Crossword Bafflement

Subject: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 05:06 AM

A crossword clue from my local is bugging me and several others, the clue is

"For a Polar Bear, worse than being left pawed" (2,6)

HELP !!!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: gnomad
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 07:45 AM

Any letters already?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: clueless don
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 08:47 AM

What does "(2,6)" mean? Two words, six letters?

Don

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: quokka
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 08:52 AM

I think it means 'first word 2 letters, second word 6 letters'

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Mr Happy
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 08:59 AM

you can easy work out the 1st word, after all how many 2 letter words are there?

at
an
as
so,to
of
on
be
is
up
or
am
me
it
we
my
be
by
go
?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 09:02 AM

There is an urban legend that all polar bears are left-pawed, so to be a right-pawed polar bear would mean starvation.

Any help?

LTS

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 09:11 AM

'in thawed'?
I know it's lame, but without any letters, it's my best guess.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Harmonium Hero
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 09:14 AM

Isn't a left-handed person referred to as a 'south-paw'? And Polar Bears inhabit the North Polar region. Does this get us anywhere?
John Kelly.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 09:17 AM

Call me a south paw and I'll poke you with my left hand!

LTS

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Harmonium Hero
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 09:21 AM

What are you - a polar bear?
JK

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 09:25 AM

No but it's cold enough!

LTS

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 09:26 AM

Are any letters filled in?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Working Radish
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 10:00 AM

To be 'no handed' would be worse than being 'left pawed' - and 'Polar' could just about be a clue for 'N' (for north). How you get 'ohanded' out of 'bear' is another matter.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 10:24 AM

IN FAVOUR

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 10:30 AM

un sealed?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 10:40 AM

Don't 'spose it would have anything to do with "faux pax?"

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 10:49 AM

pawed = popular = "In flavour"

remove the l ("left") to give "In favour"

In favour = "For"

The Polar Bear is an obvious red herring! What's the prize?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Raggytash
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 11:16 AM

No prize, except my sanity.

There are no letters in the puzzle just two words, one of two letters one of six letters

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Mr Happy
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 11:56 AM

wot sort've crossword has only 2 words?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 12:00 PM

Ha! (maybe)

De-clawed

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 12:57 PM

I think that the number of possible two letter "words" in a total set of 26 letters would be something like 403,291,461,126,605,635,584,000,000/2, but I'm not very mathematically inclined right now. (I'm sort of listing to port.)

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: TheSnail
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 02:31 PM

Er, no, it's 676 not all of which are words.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 03:10 PM

That sounds right, Jeri!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 03:11 PM

The answer must be "IN NORTH" or "UP NORTH" surely

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: jeffp
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 04:17 PM

Only if you spell NORTH with six letters.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 06:18 PM

Well, somthing that would compare to being "left pawed" (adjective) would have to start with the 2-letter word being:

at
as
by
in
my or me (by a wild stretch) -- e.g., "my dinner" [but that doesn't make much sense]
no
so
to (again a stretch)
up


So I'd think it' be something like
at dinner
as
by
in hunger
my or me (by a wild stretch) -- e.g., "my dinner" [but that doesn't make much sense]
no footed
so hungry
to dinner
up rivers

OK - maybe that's it! No-footed!

Seems kind of lame (no pun intended, but I honestly can't come up with anything better).

Genie

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 06:22 PM

Could have "In Arctic" or "In Alaska" instead of "In North" to give six letters - but I can't see how either would fit the clue.

Normally a puzzle would indicate if it was a hyphenated word rather than two words, which would seem to rule out answers such as de-clawed.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 06:24 PM

de icing

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 06:24 PM

silly me, didn't mean that

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 07:43 PM

I don't think it's real. I think Raggytash just started this to torture us and is never going to come back and tell us the answer!**BG**

It would be worse for a polar bear to be SOUTH (geologically hinted with "south paw"=left paw) as it would be too warm, right, so maybe to do with that, somehow? Maybe "In jungle?"

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 07:57 PM

I really think it's 'un sealed' unless your crossword puzzles don't do prefixes.

A package that is 'left pawed' is somewhat damaged. A package that is unsealed is worse than one pawed. A polar bear who's unsealed is a hungry polar bear, which is worse than one who's just left pawed.

