Tackling cryptic xwords is a humbling pastime, because I reckon there are word nerds out there who must fly through it in a "Harry initially joined curry" (hurry).
Hence, I should not be mortified when I can only get 2.5 clues out of 3; well, I'm 99% sure of my aptness for number 3, but there's that doubtful niggle.
Q Captain has terrible blue about nearly a hundred in cell (7)
A Century
(cricket term - 100 runs; a "blue" in Aussie slang is a fight/row, ie fury (rhymes with tury....I think I got there: I'm suspicious of the "nearly a hundred" part - which refers to "ce" in cell, but could be something I've missed.)
The next two are worry free!
Q Twin flags reveal flexibility of principles. (6, 9)
A DOUBLE STANDARDS!
(I was quite proud of this one.)
Q Diplomacy of South American City read to those misbehaving badly (4, 3)
A Riot Act
... I was up late in bed counting off on my fingers all the South American cities I know; Rio got me there (my baby must have smiled at me...) and I still didn't even see the "diplomacy" part until now (tact, joining Rio to Act.)
There are a few more clues where I annoyingly felt I was a third or two thirds of the way to the correct answer: and the frustration can be agonising*. This is why one shouldn't attempt cryptic xwords around breakable glass or grindable teeth, and perhaps taking up yoga would provide the ultimate calming effect?
*exhilirating, you know I love it.
2 comments:
These clues you work out tickle my brain. I think I'm almost beginning to get the logic of it. Quite impressive what you do.
what? cryptics aren't international? i have to speak aussie slang to solve them? harumph.
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