# 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:** 14
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/261 "2021-08-02T13:46:09Z")
ICTUS (sonIC TUSsle) * * * Set the scene for we and she, objectively (5) ---
**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:** [August 2, 2021, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/262 "2021-08-02T14:00:21Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > Set the scene for we and she, objectively (5) USHER (us + her) * * * Detective investigates our helicopter crash (7, 6) ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/263 "2021-08-02T14:15:26Z")
HERCULE POIROT (our helicopter anagram) * * * Draw neck cloth (3) ---
**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:** [August 2, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/264 "2021-08-02T16:57:06Z")
never mind ---
**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:** [August 2, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/265 "2021-08-02T17:06:17Z")
Draw neck cloth (3) TIE (double) definition +++++ Killing Eve around Inspector Morse (9) ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/266 "2021-08-02T21:32:08Z")
Endeavour (anagram of ‘eve around’) * * * We personally are Santa’s helpers after hours, he heard (9) ---
**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:** [August 3, 2021, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/267 "2021-08-03T00:52:56Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > We personally are Santa’s helpers after hours, he heard (9) OURSELVES (hours + elves) * * * Stole broken branch in chimney (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:** [August 3, 2021, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/268 "2021-08-03T04:00:56Z")
Stole broken branch in chimney (8) VESTMENT [VE -STME (stem anagram)- NT] +++++ Democrat entering The Green Party is quite extreme (3, 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:** [August 3, 2021, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/269 "2021-08-03T13:39:35Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Democrat entering The Green Party is quite extreme (3, 6) NTH DEGREE (D + the green) * * * Mr. Fantastic Dick gets into oboes (4, 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:** [August 3, 2021, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/270 "2021-08-03T16:12:49Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Stole broken branch in chimney (8) > > VESTMENT [VE -STME (stem anagram)- NT] Aside: Upthread someone said anagrams should always be words in the clue and it’s considered unfair the require someone to both guess a synonym for a word and anagram it, as this clue does. Is that not a generally held notion? ---
**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:** [August 3, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/271 "2021-08-03T16:57:14Z")
The cryptics in GAMES magazine do that frequently. It makes my grind my teeth, but also gives me a huge sense of pride when I figure it out. If I can do a cryptic in less than an hour, I feel cheated, so I’ve grown to appreciate the extra challenge. The latest GAMES had a diagramless crytpic where the definition word was one letter different from the real word, and the changed letter indicated which row or column the answer would go in. After 3-4 days of struggling, I finally had to peek at the answer. There is a point where it’s no longer fun, and I certainly don’t want to ruin this thread game for anybody. But sometimes what I think may be too hard gets figured out in minutes, so results vary. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/272 "2021-08-03T17:23:46Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Mr. Fantastic Dick gets into oboes (4, 8) REED RICHARDS (Richard inside reeds) * * * Irish staple tool (4) ---
**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:** [August 3, 2021, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/273 "2021-08-03T17:42:00Z")
In a cryptic variety puzzle there are usually only a few unchecked letters. So I think there is room for some leeway with the anagram rules. If a puzzle has too many unfair clues however, it does cease to be fun for me. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/274 "2021-08-03T18:12:21Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > The cryptics in GAMES magazine do that frequently. Fair enough. I’m new to this so trying to figure out the “rules”. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2021, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/275 "2021-08-03T19:12:53Z")
If you haven’t worked on cryptics before, I highly recommend finding puzzle magazines like GAMES that include them. You’ll get more of a sense of the nuance and creativity the professional designers use. UK crosswords are done cryptic style, but you have to know a lot about British history and pop culture to solve them. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2021, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/276 "2021-08-04T04:33:32Z")
Irish staple tool (4) SPUD (Double definition) +++++ Author whimsically ousted cross. (6 5) ---
**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:** [August 4, 2021, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/277 "2021-08-04T11:21:29Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Author whimsically ousted cross. (6 5) DOCTOR SEUSS (anagram) * * * Rice’s last vampire relocates to city (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:** [August 4, 2021, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/278 "2021-08-04T12:00:30Z")
SEATTLE (anagram of Lestat + e) Xerxes’ queen had rollicking triplets (6) ---
**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:** [August 4, 2021, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/279 "2021-08-04T16:42:03Z")
Xerxes’ queen had rollicking triplets (6) ESTHER (Threes anagram) +++++ Repost inaccurately about her television show (3, 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:** [August 4, 2021, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/280 "2021-08-04T19:17:11Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Repost inaccurately about her television show (3, 6) The Ropers (her inside repost anagram) * * * Pirates only pillage this individual. (11) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983.md?page=15)