Do you GROAN when you see a cryptic crossword? Suffer from CRYPTIC-O-PHOBIA? Ever wanted to try one, but just needed a nudge for how those gibberish clues were constructed?

Then here’s your chance. Sit right down, learn some of the basics while solving the grid…get the coords…complete a little field puzzle and unlock the box to get your smiley. Fun…huh!

INSTRUCTIONS

Person Type A - Crypto-cruciverbalist

You know what this means, so go straight to the attachment called "Assistance...pff...I know what to do!". Print, solve, figure out GZ and go seek your smiley.

Assistance...pff...I know what to do

Alert: You are about to download a file that contains details needed to find this geocache. As the geocache owner, I ensure that this file is safe to download. It has not been checked by Geocaching HQ or by the reviewer for possible malicious content. Download this file at your own risk.

Person Type B - Everyone else

Let's face it - if you thought a crypto-cruciverbalist might very well be a cemetery dwelling, knife-wielding maniac, then I’ve got an attachment called “Assistance...yes please...I'm new at this”. I’ll give you some simple LESSONS. I’ll give you a crossword with good ‘nudges’ for the clues, which relate to the LESSONS (read them carefully). See…a helpful way to understand cryptics...and get your smiley as a prize.

Assistance...yes please...I'm new at this

Also, with permission from local geocaching crypto-cruci-A-listers, Agent Basil and ZQX, there are four clues in the grid that come from four local cryptic caches compiled by them….With your newly acquired skills, you’ll be able to solve those ones too!! And you’ll already have a head start.

LESSON 1 – what is different about Cryptics?

Cryptic crosswords typically have TWO parts. In each clue, there is a DEFINITION part, which is like any normal crossword to get you the answer, then there is a WORDPLAY part, which uses different DEVICES to get the same answer. Here’s an example:

• The clue is: Consumes a portion of meat stew (4).
• The DEFINITION is “consumes”, which is a synonym of EATS - just like a normal crossword.
• The WORDPLAY is “a portion of mEAT Stew”. The word “portion” is an INDICATOR that the answer is HIDDEN in a portion of the other words. This will all make sense when you look at HIDDEN Words in Lesson 2.

The DEFINITION is always at the start or the end of each clue. So try to figure out what the definition might be, then think about possible words, just like a normal crossword.

I mentioned that the WORDPLAY uses different DEVICES – a bit like different ways to cook (add, mix, replace)!! You could hide words in the clue, or use anagrams (swapping letters around). There is usually an INDICATOR word that is a hint on what device the compiler has used.

LESSON 2 – These DEVICES and INDICATORS - teach me now!

We will look at 9 DEVICES that are typically used, along with the usual INDICATORS. All nine are used in the puzzle you need to solve, so read on…

ABBREVIATIONS generally known

This one is first, as abbreviations are a great way to build parts of a word and there are so many of them in our language. Also, abbreviations can be mixed in with some other devices, such as charades. So, get to know them. There are some good websites that list a bunch, but I’ll stick to those I see regularly.

• Shortened words like: each (EA), I had (ID), road (RD), street (ST), avenue (AVE), doctor (DR) time (AM, PM, HR) states (VIC, SA, TAS, Cal for California), days (MON, FRI, SUN), months (JAN, DEC).
• Symbolic letters: Numerical words like one, five, century use Roman Numerals(IVXLCD), Four Winds (NEWS), Temperature (C or F), degree (BA for Bachelor of Arts, MB for Bachelor of Medicine), Latin (p for piano or soft, f for loud), kiss and hug (X and O), chemical elements (H, O, N, F, C, Cl, etc), love or duck (O, as in tennis or a batsman’s score), queen (ER for Elizabeth Regina)
• Associations: turn (U), shirt (T), square (T)

HIDDEN words

Letters of the answer are located in order within the clue, but hidden in different ways. Here are three common ways to hide words:

• In plain sight (e.g. Inca cheese = CACHE). Indicator words like: hidden, sample, portion, amongst, buried, held in, heart.
• Alternate lettering (e.g. chance he escaped = CACHE). Indicator words like: regularly, alternately, oddly, every.
• Acrostics, which are first letters of words (e.g. Cheese and crackers he enjoyed = CACHE). Indicator words like: first, capital, lead, start, initially.
• An example, famous for being possibly the longest hidden clue, from the Times: As seen in jab, reach of pro miserably failing to meet expectations? (6,2,7). The answer is BREACH OF PROMISE. Impressive, huh. Don’t think so – try creating one!!

ANAGRAMS

Also very popular amongst compilers, used in almost every cryptic.

• I look for words in the clue that add up to the answer length. E.g. I cried with confusion at the drink (5). Confusion suggests it’s an anagram, but it can’t be an anagram of ICRIED, as this has six letters. It can be an anagram of CRIED…and is. A drink usually made from apples!
• Some are simple (ates, east, eats, sate, seat, teas). Some, not so simple (discounter, introduces, reductions). Cool, huh.
• Indicator words like: mixed, about, off, tangled, crazy, upset, confused, puzzling.
• E.g. (from SMH 15 Jun 19) Best, if ill-fitting, suits (6). SUITS is the DEFINITION for BEFITS, while ILL-FITTING is the INDICATOR for an anagram. Mix up BEST IF.

