How to Solve Cryptic Crossword Puzzles | The New Yorker

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  • čas přidán 25. 11. 2019
  • The puzzlemakers Anna Shechtman and Erik Agard break down how cryptic crosswords work and decode this style’s double clues.
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    How to Solve Cryptic Crossword Puzzles | The New Yorker
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Komentáře • 81

  • @scout_finch
    @scout_finch Před 4 lety +132

    I want a more of Erik Agard! He's a great character with a lateral-thinking mind!

    • @AntonioDiaz-ly9ig
      @AntonioDiaz-ly9ig Před 3 lety

      This was great, I been tryin to find out about "spiritual warfare help" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Ever heard of - Banulian Lonameron Breakthrough - (should be on google have a look ) ? Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my friend got great success with it.

  • @themroc8231
    @themroc8231 Před 4 lety +178

    1 - that's amazing
    2 - I hate it.

  • @joecab1
    @joecab1 Před 4 lety +64

    I loved that last one -- nice! And yes the difficulty is hilarious but a lot of people crave their cryptics that way.

  • @SC-bg8wf
    @SC-bg8wf Před rokem +17

    When I see the solutions to cryptic crosswords I still struggle.

  • @paulmerced5587
    @paulmerced5587 Před 3 lety +133

    His hair is so big because it's full of brain power

    • @maljamin
      @maljamin Před rokem +3

      Capable of the fuzziest logic

    • @kuztomix
      @kuztomix Před rokem

      His hair is actually short...

  • @JungianHeights
    @JungianHeights Před 3 lety +38

    I love Crosswords and Cryptic Crosswords. I started understanding the cryptic ones because of that one episode of Inside No.9 where he explains the clues to solve them.

  • @maypasifiki9360
    @maypasifiki9360 Před rokem +11

    I've tried to solve a cryptic crossword in the Sunday newspaper but it always stumped me. This clip is a great start on how to begin solving it

  • @Vitoria-tx4xh
    @Vitoria-tx4xh Před 3 lety +16

    Cryptic crosswords are absurd. I love it.

  • @BioYuGi
    @BioYuGi Před rokem +20

    The last one kills me because how would you know that the capital it refers to is Juneau, Alaska?

    • @zmaj12321
      @zmaj12321 Před 6 měsíci +2

      That one would definitely require some crossing letters to help solve.

  • @ELCNUmorFnaMehT
    @ELCNUmorFnaMehT Před 4 lety +70

    That last one was just ridiculous.

    • @ReGGiEbayer95
      @ReGGiEbayer95 Před 2 lety +2

      That’d be so satisfying to get though

    • @yeerk
      @yeerk Před 2 lety +2

      @@ReGGiEbayer95 no one would

  • @StoneColdMagic
    @StoneColdMagic Před 5 měsíci +3

    Excellent video. Thanks for sharing!
    The main issue I've had with cryptic crosswords (watching them on CZcams, not actually solving them) is often they relate something obscure that only a Brit would know about. For example, I've seen some that refer to street names (non-well-known) in London that unless you live there, you're not likely to know the word or be able to follow the clue. Other cases are words that are inherently British like "loo."
    Loo, however, is a relatively commonly known word outside of the UK, but there are plenty of others that are just not known to us Yanks. :0]
    Is there a cryptic crossword for Americans using American icons, and jargon?
    I've not been able to find one.

  • @tsukikage
    @tsukikage Před rokem +12

    In fairness, I've been doing the NYT crossword for a while now, and while I'm pretty darn good at Mondays, like most people I have to cheat a lot on the later days because I simply don't know the "best-selling novel that begins in Pondicherry, India".

  • @cameronporter1552
    @cameronporter1552 Před 4 lety +2

    great video!

  • @arthimmig
    @arthimmig Před 4 lety +3

    This is awesome.

