Tips for solving cryptic crosswords

Yeah, its been ages since i have updated this page. Yeah, I know that this is what happens to 90% of the blogs which start. But, what i know is that this is not going to be the end of this blog. I have been attempting the Hindu Crossword daily, but haven't found time to update this site as often as i wanted to.

While doing some random searching, I came across my crossword section in the site zatang.com and i have posted the same on my site.

So, here you have, a detailed tips and tricks guide on how to solve cryptic crosswords with an emphasis on the Hindu Crossword type clues.

The Hindu Crossword #8676 Solutions- Aug 09

19 Ac. Flier disturbs the police — right? (10) Ans Explanation
24 Ac. One who has been pipped at the post (5) Ans Explanation
25 Ac. In grammar it indicates time that’s gone (4,5) Ans Explanation
27 Ac. Thus we stand, proverbially (6) Ans Explanation
29 Ac. Due at pit, showing rare readiness to learn (8) Ans Explanation

7 Dn. “Vanished into air, into — —” (Shakespeare) (4,3) Ans Explanation
17 Dn. Necessarily wants smut destroyed (5,4) Ans Explanation
18 Dn. Uncommon mark on the church (6) Ans Explanation
20 Dn. Al sang a new order for macaroni (7) Ans Explanation
23 Dn. Rigorous dodge not completed in street (6) Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8676 - Aug 08

1 Ac. Nest nice lad set up is secret (11) Ans Explanation
9 Ac. Jumper accepts Indian garment in Argentine port (7) Ans Explanation
11 Ac. Having gained the advantage of New English wielded by the British publisher (3-2) Ans Explanation
12 Ac. Wearing which, one may drop down from the sky (9) Ans Explanation
21 Ac. Hindu deity dumps rain around delta (5) Ans Explanation

2 Dn. Passage from a small island (5) Ans Explanation
3 Dn. I prattled about an automobile accessory to keep out mud (4,5) Ans Explanation
16 Dn. It measures the precipitation (4-5) Ans Explanation
22 Dn. Task list? (2-2) Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8673 - Aug 04

1 Ac. In MI route, car I’m steering is made to look very small (14) Ans Explanation
9 Ac. Have too high an opinion of (8) Ans Explanation
10 Ac. Spiny succulent plants (5) Ans Explanation
31 Ac. Names that somehow inspire our love (8) Ans Explanation
32 Ac. One most capable of dealing with the situation now (3,2,3,6) Ans Explanation

2 Dn. Underground hollows (7) Ans Explanation
3 Dn. Terrifying person (4) Ans Explanation
4 Dn. Pictured to oneself something non-existent (8) Ans Explanation
6 Dn. Diplomacy to just act with perception (4) Ans Explanation
8 Dn. Device enabling one to see both far and near (7,4) Ans Explanation
15 Dn. Drain off Middle East currency (5) Ans Explanation
19 Dn. A screen I cunningly put up (8) Ans Explanation
24 Dn. Indignant to be again dispatched in a rush (6) Ans Explanation
28 Dn. Riot caused by a set of three (4) Ans Explanation
29 Dn. Ordinary and second rate (2,2) Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8671 - Aug 02

Posting after a break. Was very busy during the last week.

6 Ac. Made a run for it, account briefly being in red (5) Ans Explanation
10 Ac. Revokes and rings again (7) Ans Explanation
15 Ac. Bought after use by previous owner (6,4) Ans Explanation

5 Dn. Basil from a feather-bedded family (4) Ans Explanation
14 Dn. Senseless to be somewhat in an ecstasy (5) Ans Explanation
20 Dn. One who is engaged in trapping wild animals (7) Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8666 - July 27

5 Ac. Go up designing dances (6) Ans Explanation
10 Ac. Human or lord’s house (5) Ans Explanation
12 Ac. Acrobat’s walkway (9) Ans Explanation
14 Ac. Wild dog in a wood in government land (5) Ans Explanation
18 Ac. Dues Lynd settled without notice (8) Ans Explanation
24 Ac. Cat-like creature caught, with one doc following (5) Ans Explanation
27 Ac. Dark sailor in a card game (5,4) Ans Explanation
29 Ac. Carrying tin to German capital is crazy (6) Ans Explanation

1 Dn. Type of company which constrains risk (7) Ans Explanation
2 Dn. Figure seen on an icon on a gondola (7)Ans Explanation
15 Dn. Ken, a voter, distressed when passed by (9)Ans Explanation
18 Dn. Ransack buttery for hidden instrument (7)Ans Explanation
19 Dn. Abnormal Roman way in a depression (7)Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8664 - July 25

