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/49 "2020-10-25T06:42:48Z")
That’s a cute idea. Sounds fun. ---
**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 25, 2020, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/50 "2020-10-25T06:43:35Z")
I’m on it. Stand by… ---
**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 25, 2020, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/51 "2020-10-25T06:46:45Z")
Chinese chowdery choice: CONGEE What real men don’t eat for breakfast: QUICHE All up mixed: SCRAMBLED What Ahnold eats for breakfast when he’s performing in Shakespeare: OMELET What kind of eggs Sam Spade eats: HARDBOILED Eggs eaten out of season: POACHED ---
**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 25, 2020, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/52 "2020-10-25T07:06:06Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > That’s a cute idea. Sounds fun. It’s up now. Let’s play! ---
**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 25, 2020, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/53 "2020-10-25T07:20:45Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > What does anybody think? Wow. 🙂 👍 👍 👍 ---
**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 25, 2020, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/54 "2020-10-25T07:42:07Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Wonder if we can make something out of this. Of course we can. 🙂 [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/91qKcLT.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/91qKcLT) [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/Kudd9OM.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/Kudd9OM) ---
**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 25, 2020, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/55 "2020-10-25T07:49:28Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > It’s up now. Let’s play! I agree with this idea. I think it has a lot of potential. Let’s see where this can lead. And probably you should be the first to post the word to define. I may be an enthusiast, but I’m not as good as other people here. 🙂 👍 ---
**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 25, 2020, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/56 "2020-10-25T07:57:45Z")
Very clever! ---
**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 25, 2020, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/57 "2020-10-25T09:49:38Z")
All right, all this brainstorming seems to have led to the launch of [this new great thread game](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818). 🙂 It has also made me think of ways to improve my own thread game, but before I expound on them, I think I should give the solution to the crossword puzzle I posted somewhere up there: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/W52WLL8.png "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/W52WLL8) ---
**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 25, 2020, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/58 "2020-10-25T11:04:24Z")
As I was saying, the brainstorming above has made me realize a couple problems with the present game thread which I will try to find solutions to in this post. 1. A crossword puzzle game thread may not be such a good idea because making crossword puzzles is few people’s cup of tea. It is time consuming and complicated. This part must be radically simplified. 2. My posting my own creations is a dead end because the thread game should be about crossword puzzles not about me making crossword puzzles. Therefore, I must come up with something universal and accessible. This should be the new KISS – “Keep It Simple&Smart!” 😊 Okay, I’ve thought of something already but I’m not sure whether people will go with this or not. Simplification and accessibility refers to both the process of creation and the manner in which the puzzle can be represented in the thread. Now, the simplest crossword puzzle would be one with two words: one across, and one down. Here are some examples: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/OiSoyIz.png "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/OiSoyIz) [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/OXaYcqR.png "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/OXaYcqR) Whereas anybody can come up with a two-word puzzle like that, I think the second of the two above is easier to represent in a post here. **?** **?** **?** **?** **?** **S ? ? ? ? ? ? ?** DOWN: Featherless bipeds. ACROSS: Bubbling. The final idea for the thread game is that one should post the structure of a simple crossword puzzle as the one in my last example, revealing the letter where the two words intersect and giving the clues for the two words. The first person to guess these two words wins the round and gets to post the next puzzle. What do you think of my new brilliant idea? I know, right? 🙂 * * * Okay, then. I’ll post the first puzzle. It’s simple; it’s fun. Please participate! **?** **?** **?** **?** **?** **?** **R ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?** DOWN: This is where you can see the invisible man. ACROSS: An activity performed by either the dumbest animal or the smartest one. ---
**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 30, 2020, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/59 "2020-10-30T19:54:25Z")
Well, I’ve just made a crossword puzzle in case someone wants to participate. 🙂 [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/LYNefKz.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/LYNefKz) **ACROSS** **1.** Pale brown. [6 letters] **2.** Are you? (abbrev.). [2 letters] **3.** Userpic. [6 letters] **4.** Hunger. [6 letters] **5.** Used by Chicago commuters. [2 letters] **6.** Vamps. [6 letters] **DOWN** **7.** Teasing remarks (pl.). [6 letters] **8.** Junior to an admiral (abbrev.). [2 letters] **9.** A writer of the US Constitution. [6 letters] **10.** Of zero help. [6 letters] **11.** Andaman and Nicobar Islands (abbrev.). [2 letters] **12.** An exit. [6 letters] Please post your answers or questions. ---
**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 31, 2020, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245/60 "2020-10-31T07:39:17Z")
Well, I’m stumped. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-crosswords-thread/916245.md?page=4)