# Cryptic overlaps **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [June 25, 2021, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983 "2021-06-25T03:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 102
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2022 "2023-03-29T13:45:29Z")
I assume this is GUAR GUM (although “take back” would imply “gura” rather than “guar” - but near enough I think). +++++ Hesitate before crossing this teacher (8) ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2023 "2023-03-29T13:53:19Z")
Yes, the ? was meant to indicate it’s not exactly to form. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2023, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2024 "2023-03-30T10:56:03Z")
Traditionally, a ? used in a regular crossword clue indicates it’s a pun. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2025 "2023-03-30T11:13:17Z")
I think that may be a US thing - in my (UK) experience, a question mark just indicates there is something unusual about the glue, like Oly’s example, or perhaps you need to think laterally. Could be a pun, but not necessarily. An addendum to my last clue: Hesitate before crossing this teacher - it sounds like they might take this (8) ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2026 "2023-03-30T11:54:25Z")
Hesitate before crossing this teacher - it sounds like they might take this (8) Umbrages? (um + “bridges”?) ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2027 "2023-03-30T14:04:21Z")
Not a Harry Potter fan, I take it? You’re so close that I’ll give my intended answer, being UMBRIDGE - a Hogwarts teacher/Ministry of Magic stooge. Probably not a fair clue for a general audience, to be honest. Please do continue. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2028 "2023-03-30T15:38:36Z")
UMBRIDGES +++++ Free postage for the Nazi police. (7) ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2029 "2023-03-30T16:38:10Z")
GESTAPO (anagram of POSTAGE) +++++ Will the apron mutate into a suitcase? (11) ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2030 "2023-03-30T22:56:00Z")
PORTMANTEAU (apron mutate\*) +++++ Smelly French water of German city (3, 2, 7) ---
**Author:** ![Skunkdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Skunkdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skunkdog)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2031 "2023-03-31T00:46:43Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Smelly French water of German city (3, 2, 7) EAU DE COLOGNE +++++ The former Indian Prime Minister: Did he run around with hippies in jackets?(5) ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2032 "2023-03-31T00:54:46Z")
Nehru (double meaning) +++++ Are you fit or old? (6) ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2033 "2023-03-31T01:39:45Z")
Better version: Are you fit or crude? (6) ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2034 "2023-03-31T12:26:25Z")
Ack! More apologies. It was supposed to be: Are youse fit or crude? (6) ---
**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:** [March 31, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2035 "2023-03-31T19:18:12Z")
Rustic? ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2036 "2023-04-01T03:14:22Z")
Yes!! ---
**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:** [April 1, 2023, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2037 "2023-04-01T11:27:25Z")
Playing off RUSTIC: Guevara joins British county to find type of cat. (8) ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2038 "2023-04-01T11:34:32Z")
CHESHIRE (Che + shire) +++++++ I haven’t been to the fabled isle of Ireland since I was a mere lad. (7) ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2039 "2023-04-01T18:35:16Z")
Emerald (mere lad) ++++ Appropriately in his coffin, Peter showed no emotion (7) ---
**Author:** ![Skunkdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Skunkdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skunkdog)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2040 "2023-04-02T08:08:04Z")
> [@Oly](#): > > Appropriately in his coffin, Peter showed no emotion (7) DEADPAN (double definition) ++++ Sketchy medic received terrible performance review after spreading disease.(8) ---
**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:** [April 2, 2023, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/2041 "2023-04-02T11:29:33Z")
> [@Skunkdog](#): > > Sketchy medic received terrible performance review after spreading disease.(8) PANDEMIC (pan + medic) * * * Sounds like Sherlock’s brother involved his spouse in making corporation. (9) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983.md?page=101) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983.md?page=103)