# Post an original Cryptic Crossword clue **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 24, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635 "2009-03-24T20:05:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/41 "2009-03-25T20:52:05Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > Answer for mine (if anyone’s interested)! > > [spoiler]Clue: _Enjoyment of bluegrass offends the nose_ (5) > Answer: _Funky_ > > Enjoyment = “fun” > Bluegrass = “KY” (Kentucky is the “bluegrass state”?) > Offends the nose = one meaning of “funky” is offensively malodorous > > I was toying with the idea that bluegrass music is also kinda funky, but I think that’s stretching it a bit as funk and bluegrass are actually quite different.[/spoiler] But that’s a really nice link you’ve spotted between the wordplay and the definition. That kind of idea can often be worked up into a strong surface reading. How about Play bluegrass country with a syncopated rhythm (5) Well, maybe needs a bit of work, but I think you could make an excellent clue out of the bluegrass thing. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/42 "2009-03-25T20:59:50Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > Answer for mine (if anyone’s interested)! > > [spoiler]Clue: _Enjoyment of bluegrass offends the nose_ (5) > Answer: _Funky_ > > Enjoyment = “fun” > Bluegrass = “KY” (Kentucky is the “bluegrass state”?) > Offends the nose = one meaning of “funky” is offensively malodorous > > I was toying with the idea that bluegrass music is also kinda funky, but I think that’s stretching it a bit as funk and bluegrass are actually quite different.[/spoiler] I would have gone for: The use of the phrase “Initially” as seen in the Great Lakes / Calvin Klein clue. This usually is a code for the first letters, or in some cases, abreviation. Would this version of Wally’s clue also work? “Enjoyment of the Initial state of bluegrass offends the nose (5)” Then again, if I used " in " that would be closer to a container type clue, a holder. Correct? ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/43 "2009-03-25T21:02:11Z")
“_It’s more pleasant to dress in red for young Klaus and his sister_” (6) (Another “surface reading” one?) [spoiler]Answer: _Kinder_ Tortuous explanation: “Dress in red” = anagram of “inder” “Klaus” gives “K” “his sister” indicates plural children “_Kinder_” is German for “young children” “Kinder” in English means “more pleasant” (“more kind”) Think that might be a bit too complicated - I think the “sister” bit confuses things, but I wasn’t sure how to indicate that Klaus was not the only German child (as _kinder_ is plural). [/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/44 "2009-03-25T21:06:45Z")
A large number move to observe (6) ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/45 "2009-03-25T21:12:29Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > A large number move to observe (6) Google Via: Move – change in spelling ? ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/46 "2009-03-25T21:14:44Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > “_It’s more pleasant to dress in red for young Klaus and his sister_” (6) > > (Another “surface reading” one?) > > [spoiler]Answer: _Kinder_ > > Tortuous explanation: > > “Dress in red” = anagram of “inder” > “Klaus” gives “K” > “his sister” indicates plural children > “_Kinder_” is German for “young children” > “Kinder” in English means “more pleasant” (“more kind”) > > Think that might be a bit too complicated - I think the “sister” bit confuses things, but I wasn’t sure how to indicate that Klaus was not the only German child (as _kinder_ is plural). > [/spoiler] Just “It’s more pleasant for young Klaus and his sister (6)” seems pretty sound to me. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/47 "2009-03-25T21:19:53Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > Google > > Via: > > Move – change in spelling ? Nope. GO (“move”) + OGLE (“to observe”) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/48 "2009-03-25T21:23:07Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > “cadmium finally” = the letter d :smack: This is why I’m no good at cryptics. ---
**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:** [March 25, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/49 "2009-03-25T21:24:44Z")
I didn’t know that defined anagrams were frowned upon. I’ve seen it done before. I agree, though, that it adds an extra layer of difficulty. Two more: Friend may eat LP: disgusting. (8) Leap days oddly reveal woman. (4) ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/50 "2009-03-25T21:25:14Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Nope. > > GO (“move”) + OGLE (“to observe”) You sure it’s not Large Number = Googol and Move = Word play direction to alter spelling and The sense of the word “google” as related to ogle ? ? I was working on part three, as I describe it, and some how, apparently still got at your answer. Can someone tell me if my third step is that far gone? I mean, I’m not making that part up, am I ? I’m brainfarting on it now. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/51 "2009-03-25T21:29:17Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > Just “It’s more pleasant for young Klaus and his sister (6)” seems pretty sound to me. Could I have used “young Werner”, or does the “K” still need to be there? ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/52 "2009-03-25T21:37:58Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > I didn’t know that defined anagrams were frowned upon. I’ve seen it done before. I agree, though, that it adds an extra layer of difficulty. You have to consider the overall difficulty of the clue - if the definition is really obvious, like “\ US President (5)”, then yeah, an indirect anagram might be OK, although in those cases the wordplay would be largely superfluous and merely serve as confirmation that the answer was OBAMA or NIXON or whatever. If the definition is not so obvious, then you have to enable the solver to narrow things down a bit with the wordplay. But with indirect wordplay, they have to guess both the operation(s) you wish then to perform, _and_ the letters you wish them to perform them on. That can amount to an enormous number of possibilities. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/53 "2009-03-25T23:16:30Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > Would this version of Wally’s clue also work? > > “Enjoyment of the Initial state of bluegrass offends the nose (5)” > > Then again, if I used " in " that would be closer to a container type clue, a holder. Correct? You don’t need “initial” for certain standard letters (T for time, etc.) or for states. ---
**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:** [March 26, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/54 "2009-03-26T00:08:17Z")
Reposting mine from page 1 that haven’t had a solution posted: Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young song sounds like it’s rotting. (7) Belief systems consist of one-hundred crimson circles. (6) Annoyed group trapped in snare finds manual that can help. (8) Friend may eat LP: disgusting. (8) Leap days oddly reveal woman. (4) And one more that I thought of while out running: Distilled ciders are part of this nutritious breakfast (10) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/55 "2009-03-26T00:25:48Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > Leap days oddly reveal woman. (4) Hey, I think I finally got one! Lady. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/56 "2009-03-26T00:27:25Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > Belief systems consist of one-hundred crimson circles. (6) Make that two! credos ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/57 "2009-03-26T00:30:36Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > Distilled ciders are part of this nutritious breakfast (10) Applejacks? I’m on a roll: > [@](#): > > Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young song sounds like it’s rotting. (7) Carry On ---
**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:** [March 26, 2009, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/58 "2009-03-26T00:31:32Z")
Correct on all three, pulykamell. Good job! ---
**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:** [March 26, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/59 "2009-03-26T00:34:39Z")
BTW, this one: Annoyed group trapped in snare finds manual that can help. (8) I’ll change to Annoyed band trapped in snare finds manual that can help. (8) Just to make it fair per **Ximenean** ’s suggestion. ---
**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:** [March 26, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635/60 "2009-03-26T00:36:39Z")
And I see you’ve edited in another answer. You’re very close on the CSNY one, but remember, the clue is one word of 7 letters. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-an-original-cryptic-crossword-clue/490635.md?page=4)