Another type of clue which does not follow the normal NON-CRYPTIC DEFINITION + CLUE INDICATOR + FODDER pattern is the one-clue pun. These clues consist of merely one highly ambiguous and misleading definition. And that's it. For example, the old chestnut that every cryptic crossword in the world has done to death: "Number (11or 10, depending on your nationality)" to which the answer is AN(A)ESTHETIC (it MAKES YOU NUMB, geddit?). And "Not a local number (7, 11)" is of course GENERAL AN(A)ESTHETIC. Another example, from The Independent recently, "Dreaded meter reader (8, 9)" to which the answer is BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH. Genius! If you like my crosswords, then you'll LOVE the Cryptic Mystic's YouTube channel, which is a brilliant resource for cryptic newbies and has been kind enough to feature a few of my puzzles https://www.youtube.com/@The_Cryptic_Mystic
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rjy 1:55 · 2025-05-19T14:28:50.668Z
Still getting the hang of these… got Naticked by 1D/5A - both were new to me. Enjoyed the challenge, thx!
No, it's not a reference to the author of "Jane Austen fan fiction" - who is that? A female swan is called a pen and a male swan is called a cob. More facts that I only know because crosswords.