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Trick and Treat?

· By Aaron Riccio · Published 2023-10-31T05:10:14.942Z

I didn't want my home to get TP'd by a bunch of out-of-control solvers, so I made them this puzzle! Thanks to PA, Brad, and Tui for testing, and Happy Halloween to you all; perhaps I'll see some of you on my Tuesday night cryptic-solving stream at twitch.tv/thatcrypticguy.
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Comments

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  • rickybillingsgate 🤓5:01 · 2023-10-31T16:40:44.726Z
    🎃
    • Pedagogue 13:17 · 2023-10-31T17:24:37.267Z
      SHOCKTOBER - what kind of word is that; another American young-culture word, I suppose. Sorry, I abhorred this cryptic - it wasn't my style.
      • Aaron Riccio constructor · 2023-10-31T18:12:00.599Z
        I'm not sure why you're complaining about a word that (1) exists and (2) is 100% checked, but to each their own. I get the feeling you won't particularly like the puzzles I stream, either, but you're always welcome to drop by live or with VOD to get a better sense of where my cryptic sensibilities are coming from.
        • lila 2s · 2023-11-01T21:56:25.009Z
          hey man, it’s free to not post a comment! if you don’t like a puzzle, you can just stop solving it, and you definitely don’t need to say how much you didn’t like it. very rude :/
          • Pedagogue 13:17 · 2023-11-02T06:45:11.015Z
            Thank you for your reply; you have a very odd understanding of "rude".
        • Pedagogue 13:17 · 2023-10-31T17:26:54.544Z
          Sorry, missed out a ? HIC and OHO - horrid, horrid, horrid.
          • Megatart 🤓13:02 · 2023-11-01T22:47:20.895Z
            You know, there can be a fine line between offering constructive criticism and being genuinely mean. A lot of your comments that I've seen have been on the wrong side of that line.
            • Pedagogue 13:17 · 2023-11-02T06:50:20.094Z
              Thank you for your reply; in this case I believe that the words HIC and OHO were unfair. I think that they are provided by the Crosshare suggestions; I would not use them when compiling.
              • Megatart 🤓13:02 · 2023-11-02T16:13:59.990Z
                Yes, we gathered that.
                • frostyjhammer 5:38 · 2023-11-02T17:03:11.344Z
                  • Pedagogue 13:17 · 2023-11-02T22:56:36.381Z
                    Exactly why serious solvers use Chambers, rather than inferior dictionaries! Chambers definition is: pedagogue /ped'ə-gog/ noun A teacher
                    • Aaron Riccio constructor · 2023-11-03T01:11:07.867Z
                      Um . . . the Chambers definition is "old derog use: a teacher, especially a strict or pedantic one."
                      • Pedagogue 13:17 · 2023-11-03T07:02:58.869Z
                        Thank you for your reply. I was using Chambers Dictionary (12th Edition), not the shorter 21st Century Dictionary. However, as I seem to have become Public Enemy No. 1 I think I'll "bounce".
            • merlinnimue 🤓5:02 · 2023-10-31T18:18:25.323Z
              Loved 1a and 4d, was unfamiliar with hock for prison, and 1d was tough without knowing what's in its heart
              Anyway, thanks for the treat, now for the trick its time for me to turn back into a pumpkin... lord knows I have the body shape for it
              • Aaron Riccio constructor · 2023-10-31T19:28:23.403Z
                Thanks as always for the solve, Merlin. The original clue had "change of heart" between the two definitions; was hoping moving it to the end would help resolve the ambiguity. Oh well! Will have to do better with my next one :)
              • lila 2s · 2023-11-01T21:55:15.710Z
                solved on paper (á la you, i suppose)! had a great time. lovely puzzle, great long entries (even if spent a LONG time trying to fit CHOCOTOBER in haha)
                • Aaron Riccio constructor · 2023-11-01T22:53:09.328Z
                  I love that solving on paper is my thing now, but I love even more that you had fun with this one. CHOCOTOBER sounds delicious, and I'd definitely add that to the wordbank (if I knew how to do that here). Discovering fun new words or turns of phrases is really such a delight.
                • brknfixie 🤓10:36 · 2023-11-11T22:52:43.383Z
                  nice!
                  • ssta 🤓1:04 · 2023-11-11T23:13:23.093Z
                    Nice puzzle. SHOCKTOBER is fine (although hock=prison was new to me, had to look it up...nice). Not fond of the use of White for "EB" in 4d; US crosswords have different guidelines than UK about such things though, so it's fine. Good puzzle! A nice "waiting for compile to finish" size :)
                    • Aaron Riccio constructor · 2023-11-12T01:48:35.641Z
                      I don't know if the UK has different labels for them, but in the US we'd call a candy bar of a puzzle like this "fun-sized." I'm glad you enjoyed it, despite the proper name charade. It's definitely a balancing act to try and write clues that will satisfy both sides of the pond!
                    1A
                    Bah, humbug! Way to share files without a leader is detestable (9)
                    1
                    2
                    3
                    4
                    5
                    6
                    7
                    8
                    9
                    10
                    11
                    Across
                    1. 1A
                      Bah, humbug! Way to share files without a leader is detestable (9)
                    2. 6A
                      Conservative has prison time for, to some, the month of Halloween (10)
                    3. 11A
                      Wanton on vacation, following good crowd to an empty place (5,4)
                    Down
                    1. 1D
                      A possible consequence of fireworks or a possible response to fireworks after a change of heart? (3)
                    2. 2D
                      Sound from a drunk children's drink (3)
                    3. 3D
                      Uncovered soup to go to waste (3)
                    4. 4D
                      White and black retreat (3)
                    5. 5D
                      Half-ration of seafood sauce for seaman (3)
                    6. 6D
                      Endless epic leads to collapse (3)
                    7. 7D
                      I'm surprised husband is in love (twice) (3)
                    8. 8D
                      Pack items within it! (3)
                    9. 9D
                      Lennon's mom is running over (3)
                    10. 10D
                      Occasionally bemoan age (3)
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