# Cryptics **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [March 29, 2016, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525 "2016-03-29T14:43:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/61 "2016-04-12T03:10:06Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Insane beat, molest unwary travellers—don’t’ go there. (5,5) BATES MOTEL (“beat molest” anag.) Presidential candidate beats all others. (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:** [April 12, 2016, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/62 "2016-04-12T05:42:46Z")
TRUMP ( 2 meanings) ××× Takes too many drugs after progressive lady oversupplies (6) ---
**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 12, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/63 "2016-04-12T16:32:54Z")
FLOODS (Flo + OD’s) Small lake has unique start, provides money (5) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/64 "2016-04-12T18:09:24Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Small lake has unique start, provides money (5) POUND (Pond + u) We hear twins shave (4) ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/65 "2016-04-13T08:14:11Z")
PARE (pair) … Namath is confused and Brown is past it. So drink! (9) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/66 "2016-04-13T21:09:34Z")
> [@AppallingGael](#): > > PARE (pair) > > … > > Namath is confused and Brown is past it. So drink! (9) MANHATTAN (anag Namath, brown is tanned past tan) Five to four on chain store for great composer (7) ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/67 "2016-04-14T01:47:45Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Five to four on chain store for great composer (7) VIVALDI (V + IV + ALDI) Takes aboard garden tool on feet (5) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/68 "2016-04-15T07:55:29Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > Takes aboard garden tool on feet (5) A hint, maybe? I’m thinking something like LIFTS or HEFTS with an FT in it. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/69 "2016-04-15T08:10:58Z")
Shoes (Ships are designated SS, so to be on board one is to put a word inside. Hoe is a garden tool, hence ShoeS) The German tough appears in this movie (3,4) ---
**Author:** ![Memnon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/70 "2016-04-15T09:37:05Z")
Die Hard (Die = The / tough = hard). Congratulations on a boring job completed (4,4) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/71 "2016-04-15T09:57:21Z")
WELL DONE I complain about one of the Judds (5) (There have been some clues over the years I thought were really clever, but I can’t remember any of the great ones now. Should have saved them.) ---
**Author:** ![Memnon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/72 "2016-04-15T10:08:48Z")
Naomi (anag. I moan). Speak evasively about private care (11) ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/73 "2016-04-15T15:36:36Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > Shoes (Ships are designated SS, so to be on board one is to put a word inside. Hoe is a garden tool, hence ShoeS) Yep. I remember when I first encountered the “Takes aboard” thing in a clue. I had to look up the answer to the clue and then it still took me a moment to get it. And I prefer ships to Nazis when going for “SS” anyway. > [@](#): > > The German tough appears in this movie (3,4) Nice &lit clue, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/74 "2016-04-15T15:38:22Z")
> [@Tithonus](#): > > Naomi (anag. I moan). More specific than an anagram, I’d say. “I complain” becomes “I moan”; turn it about and it’s “Naomi”. Anagrams are usually hinted at by words that suggest confusion or mixing things up. A well-crafted cryptic clue can be very subtle and precise. I still miss the puzzles they used to have in _The Atlantic_; thought their constructors were excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/75 "2016-04-15T15:40:06Z")
> [@Tithonus](#): > > Naomi (anag. I moan). Having gotten dinged on this once in another thread (by **Ximenean** no less) when I did something similar, I feel it should be mentioned that anagrams should never involve words not explicitly in the clue if you want to be a ximenean compliant cryptic. ETA: Seeing Robot Arm’s post, I do see that he was going for straight reversal, not anagram, which is ximenean compliant. Though I would argue that “about” seems to be more often used for anagrams than reversals. (And there are really only three Judds to pick from anyway, only one of which fits the letter length.) ---
**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:** [April 15, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/76 "2016-04-15T16:07:15Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > A well-crafted cryptic clue can be very subtle and precise. I still miss the puzzles they used to have in _The Atlantic_; thought their constructors were excellent. Cox and Rathvon do a monthly variety cryptic puzzle for the Wall Street Journal similar to their great Atlantic puzzles. They are available free at the WSJ web site. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/77 "2016-04-15T16:16:28Z")
> [@Tithonus](#): > > Naomi (anag. I moan). > > Speak evasively about private care (11) PREVARICATE\* ××××× Famous Robin tells (8) ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/78 "2016-04-15T16:23:51Z")
> [@Tithonus](#): > > Speak evasively about private care (11) Prevaricate (Anag) Sadist slips backwards through gate leaving room for interpretation (10) (Thanks, HoopyFrood!) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/79 "2016-04-15T16:37:35Z")
Takes aboard garden tool on feet (5) > [@Stanislaus](#): > > Shoes (Ships are designated SS, so to be on board one is to put a word inside. Hoe is a garden tool, hence ShoeS) I know “takes aboard” is a clue for putting something before or within something, but don’t you need something for “ship” in the clue? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525/80 "2016-04-15T16:38:11Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Cox and Rathvon do a monthly variety cryptic puzzle for the Wall Street Journal similar to their great Atlantic puzzles. They are available free at the WSJ web site. This news pleases me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptics/750525.md?page=5)