5 Ac. Long lasting, as some consumer items should be (7) Ans Explanation
13 Ac. Big snake from Canada, no kidding (8) Ans Explanation
15 Ac. The best performance on file? (6) Ans Explanation
19 Ac. Strange test case for a 15 (8) Ans Explanation
27 Ac. E.M.Forster’s work against aid, a pose crumbling (1,7,2,5) Ans Explanation
29 Ac. Superior genetic factor said to bring cleanliness (7) Ans Explanation

3 Dn. Current conductor, positive or negative (9) Ans Explanation
7 Dn. Creature that distracts a cod on bait (9) Ans Explanation
8 Dn. E.Dexter, in trouble, made a strenuous effort (7) Ans Explanation
12 Dn. A party creates fuss (3) Ans Explanation
16 Dn. Carefree and effortless in movement (4-5) Ans Explanation
18 Dn. Words to infuse confidence kept pal moving (3,4) Ans Explanation
20 Dn. Loan installment charge in Dubai for example (7) Ans Explanation
20 Dn. Relaxed, in a surcease,dreaming (5) Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8662 - July 22

1 Ac. Communication device to help clone production (9)Cellphone. Anagram of "help clone"
8 Ac. Substance initially derived from carbon, oxygen, barium, antimony, lithium and titanium (6)cobalt. Initially suggests to take the forst letters of all the words

17 Ac. One doing needlework in a drain (5) sewer. Double definition.

1 Dn. Insect with some thoracic adaptation (6)cicada. "Some" suggests containment. thoracic adaption

2 Dn. Mutinous Brit leaves union in which much of the costs are due to wages (6-9) Labour Intensive. Anagram of "Brit leaves union"

7 Dn. Add to Aunt Meg's discomfiture (7)Augment. Anagram of "Aunt Meg"

21 Dn. Fall in winter reveals love in three directions (4) snow. Love=0, three directions=south, north, west.

The Hindu Crossword #8661 - July 21

Busy today, so not formatting the Answers and the explanations.

11 Ac. That is Mac, suffering with a breathing difficulty (9) Ans Explanation

13 Ac. Agamemnon’s daughter in a select radical group (7) Electra. "In a" suggests containment. select radical.

15 Ac. Omen now deciphered as indicating a periodic phase of a satellite (3,4) New Moon. Anagram of "Omen Now".

17 Ac. Vehicle that Bertram carefully parked inside (7) Tramcar. inside suggests containment. Bertram carefully.

27 Ac. Preliminary inspection for development of non-scenic areas (14) Reconnaissance. Anagram of "non-scenic areas".

2 Dn. Putin’s strange contribution (5) Input. strange suggests an anagram of Putin.

3 Dn. Mysterious image in Connecticut unscrambled (9) Enigmatic. Connecticut= CT. Anagram of "image in ct".

10 Dn. Location of the forge of Volcan in Italy (4) Etna. Direct Clue.

14 Dn. Highly complicated tale: a bore, however (9) Elaborate.Anagram of "tale a bore".

18 Dn. A side, working and up-to-date(5-2) Right-on. A side=right, working=on.

The Hindu Crossword #8660 - July 20

1 Ac. Secured against loss or injury(7) Ans Explanation
9 Ac. A predicament to accept either choices, both untenable (7) Ans Explanation
10 Ac. Strain of rattling one’s tin (7) Ans Explanation
12 Ac. Boring i.e. a wayward native inhabitant (9) Ans Explanation
15 Ac. Not proper to leap at copper,to implore (5) Ans Explanation

1 Dn. Dunce I’d mistakenly brought on (7) Ans Explanation
6 Dn. Cross Channel listlessness (5) Ans Explanation
15 Dn. A top man’s pride sent crashing (9) Ans Explanation
23 Dn. It’s a right created string instrument (5) Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8659 - July 19

1 Ac. Still possibly producing sausage (7) Ans Explanation
10 Ac. New coats need yarns (9) Ans Explanation
14 Ac. Unfamiliar user given direction to manage with care (5) Ans Explanation

4 Dn. Cheese produced by a dame (4) Ans Explanation
7 Dn. The entertainer rates it differently (7) Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8656 & #8657 - July 15,16,17

Had a very busy weekend preparing for the dumb-c event I am organising. So, didn't have time to even download the crossword page. Will start posting from today again.

The Hindu Crossword #8655 - July 14

Been very busy today, got only a few minutes to work on the crossword.

