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Quick Cryptic #8 – Head Start

◆ · By nate · Published 2025-02-23T13:00:37.599Z

Constructor's Note
Each clue starts or ends with a definition of the answer. The rest is one of these types of wordplay:
Acrostic: Take the first letters from words in the clue
"Animals came over with shaved heads (4)" gives COWS
Anagram: All the right letters are in the clue, just in the wrong order
"Deliver composed verse (5)" gives SERVE
Charades: Replace words in the clue with synonyms or abbreviations
"Dealing with money, exclude monarch (7)" gives BANKING
There is also one &lit clue, in which the whole clue acts as both wordplay and definition
More on how cryptics work
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Comments

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  • nate constructor · 2025-02-23T13:00:37.599Z
    My schedule's getting busier and I'm becoming a bit burnt out so puzzles will come more sporadically from now on – thanks everyone for the love on this series so far!
    • tpgrammar 🤓3:14 · 2025-02-24T01:36:08.643Z
      Nate, you are awesome. A break is well-deserved. Thank you : )
      • nate constructor · 2025-02-24T02:15:45.135Z
        ❤️
    • nate constructor · 2025-02-23T13:00:37.599Z
      Explanations:
      1A: part of chain?; first letters (starts) of each word
      4A: press coverage; anagram (edited) of KIN
      5A: Pinch; first letters (at first) of each word
      7A: most flexible; LOOS (latrines) + EST (established)
      8A: Follow; first letters (leaders) of each word
      1D: practice; DR (doctor) + ILL (sick)
      2D: irritating; anagram (cocktail) of SMOKIER
      3D: Americans; anagram (bad) of KNEE SAY
      6D: &lit (whole clue is definition); first letters (primarily) of each word
      • Jake A 🤓1:28 · 2025-02-24T00:22:59.283Z
        Awesome. This came together very nicely.
        • nate constructor · 2025-02-24T02:16:04.112Z
          Thanks Jake :)
        • John h 🤓4:00 · 2025-02-24T16:33:09.390Z
          This is great!
          • nate constructor · 2025-02-24T21:28:25.055Z
            Thank you!
          • rjy 4:01 · 2025-02-24T20:36:13.230Z
            Love these, whenever they arrive! Enjoy your breather!
            • nate constructor · 2025-02-24T21:28:38.768Z
              💕
            Play today's daily mini crossword
            1A
            Starts to do as I say, yanking part of chain? (5)
            1
            2
            3
            4
            5
            6
            7
            8
            Across
            1. 1A
              Starts to do as I say, yanking part of chain? (5)
            2. 4A
              Edited kin's press coverage (3)
            3. 5A
              Pinch nicknacks and bric-a-brac, at first (3)
            4. 7A
              Latrines established to be most flexible (7)
            5. 8A
              Follow leaders of emerging nation subverting undemocratic empire (5)
            Down
            1. 1D
              Doctor sick of practice (5)
            2. 2D
              Smokier cocktail becomes irritating (7)
            3. 3D
              Americans with bad knee, say (7)
            4. 6D
              Bask amid tub's hot environment, primarily! (5)
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