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Crossword Help Forum
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davel

24th September 2023, 10:04
Aha! Thanks jono, one to remember!
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davel

24th September 2023, 10:10
And thanks also to Everyman for dropping in on us.
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druh6sm

24th September 2023, 11:31
Personally, I have found this brutally difficult!

I have solved 3 - or possibly 4 - clues.

Is it idiotic for me not to know how to solve 1a or 1 d?

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simond9x

24th September 2023, 11:37
No, it's not idiotic at all as you're relatively new to cryptics. Can I just ask though, we've made various suggestions about where to look to build up your experience, from sites/books that lead you gently through the various devices that setters use and give you worked examples to try. Or sites like fifteensquared DOT net, which explains how the answers were derived for each day's crossword? Have you made use of any of these?
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druh6sm

24th September 2023, 11:57
I’ve got 3 books and am on 225 every weekday.
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lucertola

24th September 2023, 12:18
Thanks, Yevrah. Silly me! I was thinking of TE Lawrence and saw it on my answer but didn't see how to move it despite the instruction in the clue. Thank you for clearing that up.
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simond9x

24th September 2023, 12:21
Good. I'm sure you'll find that, bit by bit, you'll start to recognise the types of clue is. It really is just down to experience. And you can always get nudges here. On the two you mentioned.....

1a it's a plural word meaning 'layabouts' but you need to drop a bit (a very little bit!) of the word 'litter'

1d is an 10 letter word meaning 'party-pooper' which, if you split it into two words (6 and 4), could mean 'ruins wine'
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davel

24th September 2023, 12:34
Druh, the Guardian’s crosswords for beginners series is really good. Here’s a link: https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/series/cryptic-crosswords-for-beginners
Just to clarify on 1a: the definition is ‘shows emotion’ and the cryptic part is what simond9x described.
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julesvern

24th September 2023, 12:40
Druh6 - I would concur with everything Simon has said - it's mainly a question of sticking with it and keeping on practicing. But do check out Fifteensquared, as you could use that to understand the clueing and parsing of the previous week's Everyman, and that will be a great help:
https://www.fifteensquared.net/

Everyman has lots of 'regular' type clues, including, but not necessarily always, a first-letter clue, one or more hidden clues (sometimes hidden in reverse) and a rhyming pair of long down-clues. Once you get familiar with these, it helps to know what to look for.

I would also suggest (if you're not already doing them) the Quiptics on a Monday. They are designed for beginners, and are a great way of boosting your confidence.
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jazzgirl

24th September 2023, 13:02
for druh6sm

You are not, by any means a dummy, and you are actually solving quite a few.
I have a 15 year old nephew in Adelaide who has become interested in cryptics and he has bought this book from Amazon. Scroll down the excerpt from the book which he found very easy to read and of great help.
I was amazed at seeing his progress

Good luck

https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/games/puzzles/crosswords/cryptic-crosswords-for-dummies-cheat-sheet-australian-edition-208294/
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