1 Ac. Machines for reproduction? (7) Ans Explanation

2 Dn. Female monster who inspires fear (6) Ans Explanation
21 Dn. Passivity I retain somehow (7) Ans Explanation
22 Dn. Expel top red acting suspiciously? (6)Ans Explanation
24 Dn. As Tom put right, plant has a pore for ingress of gases (5)Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8654 - July 13

11 Ac. Fabricated tapestries can be revealing (5,5) Ans Explanation
14 Ac. Brief jottings taken at precise times (7) Ans Explanation
20 Ac. Anyway Pedro has no right to become an idiot (4)Ans Explanation
22 Ac. Partner due to be agitated and smitten (10)Ans Explanation


2 Dn. Partisans can be such trying people (9)Ans Explanation
3 Dn. Mention ‘pot’ could be all powerful (10)Ans Explanation
14 Dn. Are mended — put right — when twisted (9)Ans Explanation
18 Dn. South east military alliance right in Congress (7)Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8653 - July 12

15 Ac. Manipulates Gir’s resources (4) Ans Explanation
18 Ac. Resembles — follows doctor’s instruction post-prandial (5,5) Ans Explanation
24 Ac. Dozing? Wake up, please! (6) Ans Explanation

2 Dn. Vacancy for old writer in Gujarat’s capital (7) Ans Explanation
4 Dn. Noticed the show, reportedly (4) Ans Explanation
14 Dn. Dinner few share with recent ally (3,6) Ans Explanation
17 Dn. What you do to evict a person from illegal occupation (3,5) Ans Explanation
19 Dn. You’re not invited! (4,3) Ans Explanation
21 Dn. Thus, 10 will become 9 (3,4) Ans Explanation
22 Dn. Mat has caused an unhealthy condition (6)Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8652 - July 11

9 Ac. One training for military service (5) Ans Explanation
10 Ac. The Greek Goddess of memory (9) Ans Explanation
11 Ac. Imperturbable, Officer Commanding embracing one in last disturbance (7) Ans Explanation
14 Ac. Religious rite that master can formulate anew (9) Ans Explanation
21 Ac. Such a leader is a ‘mullah’ (7) Ans Explanation
24 Ac. Tape Senor interpreting the international language (9) Ans Explanation
25 Ac. Animal horn I break (5) Ans Explanation
26 Ac. Hides coats (6) Ans Explanation

1 Dn. A nuisance from behind to the person at the wheel (4-4,6) Ans Explanation
2 Dn. Skin not in a secret place (4-3) Ans Explanation
7 Dn. “Is there _ _ of it? I would like to have a second helping” (3,4)Ans Explanation
17 Dn. West Indian ballad (7) Ans Explanation
22 Dn. Hundred individuals display ice-cream holders (5)Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8651 - July 10

11 Ac. I near such a strange creature in the main (3,6) Ans Explanation
24 Ac. What a patient receives at the hands of a doctor (9) Ans Explanation

4 Dn. Walker told to be careful (5,4,4) Ans Explanation
6 Dn. Had a mind to sack the female attendant (8) Ans Explanation
7 Dn. Roman or Arabic? Figure it out! (7) Ans Explanation
22 Dn. “That —— again! It had a dying fall!” (Shakespeare) Ans Explanation

The Sunday Hindu Crossword #2660 - July 09

1 Ac. A horse exercised on the beach (6) Ans Explanation
19 Ac. Girl crushed by satirists (4) Ans Explanation
21 Ac. Crime of wicked senator (7) Ans Explanation

2 Dn. Valet cheers wildly in a fortified manor house in Kent (5,6) Ans Explanation
6 Dn. Leaders of our Liberal Democrats,advanced in years (3) Ans Explanation
7 Dn. Follow gang a lot, uneasily (3,5) Ans Explanation
16 Dn. Happy hour – binge in one next door (9) Ans Explanation
25 Dn. Some bourbon belonging to us (3) Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8650 - July 07

6 Ac. One pose. Really? (2,2) Ans Explanation
10 Ac. Somehow nail a U.P. writer (7) Ans Explanation
16 Ac. Unimportant — like a ghost? (10)Ans Explanation
27 Ac. He and coed turned around and repeated (6) Ans Explanation

2 Dn. Vela can mend the draped border (7) Ans Explanation
4 Dn. Happy days of the decent paper (4,5) Ans Explanation
7 Dn. Former Prime Minister — a learned man in Hindu law (7) Ans Explanation
17 Dn. Pains Hess takes for the attribute of a mimic (9) Ans Explanation
18 Dn. Saga is about a tennis player (6) Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8649 - July 07

1 Ac. A place in Sri Lanka to come in later, perhaps (11) Ans Explanation
11 Ac. Lines from the Hub? (5) Ans Explanation
13 Ac. "To-, perchance to dream" (Shakespeare) (5) Ans Explanation
22 Ac. Such a view takes it all! (9) Ans Explanation
28 Ac. The political arena in the U.K. (11) Ans Explanation

