# Crossword Clue Game **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [October 25, 2020, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818 "2020-10-25T07:00:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/161 "2020-11-19T15:00:47Z")
1. This, from a cat, can produce fever. 2. “\_\_\_\_\_ & Dent” sale (cheap, slightly damaged). 3. As an app, Jr. will teach preschoolers basic skills. 4. Resist doing this to a rash. 5. Cats have posts for it. ---
**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:** [November 19, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/162 "2020-11-19T21:36:59Z")
Winner is @Dr_Paprika with: > [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > The scrub before the sniff and runner-ups are @Knowed_Out with: > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > This devil is old and @Spoons with: > [@Spoons](#): > > Car’s finish line? Very good entries all! You’re up next, @Dr_Paprika! ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2020, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/163 "2020-11-19T21:54:22Z")
Thanks. Just reviewed all the previous words. The next word is **CLEAR**. Good luck. ---
**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:** [November 19, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/164 "2020-11-19T23:28:56Z")
1. The best way for a coast to be 2. A kind of present danger 3. \_\_\_ your throat (ahem!) 4. State Scientologists seek 5. Shout by an EMT before using the defibrillator ---
**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:** [November 20, 2020, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/165 "2020-11-20T02:03:50Z")
1. Glass property 2. Nixon’s noun after “perfectly” 3. Remove dishes 4. Mud simile 5. Wiper’s job ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/166 "2020-11-20T15:56:30Z")
1. Bell’s audio quality 2. Exonerate 3. Safe condition of a coast 4. With loud, understandable 5. First of Celts and Shakespearean king are transparent ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/167 "2020-11-21T01:14:20Z")
I guess that’s about 24h. I liked all the entries. Especially “the state Scientologist seek”, by Chief Thetan @needscoffee, and Nixon’s noun by @Spoons. But I am partial to cryptic clues, which may not be fair because not everyone enjoys these puzzles. Nevertheless, I award the next round to @Knowed_Out for the final clue of “First of Celts and Shakespearean King are transparent”. Congratulations all. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/168 "2020-11-21T02:26:35Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > First of Celts and Shakespearean King are transparent”. Ok, I’ll admit it. I need someone to explain this one 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:** [November 21, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/169 "2020-11-21T02:32:51Z")
“First of **C** elts” would be the letter C. “Shakespearean King” would be LEAR. “Are transparent” helps to make it clear (ha!) that we’re not looking for Kings Henry IV or V, who are also Shakespearean kings. So, C + LEAR = CLEAR. Well done, **Knowed Out**! ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/170 "2020-11-21T02:38:41Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Are transparent” helps to make it clear (ha!) that we’re not looking for Kings Henry IV or V, who are also Shakespearean kings. So, C + LEAR = CLEAR. Thank you. Clever. Atypically for me, I was being too literal. Hmmm. Hope I get over that. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2020, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/171 "2020-11-21T03:23:05Z")
“First of Celts and Shakespearean King are transparent” was very clever. I was able to puzzle it out, but I suspect that was only because I already knew the answer. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/172 "2020-11-21T04:50:53Z")
I actually do better at cryptics than I do regular crosswords. 🕶 The new word is **FINGER** ---
**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:** [November 21, 2020, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/173 "2020-11-21T04:57:50Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > Clever. Average grade of cleaning brothers? 😉 Continue with **FINGER**. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2020, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/174 "2020-11-21T05:30:33Z")
1. Digit 2. Ring is one 3. Place for a nail 4. Two can be snappy 5. Poker? ---
**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:** [November 21, 2020, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/175 "2020-11-21T05:45:12Z")
1. Polydactylous duplicative 2. Something you give to someone who angers you, or something you lift for someone who needs you 3. Kindergartner’s painting implement 4. Lady’s fundamental ingredient in tiramisu 5. It’s this lickin’ good ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/176 "2020-11-21T19:47:22Z")
If you like regular crosswords, you might like cryptics. There must be some introductory puzzles and explanations on the Interweb, because you have to understand the conventions. The above clue was easy by cryptic standards, but “first of” is a standard clue. There are lots of others, and anagrams are the norm. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2020, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/177 "2020-11-21T19:51:20Z")
I’ve tried cryptics and have never been able to get anywhere with them. Maybe I have to start at kindergarten level and work my way up. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2020, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/178 "2020-11-22T00:43:41Z")
Cryptics are not the easiest skill to learn. Games Magazine used to have the occasional easy cryptic. Once you know the conventions it might just be easier to look at answers and figure out where they came from. > **[crosswordacademy.com](http://ww38.crosswordacademy.com/cryptic.html)** > > This domain may be for sale! Anyway, for finger: 1. Tactile dactyl 2. Limb at the lips of the librarian? 3. Can be followed by paints, prints or puppets 4. Has a knuckle and a nail 5. Types include ring, middle and trigger And some (bad) cryptic clues (for practice, not all of these are easy): 1. A toff in Germany, bent to grasp teacup 2. Point out a fringe benefit? 3. Where to wear an iron ring? Elementary. 4. Relief pitcher Rollie (if single minded). 5. Paul Simon’s Myth, without the Prince ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/179 "2020-11-22T01:20:31Z")
Spoilers (1-5, respectively): 1. A tofF IN GERmany … sometimes the answer is literally written into the clue. 2. Finger is an anagram of Fringe. These are common, and often mix different words as well. 3. Roman numerals, capital letters and elements are fair game. FE=iron, FE and RING anagram to FINGER. 4. Rollie FingerS is a famous relief pitcher in baseball, but we don’t want the extra S. 5. The Myth Of Fingerprints is a Paul Simon Song from (I think) _The Rhythm of the Saints_. Prince=prints, homonyms are common in cryptic puzzles. So Fingerprints without the “prince” leaves FINGER. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2020, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818/180 "2020-11-22T01:52:40Z")
There have been some really challenging clues presented. I had to some research to decide the winner, and learned some new things. There is a difference between “polydactyl” and “dactyl.” “Polydactyl” describes someone who has more than the normal amount of digits. “Dactyl” is a term for a three-syllable word that stresses only the first syllable. EX: “poetry.” > [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Tactile dactyl So this one is incorrect without the “poly.” > [@needscoffee](#): > > Polydactylous duplicative This one wins! Grats @needscoffee! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-clue-game/923818.md?page=10)