# 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:** 17
**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 11, 2021, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/321 "2021-08-11T14:51:17Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Sometimes the definition clues masquerade as something else. Masquerading is one thing, but that clue seems to be pointing in the completely opposite direction, which to my mind makes it more misleading than cryptic. Another version might be “The truly passionate aren’t lacking a certain vitamin.” Don’t want to derail the thread, but still trying to figure out the “rules” and subtleties of cryptics. Interested to hear others’ thoughts. ---
**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 11, 2021, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/322 "2021-08-11T14:57:33Z")
“The truly passionate” is the clue. “Aren’t” in the wordplay is simply those letters. And ARDENT is “aren’t” with a “D”. The clue as given was very good because it fairly misdirects. Phony punctuation in the wordplay is a part of the game. ---
**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 11, 2021, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/323 "2021-08-11T15:02:59Z")
Look at it this way: Ardent is aren’t with a “d” and aren’t is ardent without a “d”. Take your pick. ---
**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 11, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/324 "2021-08-11T17:44:51Z")
Like I said upthread, find cryptic crosswords elsewhere and work on them to understand the nuances of clues, like here. > **[Play Lovatts Free Online Cryptic Crossword - Updated Daily](https://lovattspuzzles.com/online-puzzles-competitions/daily-cryptic-crossword/)** > > Lovatts Free Online Cryptic Crossword is updated daily. Includes a 7-day Puzzle Archive, Hints & Timer. Learn the rules of the cryptic crossword game. ---
**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 11, 2021, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/325 "2021-08-11T20:02:24Z")
Here again, for reference (playing off NAILS): One of the eight thousand or more incomprehensible Shanghai maps (12) ---
**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 12, 2021, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/326 "2021-08-12T05:00:16Z")
Hint: I changed the wording of the clue slightly in the repost to make it more fair. ---
**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 12, 2021, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/327 "2021-08-12T08:49:57Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > One of the eight thousand or more incomprehensible Shanghai maps (12) SHISHAPANGMA (It’s one of the mountains over 8,000m, and an anagram of Shanghai maps - a very difficult one which I only solved by googling!) * * * Girl came back annoyingly neat (4) ---
**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 12, 2021, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/328 "2021-08-12T11:06:43Z")
👏 👏 👏 👏 to you Demon Tree! I never would have got that. > [@DemonTree](#): > > Girl came back annoyingly neat (4) ANAL (Lana backwards) * * * State in the style of Margera’s blood type (7) ---
**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 12, 2021, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/329 "2021-08-12T11:39:10Z")
ALABAMA (a la + Bam + a) * * * Strong and active woman offers everything you need (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 12, 2021, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/330 "2021-08-12T11:43:24Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Like I said upthread, find cryptic crosswords elsewhere and work on them to understand the nuances of clues, like here. I just had a go at that, it was fun. I find most of the ones in the papers far too hard. ---
**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 12, 2021, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/331 "2021-08-12T12:29:56Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > Strong and active woman offers everything you need (6) Manoff (Dinah Manoff, played Elaine in Soap; container) ++++++ Leg broken, you were put with the others off the front line. (5) ---
**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 12, 2021, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/332 "2021-08-12T12:42:43Z")
> [@Oly](#): > > Manoff (Dinah Manoff, played Elaine in Soap; container) That actually wasn’t the answer I had in mind. I’m surprised the same clue can fit two different answers! ---
**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 12, 2021, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/333 "2021-08-12T12:50:26Z")
You had in mind Amazon, didn’t ya? ---
**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 12, 2021, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/334 "2021-08-12T13:21:41Z")
👍  ---
**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 13, 2021, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/335 "2021-08-13T01:20:53Z")
So… What is in play? My alternate answer stolen clue, or shall the Professor offer another? In case it’s mine, here it is again, overlap being Manoff: Leg broken, you were put with the others off the front line. (5) ---
**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 13, 2021, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/336 "2021-08-13T14:31:58Z")
Flank? Fl with part of ankle? ---
**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 13, 2021, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/337 "2021-08-13T14:40:34Z")
Fibia? [F, “I was put in the B line after I was in the A line”] ---
**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 13, 2021, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/338 "2021-08-13T15:54:24Z")
Neither are it. As a hint, the answer involves a bit of military slang. ---
**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 13, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/339 "2021-08-13T17:35:27Z")
Fubar? ---
**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 13, 2021, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983/340 "2021-08-13T20:29:29Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Fubar? Not FUBAR but somewhat similar in that the slang part of the answer is an acronym said as a word. It also contains profanity. The military slang pertains to the italicized part below: > [@Oly](#): > > Leg broken, you were put with the others off the front line. (5) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptic-overlaps/944983.md?page=18)