# Crossword Puzzles - Love 'em or ... don't **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-puzzles-love-em-or-dont/448831 "2008-05-10T18:34:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![from\_a\_to\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5fc32e/32.png) [@from\_a\_to\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/from_a_to_z)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-puzzles-love-em-or-dont/448831/21 "2008-05-10T21:12:37Z")
[QUOTE=The Cocky Watchman] kcul (9-2-7) ytud (3-7) [/QUOTE] Fortunate in reverse? Xat returns? And [QUOTE=postcards] Five-sided brass container [/QUOTE] could be confused tango pen. One of my favorite from Cox and Rathvon a decade or so ago: Sow observed on “The Beverly Hillbillies”? (4) ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-puzzles-love-em-or-dont/448831/22 "2008-05-10T21:25:42Z")
[QUOTE=from\_a\_to\_z] Fortunate in reverse? Xat returns? And could be confused tango pen. One of my favorite from Cox and Rathvon a decade or so ago: Sow observed on “The Beverly Hillbillies”? (4) [/QUOTE] Very good **from\_a\_to\_z** - Reversal of fortune and tax returns. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-puzzles-love-em-or-dont/448831/23 "2008-05-10T21:29:48Z")
[QUOTE=The Cocky Watchman] I like tackling Aracauria in the Saturday Guardian. He’s legendary, but probably one of the easier cryptic setters, on the basis that I stuggle with most of the other Guardian cryptics (Anyone try Bunthorne - he’s savage!). Some from a while back - last Christmas I think kcul (9-2-7) ytud (3-7) [/QUOTE] The first is “Reversal of Fortune” The second, I think is “Tax Returns” My problem with British cryptics is that there are way too many answers that involve knowledge of Rugby teams and obscure counties. American cryptics aren’t a problem, even the interesting Atlantic style ones. As for regular crosswords, I do the ones in the Times, but too many are boring. ETA: I did not see the previous response when I was writing this one! ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-puzzles-love-em-or-dont/448831/24 "2008-05-10T22:49:15Z")
[QUOTE=Fiddle Peghead] I used to do him in The New York Observer. Here’s a tip: go to [www.sundaycrosswords.com](http://www.sundaycrosswords.com). He sells his stuff there. [/QUOTE] Awesome! Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-puzzles-love-em-or-dont/448831/25 "2008-05-10T22:55:35Z")
One Sunday a bunch of family members were doing one titled “Ampersand.” We struggled like hell till we realized what it required. A clue might have been, “October 31 loot,” and there would be 3 letters, so we thought something like “pez,” but the answer was…C&Y (candy). ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-puzzles-love-em-or-dont/448831/26 "2008-05-10T23:15:02Z")
[QUOTE=Fiddle Peghead] I love crossword puzzles, and just made my greatest read ever. Clue: SOS, for one. PLEAFORHELP [/QUOTE] or POTSCRUBBER ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-puzzles-love-em-or-dont/448831/27 "2008-05-11T00:34:34Z")
[QUOTE=Le Ministre de l’au-delà] or POTSCRUBBER [/QUOTE] POTSCRUBBER, PALINDROMIC, whatever. But it didn’t fit the puzzle. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-puzzles-love-em-or-dont/448831/28 "2008-05-11T00:37:16Z")
[QUOTE=Fiddle Peghead] POTSCRUBBER, PALINDROMIC, whatever. But it didn’t fit the puzzle. [/QUOTE] Well, that’ll teach you to write in anything I tell you, won’t it? If you’re going to write in an eleven letter word without anything else crossing it, maybe you’d better give me that puzzle… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-puzzles-love-em-or-dont/448831/29 "2008-05-11T02:10:52Z")
I like a good puzzle. The New York Times is really the only interesting one I’ve found (especially on Fridays). I especially like their puzzle that use symbols or multiple letters in a square. I’m also a fan of cryptics, but I can’t find them easily (and I rarely finish them completely). Still, even getting half the clues gives a big sense of pride. Are there any good cryptics online? I liked doing the Globe and Mail puzzle, but they started charging for it a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-puzzles-love-em-or-dont/448831/30 "2008-05-11T02:42:37Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] I like a good puzzle. The New York Times is really the only interesting one I’ve found (especially on Fridays). I especially like their puzzle that use symbols or multiple letters in a square. [/QUOTE] Yeah, going back to Merl Reagle, I remember working on a crossword where I knew the answer had to be, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”. Every other word was right, to the best of my knowledge, except for that pesky “Sun”. And then it hit me, put a sun symbol, and it all worked out. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-puzzles-love-em-or-dont/448831/31 "2008-05-11T02:58:40Z")
I do [these](http://www.pogo.com/game/word/crossword.jsp?game=xword&tins=1210474536324&jdtc=1210474535840&pageSection=free_home_my_fav) crosswords every so often. Unfortunately, they often have mistakes, or unusual spellings. In one the other day the clue was “let’s go!” the answer was “cmon”. Is that even a word? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossword-puzzles-love-em-or-dont/448831.md?page=1)