  • @whedonobsessed
    @whedonobsessed Před 3 lety +18

    How many secrets is he keeping in his hair though

  • @RajMahall
    @RajMahall Před 4 lety +6

    "Go Tell It On The Mountain" as bumper music is 👨‍🍳😘👌

  • @dirtywashedupsparkle
    @dirtywashedupsparkle Před 4 lety +10

    So glad for that disclaimer for the last one, that would have been a quitting point otherwise! *D'you know?* hint hint

  • @ah_dan6572
    @ah_dan6572 Před 2 lety +9

    As a Brit I never knew there was another type of crossword.

  • @shreyashabhinav1979
    @shreyashabhinav1979 Před 2 lety

    Thnx man

  • @mgmartin51
    @mgmartin51 Před 3 lety

    Delightfully devious, regard Kia.

  • @v1d300
    @v1d300 Před 4 lety +4

    O M G! I been solving regular/easy crosswords for quite sometime now and never knew what Cryptic crosswords meant. I feel so stupid. Thank you though. TIL.

  • @johnrobbins917
    @johnrobbins917 Před rokem

    The WSJ occasionally publishes a cryptic puzzle on the weekend.

  • @karthikaas1728
    @karthikaas1728 Před 3 lety +1

    I like the cryptic ones !

  • @Eval999
    @Eval999 Před rokem +1

    How are you supposed to get Juneau?

  • @BioYuGi
    @BioYuGi Před rokem +2

    1:00 I must be doing very easy crosswords because if the answer is 'loo', the clue is just straight up 'british word for bathroom'.

  • @babumadarasova5193
    @babumadarasova5193 Před 4 lety +19

    bruh in my country london would just be "british city" jane austen would be shortened to austen and be british author

  • @gastrickbunsen1957
    @gastrickbunsen1957 Před 2 lety +16

    The Jane Austen clue is typical of a setter in a daily UK newspaper.
    Whenever I see the name "Paul", my head falls.
    If get five or six of the clues I'm over the moon.
    To be really honest, "Paul", either stop setting crosswords, or at least, give us humans a chance.

  • @ClifDickens
    @ClifDickens Před 3 lety +3

    Erik Agard is the James Joyce of puzzlemaking.

  • @anotherbutt4chair56
    @anotherbutt4chair56 Před 4 lety +24

    Step one grow giant afro.

  • @rhijulbec1
    @rhijulbec1 Před 4 lety +23

    Nope! Still can't do them. Cryptic xwords are my kryptonite, lol. I can do american style with ease~but those? Arrrggghhhh!

  • @dailycrosswordsolve3448
    @dailycrosswordsolve3448 Před 4 lety +1

    For tips & tricks to crack a different type of crossword, check out my daily TUTORIALS for the New York Times Crossword Puzzle! czcams.com/video/odR3lx-HPes/video.html (Today's puzzle by Erik had a CRYPTIC CLUE!)

  • @tonyastark1215
    @tonyastark1215 Před rokem

    This is horrible, I love it

  • @berserk322
    @berserk322 Před rokem +2

    Everything I try to learn cryptic crossword I loose my mind a little

  • @JacksonPriceSonder
    @JacksonPriceSonder Před rokem +2

    That Jane Austen clue is absurd

  • @rhijulbec1
    @rhijulbec1 Před 4 lety +1

    👏👏👏MORE👏👏👏MORE👏👏👏MORE
    And did I say MORE?

  • @josephsauris4949
    @josephsauris4949 Před 2 lety +1

    I've seen clues in The Nation harder than that Jane Austen one.

  • @o2brhubarb
    @o2brhubarb Před 3 lety +1

    “The Life Aquatic” beginning with bobbin (3 letters)

  • @PossumMedic
    @PossumMedic Před 2 lety

    6 down - rap god who never sleeps 🙌

  • @BlackPixel1
    @BlackPixel1 Před 7 měsíci

    So, are they together now?

  • @karthikaas1728
    @karthikaas1728 Před 3 lety

    Oh I have found my self a new way to live

  • @reemlaza1
    @reemlaza1 Před 3 lety

    Traylyn

  • @kicknknowledge2178
    @kicknknowledge2178 Před 4 lety +2

    Them explaining cryptic crossword puzzles:
    The next narcissistic serial killer: 😈😈😈😈😈

  • @alexwells2231
    @alexwells2231 Před 4 lety +5

    And there is literal type as well
    One may have used rifle criminally?
    Ans Lifer - anagram of rifle and also the whole clue is a straight clue.