Of course I'm probably barking up the wrong iceberg. I hope to hear what the real answer is.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 08:08 PM

The obvious answer is "an orange". It makes no sense and has nothing to do with polar bears or their paws, but it appeals on a "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" level. Salvador Dali would have liked it.

(Now watch, some smartass will come along and say, "Bee-dubya, you are SO wrong! It's 'an apple'!")

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 08:09 PM

Have you got any news of iceberg?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 09:52 PM

???????? so WHAT is the answer???One of my favorite crossword clues of all time is:


q: Scrambled eggs?

A. Geggs!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 10:13 PM

Sorry - Gegs!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 10:18 PM

Can't even misspell correctly! ;-)

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 10:30 PM

True, true!!! My 'tag line' as a realtor is 'Trust in the TruBrits' -- I rest my case!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,marks (on the road)
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 11:27 PM

an tartic
?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 11:53 PM

LOL, marks.

I still think it's "no-footed."   The one thing worse for a polar bear than being "south (left) pawed" would be to have no paws at all.

And FWIW, I've never known crossword puzzles to acknowledge the existence of hyphens.

Of course, it it's a crossword puzzle, there has to be at least ONE letter that intersects with another word. That should give us a clue.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 01:05 AM

OK, let's look at this logically. Quote: "For a Polar Bear, worse than being left pawed"

If being 'left pawed' is the norm for a polar bear, then it is not bad, so saying it's "even worse" makes no sense.

If 'left' is the key, it could denote being abandoned, i.e. left behind.

If 'pawed' is the key, then it may refer to an enemy - but hey, a polar bear doesn't have an enemy in its natural habitat. Except for man.

If 'left pawed' is meant to evoke a left-brain, right-brain thought process...?

Anything help?

Oh, Raggytash? Come back.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Cluin
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 01:42 AM

de clawed

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Cluin
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 01:55 AM

Apparently, all polar bears are left handed. When stalking prey on the ice, a polar bear draws his right paw across his black nose, hiding his primary dark body part, the better to successfully sneak up on his next meal. (Some polar bears also squeeze their eyes almost closed, for even more complete camouflage.) Then, the bear batters his lunch to death with his stronger, dominant, left paw.

But one unfortunate polar bear did not get with the program. This bear, when stalking prey, would begin to cover his nose with his left paw while raising his right paw for the kill then suddenly become all confused and flustered. He'd begin to switch paws, often whacking himself painfully in the nose with his ready-for-action right paw in the process. By this time, lunch was usually several ice floes away. One observer theorized that this particular bear probably did not survive long, again lending credence to the theory of natural selection.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 02:10 AM

Sometimes you can sort the letter order of one or more words in the clue to come up with the answer. I would guess Polar Bear are the words to be sorted as they are capitalised and they add up to 8 (2,6) letters.

How many 2 letter words can be derived from Polar Bear? What is left over?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Paul Burke
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 03:08 AM

Hyphens are usually clued, as in (6-2) rather than (6,2).

I suggest "bi-sexual"- a bi-polar bear is worse than a polar bear, and "pawed" has a clear connection with sexuality.

Tam, 5+4=9, even in Colchester.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: banjoman
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 07:50 AM

I spent hours trying to sort this one - almost all of the suggestions make sense and I came up with a few more including No Better Un Heated and No Handed but I think the last one (Bi Polar) is about the best. Can anyone find a copy of this crossword as it would be easier to work from the original

Pete

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: kendall
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 07:56 AM

..any news of the ice berg.. that is so funny! Les Barker, right?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 07:58 AM

bugger... I hate maths.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Jeri
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 08:05 AM

Bi-polar might be a good choice, if 'polar' had 6 letters.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 08:14 AM

I think de-clawed is right.

Any news of the iceberg - LOL. And besides that how did you enjoy the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 08:49 AM

I remember 'Any news of the iceberg' as a cartoon by Bill Tidy in the late 1950s/early 1960s. It depicted a crowd outside a shipping office obviouslt enuiring about relatives whilst a man with a polar bear on a chain asked the slightly different one.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: gnomad
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 09:28 AM

The cartoon is, I guess, this one. Funnily enough I was quite sure that there had been a Punch cartoon around the 1920s with the same basic idea, though doubtless a different actual caption. I haven't traced it yet.