2 Dn. Girl one Frenchman goes after (5) Ans Explanation
4 Dn. Overcomes raging streams (7) Ans Explanation
6 Dn. Three points awarded to my opponent (5) Ans Explanation
7 Dn. Without any company whatsoever (3,5) Ans Explanation
8 Dn. Employed American journalist (4) Ans Explanation
19 Dn. Such a hunter is sure to miss the target (7) Ans Explanation
23 Dn. W-ne'er did what you may do with an expired subscription(5) Ans Explanation
25 Dn. Separate a section (5) Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8648 - July 06

1 Ac. The band was, in a Sherlock Holmes story (8) Ans Explanation
5 Ac. So Carl belted out songs of joy (6) Ans Explanation
10 Ac. Declare that the fool has hesitation to begin (6) Ans Explanation
17 Ac. Branch in Karnataka faces fate (5) Ans Explanation
21 Ac. Stop sleeping! (6) Ans Explanation
24 Ac. Regret on the French street at 1200, perhaps (3,3,4) Ans Explanation
29 Ac. What is taught, with skimpy clothes (6) Ans Explanation
31 Ac. Throws airs about in the General Hospital. How showy!(6) Ans Explanation
32 Ac. If a film has this, it’s quite popular among theatre-goers (1,4,3) Ans Explanation

2 Dn. Chooses the Spanish sect mistakenly (6) Ans Explanation
6 Dn. Storyteller strikes a pose (5) Ans Explanation
7 Dn. Work over an interchange — it may make you rather tired (8) Ans Explanation
8 Dn. Weekend when rusty Ada perks up! (8) Ans Explanation
16 Dn. Star-turn, extremely hasty, is worthless (6) Ans Explanation
18 Dn. Not necessarily a cripple in a fielding position (5,3) Ans Explanation
19 Dn. Does he value donkeys and sort unendingly? (8) Ans Explanation
25 Dn. Shoot down the jeerings (5) Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8647 - July 05

1 Ac. Stake in centre of a pleasant estate (4) Ans Explanation
10 Ac. Dried evergreen shrub used to make refreshing beverage (3,4) Ans Explanation
12 Ac. Straight lines from centre to circumference of circle (5) Ans Explanation
14 Ac. Jumbo the plane crashed (8) Ans Explanation
26 Ac. Dance to make most of the pungent smell disappear (5) Ans Explanation
28 Ac. Hardest part of human extremity (3,4) Ans Explanation

6 Dn. Song of mourning (5) Ans Explanation
9 Dn. Things that cause great pleasure (8) Ans Explanation
16 Dn. Lets this prickly plant bear dense flower heads somehow (8) Ans Explanation
22 Dn. No smell somehow but distended withal (7) Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8646 - July 04

1 Ac. The puppeteer needs to be in control to do this (4,3,7) Ans Explanation
12 Ac. In some notable prophetic happening (4) Ans Explanation
20 Ac. Drink of the gods (6) Ans Explanation
26 Ac. The face that launched a thousand ships (5) Ans Explanation

3 Dn. Draws out of site (4) Ans Explanation
6 Dn. Metrical foot of short and long syllable (4) Ans Explanation

The Hindu Crossword #8645 - July 03

10 Ac. Strum or make speech on the platform (7) Ans
11 Ac. Formal acknowledgement of debt (3) Ans
31 Ac. Dates Ed made to be calm and composed (7) Ans

2 Dn. Turn hut round, it is said to be false (7) Ans
5 Dn. Players whose main concern is to score goals (8) Ans
17 Dn. Reduce expenditure relating to a deep ditch (8) Ans

The Sunday Hindu Crossword #2659 - July 02

12 Ac. One of the same kind close to General Eisenhower (4) Ans
25 Ac. About to call one about uprising (9)) Ans
1 Dn. Feeble, the French cutting tool (6)) Ans
14 Dn. Treat guy in Nice hospital, unsanitary (10) Ans

Solving the crosswords during the weekend is difficult, because I get the printout at work, whereas i have to spend time exclusively for this on the PC while at home. So, i expect far less solutions to be posted on weekends!

Hindu Crossword #8643 - June 30

I used to be good on solving Hindu Crosswords back in college at BITS, around 7 years back. I have even managed to completely solve few grids. After that, i have lost touch, with random attempts here and there. Last month, when I was travelling to India for vacation, I tried my hand at the cryptic crossword appearing in the Gulf newspaper. Surprisingly, I still could manage a few!

So, back in Cyprus now. Started this blog mainly to remind me to keep posting to it, i.e keep attempting the daily crossword. Lets see how long it takes before I manage a decent number on a single day!

8 Ac. Place for scientific investigations (3)Ans
9 Ac. Tallest living animal (7)Ans
14 Ac. Laze in fun possibly but not when suffering from this (9)Ans
22 Ac. Silly to be somewhat in an ecstasy (5)Ans
26 Ac. Notice one included help (3)Ans

4 Dn. Put out of shape and make ugly (6)Ans
23 Dn. Render presentation as gift (5)Ans