  • @skyrose6529
    @skyrose6529 Před 4 lety +1

    Can someone help me with a crossword please 🥺?

  • @JungianHeights
    @JungianHeights Před 3 lety +6

    It's a little odd that he doesn't mention the fact that the key part of a cryptic crossword is that the definition of the answer will always be at the beginning or at the end.

    • @JungianHeights
      @JungianHeights Před 3 lety +6

      Oh, he does eventually. It's just bizarre that he doesn't mention the basic concept until halfway through the video.

    • @n8style
      @n8style Před 10 měsíci

      he does at 5:22

  • @kihunipunk
    @kihunipunk Před 4 lety +2

    #1: This video just made me a subscriber.
    #2: I can't figure out cryptic passwords to save my life.
    #3: I TOTALLY ship these two!

  • @amazinggrace5692
    @amazinggrace5692 Před 3 měsíci

    One problem with the British style is that it can use spellings that are British and European landmarks or geography for example.

  • @chetanisthebest
    @chetanisthebest Před 4 lety +2

    When I saw Figure close to 10, I was thinking of her looks lol

  • @brettvalerybrett730
    @brettvalerybrett730 Před 4 lety

    #freejulianassange #no_usa_extradition #freepress... 🎅

  • @reemlaza1
    @reemlaza1 Před 3 lety

    Shorty

  • @henrytebbs1620
    @henrytebbs1620 Před rokem +1

    I do agree the last one is satisfying - however not a good cryptic clue. The whole idea of a cryptic crossword is that it is complex within reason and still doable. The clue would be perfect for a Briton if it weren't for Juneau and it would be perfect for an American without the British Ten Pound Note. Particularly Juneau which is so integral in the clue is far too obscure for a cryptic clue. Setters that publish in (English) papers generally are aware of this and rely more on synonyms of woulds than obscure general Knowledge.

    • @henrytebbs1620
      @henrytebbs1620 Před rokem

      Also it is a bad example for a video like this when the setter himself says "It's an absolute mess". Not a good tricky clue for a beginner video

  • @TheArtkaw
    @TheArtkaw Před 4 lety +1

    Jane Austen.... REALLY?!?

  • @sebasbk7x22
    @sebasbk7x22 Před 4 lety +1

    primer ;v xd

  • @ReggaePhysics
    @ReggaePhysics Před rokem +2

    Bit of a strange distinction between American and British.. we just have both.. the 'American' one as you call it is just called concise or simple.. actually most people in UK play this one also - probably more than cryptic now

    • @ReggaePhysics
      @ReggaePhysics Před rokem +1

      But yeah, useful for improving my cryptic skills as I'm just a beginner. Thanks

  • @_hollowsky
    @_hollowsky Před 3 měsíci

    What does the first one even mean? How is "Head of England" loo?

  • @Rollers123a
    @Rollers123a Před 3 lety

    I need more weed.

  • @degausser99
    @degausser99 Před 3 lety

    the only puzzling thing about this is whether this is a video about crosswords or a just really good chick flick bc i can't follow wtf's going on but whatever i'm invested

  • @overtonwindowshopper
    @overtonwindowshopper Před 2 měsíci

    Cryptic chad meets normal virgin
    Honestly tho, normal crosswords are just worse lol

  • @kicknknowledge2178
    @kicknknowledge2178 Před 4 lety +7

    Them explaining cryptic crossword puzzles:
    The next narcissistic serial killer: 😈😈😈😈😈

    • @alexwells2231
      @alexwells2231 Před 4 lety

      kick'n' knowledge
      Snake in alien surroundings - through water it sped (1-4)
      Answer is E-boat not U-boat
      ET is "alien"and "snake"is boa and "surrounding" indicating put boa inside ET so
      E(BOA)T

  • @kicknknowledge2178
    @kicknknowledge2178 Před 4 lety +1

    Them explaining cryptic crossword puzzles:
    The next narcissistic serial killer: 😈😈😈😈😈