I'm still baffled by the idea of a crossword with no letters. Raggy usually only admits a problem when the puzzle is almost completed, which means blanks will have been filled. What gives?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 09:42 AM

Good Lord! Do you have a date for that Gnomad?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 10:45 AM

There are some businesses (can't remember which at the moment) who advertise on the crossword pages with a single line crossword clue, so Raggy may not have any intersecting letters.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 10:52 AM

I suppose we could go for "on notice"
i.e. having had a warning, or, on something which is not-ice!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 10:57 AM

How about IN NORWAY

NO - (R)ight - WAY

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: PoppaGator
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 11:26 AM

Isn't about time for an answer? (I'm assuming that the newspaper, or whatever periodical where the puzzle appeared, provides solutions the next day or next issue...)

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 11:28 AM

Could be a weekly

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 11:31 AM

Hmmmmm. Dictionary gives the word without a hyphen: "declawed"

Sounds right to me.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 12:47 PM

declawed is a single eight-letter word - we're looking for two (unhyphenated) words of 2 and 6 letters.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 01:18 PM

humph :)

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 02:00 PM

I imagine a lot of us thought of "bipolar" but not only is it the wrong number of letters, it's seldom even spelled with a hyphen, much less separated as two words.

"Unheated" is also one word.   

Ebbie, where did you find this crossword? Is it published somewhere that we might find online?

Here are all the 2-letter words that I think could be the first word (with examples of 6-letter nouns or adjectives that I'm sure aren't the right ones):

as (stupid) (hungry)
an (Eskimo)
by (walrus)
go (getter)
in (hunger)
my (sister) (dinner)
no (footed) (handed) (clawed)
on (notice)
of (origin) (Juneau)
so (stupid) (numbed)
up (stream)

A few other two-letter words might possibly fit by use of some really bad pun:
he
ho
lo
to
re

But I doubt it.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 02:05 PM

There's also or, at and Al.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 02:13 PM

Sorry, Raggy, I realize you were the stumped puzzle-worker, not Ebbie.

"For a Polar Bear, worse than being left pawed" (2,6)

I've tried all the tricks generally used in this type of puzzle: anagrams ("polar bear" and "left pawed" both wrong # of letters), embedded words (none), backwards words (nope), puns and jokes. I think the answer has to be one of the latter two, but I can't think of one better than a couple that have already been suggested (no footed, no handed, in Norway, on notice).

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 02:25 PM

Did someone already guess "un handed?" I know, I know, they aren't separate! Arrgghhh!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 02:38 PM

Sorry, McGrath. I did include "at" in my initial list. It could be something like "at dinner."

But how could it be a conjunction like "or?"

The clue pretty clearly indicates we're looking for something a polar bear could BE. That means the 2-word phrase would have to serve as a noun (e.g., "an animal") or an adjective (e.g., "so stupid").   The 2-letter word has to be a preposition (e.g., "at") or an article ("an) or an adjective (e.g., "my") or an adverb (e.g., "so").

So that pretty much eliminates two-letter words like these (unless it's some weird pun):
be
do
go
hi
he
it
if
is
lo
me
or
us
we
ye

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: skipy
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 06:55 PM

I'm stuck on    "postman's large satchel"    help needed
Skipy

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 06:56 PM

postman's large satchel = mailbag?

~S~

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 07:15 PM

Remember there's no reason to assume the "Polar" bit is anything other than an indication that there is a "p" in there somewhere.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 07:22 PM

I don't think it indicates even that, McGrath. I can't figure out any embedded words, anagrams, or backwards words from that clue that also fit the 2,6 format and the sense of the clue.   No reason to think there needs to be a "p" in there at all.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 07:30 PM

Except in passing, no one seems to have mentioned 'an'. Since it would indicate the next word would begin with a vowel, might that help?

Where is Raggytash? Holed up somewhere no doubt, laughing maniacally.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 07:47 PM

Yeah, we did, Ebbie. It was on my list.
I just couldn't come up with what seemed to be a fitting 6-letter noun to go with it.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 03:51 AM

This is not actually part of a crossword but a crossword clue in a frame in a local pub and if anyone there knows the solution they are not saying

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 04:18 AM

Now that makes a difference! I took 'local' to be a newspaper.