CONTAINERS

A little word inside another word. Less often used, but often quite clever.

• E.g. OR inside PANAMA = PANORAMA.
• Indicators words like: inside, among, surrounding, wrapping, protecting, devouring, amidst, occupying, getting into, or outside, around, about.
• E.g. A rugby score about the elderly was a catastrophe (7). A rugby score is a TRY, ABOUT is the indicator, the elderly is the AGED. So TR-AGED-Y is the answer, a CATASTROPHE.

DOUBLE MEANINGS

Same spelling, but different meaning.

• Such as POLE, which means North/South…or…Polish native…or…flag holder. FAST, which means quick…or...held firm.
• The wordplay is often simply a second definition of the answer. So look for short clues - sometimes two or three words.
• You won’t find Indicator words here, which is a bit of a hint anyway.
• E.g. Fixed diet (4) = FAST. Boat put in water (6) = LAUNCH. Prepare to break the egg and go, go, go! (3,8) = GET CRACKING. This last one is a little harder, but funny. At least, I think so.

DELETIONS and SWAPS

Letters can be removed from a word to make another (e.g. RAISING-G=RAISIN)

• Indicator words for deletions like: but not, without, omits.
• E.g. The finish for my friend, but not Friday (3). DEFINITION is FINISH = END. WORDPLAY is my friend, but not Friday = FRIEND - FRI = END. (There you go - abbreviations can appear in any type of clue).

Letters can be swapped within a word (e.g. SHALE to SCALE).

• Indicator words for swaps like: goes from, swapped, exchange.
• E.g. The shale goes from hot to cold, producing a flaky deposit. (5) Swap H for C in Shale = SCALE.
• By the way, more sophisticated, but often quite funny swaps are called SPOONERISMS, named after William Archibald Spooner, an Oxford don and ordained minister, who was famous for mixing his words. The indicator is usually the word SPOONER. E.g. Spooner’s lack of pies was full of untruths (4,2,4) = PACK OF LIES. Look up Spoonerisms for a good laugh.

HOMOPHONES

Words that sound the same. (What is a watt?) (See the sea).

• Indicator words like: hear, audit, sounded like, listen, overheard, reported.
• E.g. The rowing crew was consumed, I hear (5) = EIGHT, homophone of ATE.
• E.g. It sounds like he was nabbed on the basketball arena (5) = COURT, homophone of CAUGHT.

REVERSAL

Here, I will provide three common types:

• Reverse Hidden (e.g. heiress I tormented = ROTISSERIE)
• Indicator words like: reversed, back, returned, flipped, reflected, retreated.
• E.g. Stop!! Reverse your cauldrons. (4) = POTS.
• Reverse Definition requires you to figure out a synonym of a word, then flip it.
• E.g. I got short sleeps when I returned across the bridge (4) = NAPS return of SPAN.
• A Palindrome, which is a word spelt the same forwards or backwards. (e.g. ANNA, CIVIC, RACECAR).
• Indicator words like: either way or both ways.
• E.g. Witnesses going back and forth (4) = SEES
• E.g. Either way, it’s like a canoe (5) = KAYAK

CHARADES

Remember the game of charades. “Three syllables, first syllable….” Well, some cryptic clues apply the same concept, where the answer can be broken down into bits: sometimes syllables or smaller words. EVEREST = EVE+REST. WHEEL = W+HEEL, SLIGHT = S+LIGHT, where W and S could be west or south in the clue (remember your abbreviations). You get the point. This makes for some clever clues.

• Indicators are usually like a set of instructions (a bit like building IKEA furniture!!). You might see words like: with, and, plus, join, middle of, heart of (e.g. heart of gold = OL, which could be part of a clue such as Pursue a heart of gold amidst the flow (6) = F(OL)LOW).
• E.g. LEGALLY clue could be: By law, member acquires friend = LEG+ALLY (7).
• E.g. The pixie was blonde at day’s end (5) = FAIRY = FAIR+Y. Note that END is the indicator for the word DAY.

Righto then. What are you waiting for. Print the grid and get to it. Oh...and I'm only a message away if you get stuck. I want you to get that smiley.

To get GZ

Done the grid? Then a letter count may be useful!

S35 WB.CFD E149 J(A-M).SGL

The Field Puzzle – to get your Smiley

So, you’ve solved the grid and got GZ. But, what have you learnt?

You’ll need to solve this final, easy clue to unlock your prize.

At GZ, keep back! Now, take a look. (4)

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This cache is now part of the Master of Mystery puzzles. 

Master of Mystery #73 - Magdeburg Mystery Cache 

GCBB7E9