Elle Cryptic #2

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• Pedagogue 13:23 · 2023-10-12T15:00:19.041Z

  Sorry, that should have been 4D Horrid . . .

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  • Elle constructor · 2023-10-13T00:23:28.681Z

    As mentioned by tuber below, 9D and 11D are considered unfair since they are indirect anagrams. I wasn't sure what that meant at first, I'm still learning!

    Orcas, etc. (WHALES), so to speak (WAILS) -> YELLS. I think "SPEAK" was meant to also be the definition, but the tense is wrong, oops...

    11D Have (definition) new (scrambled) present (synonym of now)

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• Pedagogue 13:23 · 2023-10-12T14:58:02.159Z

  A curate's egg! Some very entertaining clues, but I had problems with: 4A Horrid, horrid, horrid! 11D If an anagram of "now" is required, it cannot be the letters of a synonym. 13A I don't believe that acronyms belong in crosswords. 8D US spelling; UK solver. 9D I am totally mystified! Please parse this clue. I do not intend these comments as criticism.

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  • Elle constructor · 2023-10-13T00:21:22.114Z

    4D is parsed like this: Country (definition) couch (sofa) comes after you (U) -> U + SOFA = USOFA

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    • Pedagogue 13:23 · 2023-10-13T01:41:25.721Z

      I understand that, but USOFA is not a country; USA is the recognised acronym.

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  • Elle constructor · 2023-10-13T02:14:05.866Z

    Some new clues:

    • USOFA - Country couch comes after university (2, 2, 1)
    • OWN - Have nuts, now. (3)
    • YELLS - Percy Ellsworth gives shouts (5)

    Thoughts?

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    • Pedagogue 13:23 · 2023-10-13T03:44:45.170Z

      I like your review of OWN and YELLS. I'm still being nit-picky about USOFA. If you change 4A to FLING, 3D could be IMOLA, a motor racing track. "I'm first on Los Angeles race track" for example. This is just a suggestion to avoid the pseudo-acronym.

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      • Elle constructor · 2023-10-13T17:11:39.505Z

        will keep those in mind for future cryptics!

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• tuber 🤓3:46 · 2023-10-12T22:50:53.752Z

  Hey Elle, I always look forward to your puzzles, so well done for taking the plunge into cryptic territory.

  9D is really tough: the idea is "a synonym of a homophone of WHALES", but this is too indirect to be allowed in cryptic-land. Similarly, 11D is a so-called indirect anagram: "anagram of a synonym of present". These are considered unfair on the solver and so you won't come across them in cryptic crosswords.

  But I was able to get everything and only had to guess at 9D, so good job and I hope to see more

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  • Elle constructor · 2023-10-13T00:19:39.986Z

    Gotcha! That makes sense. Thanks for the tips!

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  • Elle constructor · 2023-10-13T02:14:10.286Z

    Some new clues:

    • USOFA - Country couch comes after university (2, 2, 1)
    • OWN - Have nuts, now. (3)
    • YELLS - Percy Ellsworth gives shouts (5)

    Thoughts?

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• girlcow 🤓7:02 · 2023-10-13T04:07:37.813Z

  as an inexperienced cryptic solver, i really enjoyed this :)

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  • Elle constructor · 2023-10-13T17:11:49.037Z

    thanks!

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• kurtalert 🤓6:05 · 2023-10-13T22:58:32.675Z

  I enjoyed it... but I'm a noob and don't know all the rules either!

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