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For those who do cryptic crosswords, CrosswordGenius [1] on iOS (Android coming apparently) will solve clues for you - and explain the logic it used! This is e

For those who do cryptic crosswords, CrosswordGenius [1] on iOS (Android coming apparently) will solve clues for you - and explain the logic it used! This is extremely helpful when you aren’t familiar with a particular setter’s style. If you’ve guessed an answer (and if you’re on a mobile app you might have already been able to verify that it’s correct) you may not be sure how the clue maps to it. Example: Digital projection tempered elation (7) I believe the answer is: TOENAIL 'digital projection' is the definition. (protection on a digit of the foot) 'tempered elation' is the wordplay. 'tempered' indicates an anagram (temper can mean to adjust or modify). 'elation' is an anagram of 'TOENAIL'. [1] https://www.crosswordgenius.com/ https://www.crosswordgenius.com/

thom 4y ago
Usually my approach is: 1) try to answer straight away, 2) try to answer once I have some letters from other clues, 3) use a thesaurus, 4) use an anagram solver, 5) wait for tomorrow's paper. I already feel wretched about 3/4, I'm not sure I want to cheat more than that. But sometimes this completely falls down and I have no idea where something comes from, e.g.: "Theatre of war where activity was uncovered (8)" is WINDMILL which still baffles me.
- mechanical_berk 4y ago
  fifteensquared.net is great for explained answers, see eg http://www.fifteensquared.net/2018/03/09/independent-9798-phi/ http://www.fifteensquared.net/2018/03/09/independent-9798-ph... for the WINDMILL explanation.
  - thom 4y ago
    Oh, lovely, thank you. I figured it had to be the theatre and still didn't get it. This hobby regularly makes me feel dumb. :)
    - 2143 4y ago
      btw, do you happen to be British? The reason I ask is that only British people seem to add "lovely" in their sentences. Also, I now learnt that the WINDMILL answer refers to something in London. I don't know how outsiders — say a random person from Argentina — is supposed to know that.
      - thom 4y ago
        Yeah sometimes they test vocabulary, sometimes they test general knowledge (or at least your ability to google or have an anagram solver). So you do learn while solving, which is a plus. Also yes, your Britometer is operating correctly.
        2143 4y ago
        You probably meant "Britometre" :)
- Agingcoder 4y ago
  Don't forget the question mark at the end of the clue, it's quite significant!
- Timwi 4y ago
  My approach was to try to write a bunch of cryptic clues of my own. That way I got more practiced at recognizing the various wordplay indicators.
soferio 4y ago
Crossword genius is outstandingly good at cryptics.

thom 4y ago

Usually my approach is: 1) try to answer straight away, 2) try to answer once I have some letters from other clues, 3) use a thesaurus, 4) use an anagram solver, 5) wait for tomorrow's paper. I already feel wretched about 3/4, I'm not sure I want to cheat more than that. But sometimes this completely falls down and I have no idea where something comes from, e.g.: "Theatre of war where activity was uncovered (8)" is WINDMILL which still baffles me.

mechanical_berk 4y ago
fifteensquared.net is great for explained answers, see eg http://www.fifteensquared.net/2018/03/09/independent-9798-phi/ http://www.fifteensquared.net/2018/03/09/independent-9798-ph... for the WINDMILL explanation.
- thom 4y ago
  Oh, lovely, thank you. I figured it had to be the theatre and still didn't get it. This hobby regularly makes me feel dumb. :)
  - 2143 4y ago
    btw, do you happen to be British? The reason I ask is that only British people seem to add "lovely" in their sentences. Also, I now learnt that the WINDMILL answer refers to something in London. I don't know how outsiders — say a random person from Argentina — is supposed to know that.
    - thom 4y ago
      Yeah sometimes they test vocabulary, sometimes they test general knowledge (or at least your ability to google or have an anagram solver). So you do learn while solving, which is a plus. Also yes, your Britometer is operating correctly.
      - 2143 4y ago
        You probably meant "Britometre" :)
Agingcoder 4y ago
Don't forget the question mark at the end of the clue, it's quite significant!
Timwi 4y ago
My approach was to try to write a bunch of cryptic clues of my own. That way I got more practiced at recognizing the various wordplay indicators.

soferio 4y ago

Crossword genius is outstandingly good at cryptics.