This page is intended to those new (or new-ish) to cryptic crosswords. If a clue has you completely bamboozled then post it here (together with anything you think you may have already determined for yourself) in the hope that one of the more seasoned solvers will assist.
For entries on this page before 2025-08-03, please click here.
Rules:
- Queries:
- Do not discuss any clue from any non-daily (prize) puzzle for which neither the solution nor blog has been published
- And, obviously, don’t expect a full explanation of all the clues – that’s what the blog is for
- Please cite where the clue can be found. Failure to do so will result in your query being ignored or deleted
- One clue per query please, except when you desperately need help for two intersecting answers
- Replies:
- When replying to a query please check to see if someone has got there before you unless you strongly disagree with the explanation given or you feel more could be added
- Please be polite, patient and understanding. Remember, you were a newbie once
Where is the explanation to Inquisitor 1917 (i paper), please?
This really belongs in General Discussion but look here: https://www.fifteensquared.net/2025/07/29/inquisitor-1917-by-blow-by-ruli/
Guardian Cryptic 29764 Harpo
Hideously bad for me I’m afraid! I’ve solved 5 clues all day.
5a,10a: Foot perhaps first place navvy protects (6,6)
I have no letters.
What the heck do you do?
Think of a famous “Foot” from seventies/eighties politics
Hi Steffen. The grammar.was a bit.difficult. “Protects” is a containment indicator. Did you look up navvy?
Thank you Admin and Paddymelon; there was very little I didn’t look up!
I continue to struggle to “see” the definition and my brain doesn’t seem to play ball with the construction of the clues.
I’m sorry for moaning about my lack of solving ability.
Steffen@6. The ones you ask about are often the ones that I and others have also paused over. So don’t give yourself a hard time.
Help needed please.
Quiptic Pasquale 1342
17a Part of military parade finds nobleman with hesitation at the start of month (12)
Where on earth do you begin to solve this?
Do you have any crossing letters?
Steffen
1. You must know by now that ‘hesitation’ almost invariably clues ER or UM.
2. The name of which month might associate it with a military procedure such as could feature in a parade?
3. What rank of nobleman would account for the remaining letters in the solution?
4. Stick the bits together, even if you haven’t come across the solution before, count it as a Jorum
I have assumed that you are cold-solving, but if your answer to Ken’s question is Yes, that will undoubtedly help things along.
Thank you. I’m not at the races today.
Guardian Cryptic Pangakupu 29779
1a – Likes to include piece of music in gymnastic exercise (8,4)
I have no letters. I have no crossing letters. I thought exercise was ‘PE’?
I don’t know what the definition is.
Steffen @12 – exercise is often PE, but not if it’s the definition – as it sort of is here. This is a cryptic definition and it helps knowing gymnastics and the exercises performed by the men in the Olympics. (It’s another random thing I’ve been involved in, both as a child and coaching as an adult, so I have played around on this particular bit of kit, trying out what we were asking the kids to do in very early exercises.)
Music might help with the second bit of the answer,
Shanne@13 thank you.
I saw an answer in one of The Guardian Cryptic crosswords that was a reference to an old coin.
I can’t remember the word, can anyone help me please as I can’t locate the original crossword.
Many thanks.
BH
@15 Have you tried entering “quiptic coin” (without the quotes) into search?
I am several days behind.
Carpathian 29789
25a Thought five lost out in misguided investment (9)
***t*m***
I have no earthly clue as to how to begin, if anyone is kind enough to give me a hand.
Words like ‘misguided’ can refer to an anagram. Five often translates to the letter V. Hope this helps.
Thank you Hovis
Guardian 29801
Other than 26a, 2d and 24d, I am lost!
How on earth do you start to interpret 1d?!
I’d love to think a few starting letters could help.
Steffen. Tbh, 1d is one of those clues that you either know or don’t. In the latter case, it is nigh impossible to guess without all the crossers. (The definition is at the start.) You may be able to work out the long anagram down the right. ‘Most gory’ is the definition. This suggests an EST or even an IEST ending. Good luck.
Ty
Guardian Cryptic Alia 29812
Good evening,
I am stuck and annoyed by many clues but …
16d Careless hit-and-run? (8)
*L**D***
I initially thought ACCIDENT, but the ‘L’ has thrown me.
Try splitting into two four-letter words:
1 means “hit”
2 means “run”
Thank you
Potential idiotic question…
Guardian Cryptic 29830 20/10/25
12a Inadequate lobby speaking for such transport (5,4)
S*O**-****
I don’t understand the clue at all if anyone can give me a pointer please?
Wordplay:
1. Inadequate (synonym)
2. sounds like a “lobby”
Def:
such transport. Not a specific form of transport more a description of some transport
The definition is ‘transport’. You want a word for ‘inadequate’ followed by a homophone (indicated by ‘speaking’) for ‘lobby’. Hope this helps.
kenmac just beat me.
Thank you both.
I’ve got the first 5 letters, but then TRIP, FUSE, STOP, CUTS don’t tick the box (I know they’re not soundalikes)
Lobby as a noun
Thank you kenmac
In today’s Quiptic 1355, can I please ask for guidance on 17a?
Critics ultimately coming in to sink amateur show (7)
I have no letters.
Hi Steffen @32 – that one was my last in on that puzzle and it took a while after I’d finished the rest of the puzzle. I’d try for some crossers first, but you’ll probably need some crossers on those crossers because none are that straightforward.
Critics ultimately suggests an S (the last letter of criticS)
“coming in” is an insertion indicator
you need synonyms for “sink” and “amateur”
The definition is “show”.
Thank you.