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Hi

First of all let me apologise if this forum is not for the discussion of cryptic crosswords set outside of this website. I have scoured the web for a cryptic crossword enthusiasts forum, and this forum was at the top of the Google search results.

I am Myrm and I have been attempting to teach myself how to solve cryptic crosswords, ever since I came by a book called "The Times Big Book of Cryptic Crosswords". I realise that The Times cryptic crossword is probably not the best place to start when learning how to solve cryptic crosswords, but I'm having fun trying to learn them.

The reason I am here is not to ask for help in solving a clue, but for help in deciphering how an answer was obtained.

The clue: Red nose, perhaps that Continental got in fight (7)

Answer: Bouquet

I had to look the answer up in the back of the book. I am puzzled at how the answer is obtained in the clue above. The reasonings running through my mind are haphazard, but this is how I am reasoning with the clue and answer:

1. Red nose: wine is said to have "nose" (and red, of course, is a type of wine).
2. Continental: Bouquet is a "Continental" word used in English
3. Got in fight: This is the bit that puzzles me. At first I thought it indicated an anagram, but I don't see how that fits here. Then I thought it might be a word within "fight", but that did not work either. Perhaps, I reasoned, I need to think of a continental word for fight and use that, but again I couldn't find it.

So, what I am after please is, can somebody explain to me how the answer was obtained from the clue, and in particular, where does the "fight"come into the solving of the clue?

Many thanks, and again my apologies if I should only be asking for help relating to crosswords set by this site.

Kind regards.

Fight = BOUT
that = QUE in French (continental)

BOU(QUE)T

you are very welcome, myrm - lots of helpful people here, and any crosswords are fair game

your clue is que (that in spanish, i think) inside bout for fight.

as you're new you won't know that i have type in lower case when my cat is sitting on me!

QUE = that Continental (ie the French word for that"
BOUT = fight

So, that Continental got in fight is QUE in BOUT

Hi Chrise and Buddy

Thank you both for your help, it is greatly appreciated.

Now that you have both explained it, it seems so obvious to me now.

This is the fun of cryptic crosswords - even if I have to look up the answer, it's great trying to work out how the answer was obtained.

Thank you both.

Chrise: you have a cat - we are friends already! :)

Thank you randk :)

hi again myrm
we have 2 cats and a cumlin (look it up!). one would spend most of his life on my lap if i never had other things to do...

Chrise, are you Scottish by any chance? :)

No, but it's such a lovely description! The first time I heard it, it was described as "a cat that prefers to live with someone other than its "owners" ".

Myrm, you are absolutely in the right place. The people here love to solve crossword clues, so if you ever need help as with your example, this is the place to go. I have only been here a few months, but find it a wonderful place to hangout with like-minded folks. I have gotten plenty of help parsing an answer, and helped out a few myself (I hope.) Welcome.