Anyway, it suddenly struck me that 'polar' and 'bear' could be astronomical as in pole star and the great bear constellation, but I still can't get an answer that fits or works!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 04:42 AM

Maybe the answer is NO ANSWER!

I wrote this down in jest, then realised it's actually an anagram of A + N(polar) + WORSE.

Hmmmm.....

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 04:56 AM

Wysiwig:
postman's large satchel = mailbag?

Nice response! presumably Skipy was hoping someone would ask "How many letters"!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 06:08 AM

Sminky, thats the best guess to date!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 06:09 AM

....and then I realised it wasn't an anagram after all!

But then what about this:

A + [N + S + W + E ("polar")]

carry ("bear") NO R (no right - "worse than being left pawed")

= NO ANSWER

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Paul Burke
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 06:17 AM

W and E aren't poles.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: banjoman
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 06:26 AM

Now I am totally confused - some would say thats par for the course for a banjo player- and I have given up. Please keep this thread active so if the answer is ever found we may all sleep in peace.
Have a great Christmas
Pete

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 06:35 AM

W and E aren't poles

Not geographical ones, true, but:

"characterized by opposite extremes; completely opposed;"

The biggest clue of all is that this is hanging on a pub wall.

Remember the "IITYWYBMAP" sign that (hopefully) has now disappeared from our local hostelries? The unsuspecting punter would ask the barmaid what it meant - she would answer "If I tell you will you buy me a pint?". Muggins replies "Yes" and all the regulars split their sides laughing. Because she had told him.

I reckon this is the same. Punter asks "What's the answer to that clue". Barmaid replies "No answer". Punter slopes off dejected, unaware that he's been told the answer!

That's my theory anyway.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 08:01 AM

There is no answer? I am to go to my grave not knowing?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 08:18 AM

There is no answer?

The answer IS 'no answer' - and it gives the pub staff the opportunity to give 'no answer' when asked.

I'm prepared to bet that when Raggytash asked the bar staff for the solution, he got a shrug of the shoulders or a shake of the head ie NO ANSWER.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 09:51 AM

Can't raggy give us a link to the puzzle?!?!?!?

~S~

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Jeri
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 09:57 AM

"This is not actually part of a crossword but a crossword clue in a frame in a local pub..."

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 11:24 AM

The clue never appeared in any crossword.

It only 'works' if people have to ask someone else what the solution is (eg by hanging it on a pub wall).

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 11:43 AM

...and Raggytash gave the game away when he wrote:

...and if anyone there knows the solution they are not saying

Precisely! There must be no answer.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Ebbie
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 11:53 AM

This reminds me uncomfortably of, when in a newsletter that I do, I presented the riddle of what "other words" end in 'gry'. I didn't know the answer - the question had come to me via email - but I knew the Mudcat would give me the answer well before the next newsletter.

Well. Turned out that the question was a widely circulated one- and was a hoax.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: banjoman
Date: 12 Dec 08 - 05:54 AM

reminds me of an old childrens puzzle - If it takes a week to walk a fortnight then how long will ot take a spider with no legs to crawl through a pot of jam backwards?

Answer is - A Lemon - why? Suck it and see

No wiser?

" No Answer" is not an answer to the clue given about the Polar bear- If it ever appeared in a crossword then the answer has to be something a Polar bear could be
Despite my last message to say I have given up, I have lain awake trying to sort this one out, and will now make it my life's one ambition after I officially retire and become a member of the senior citizens club on Saturday.
Keep thinking - its good for the old grey cells
Pete

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 02:05 AM

The thing is, we may have already come up with the answer the puzzle maker had in mind.   Haven't had any "Aha! Of course!" reactions to any yet, but there are a handful that seem plausible.
Unless the answers are to be found somewhere, how would we know we haven't already mentioned it?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 03:01 AM

How about...."Found on the bottom of a bird cage".. the answer has four letters ending in IT.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 01:29 PM

I know the answer to that, GS- parrots SPIT.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 01:41 PM

Sorry Ebbie wrong answer but close LOL

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 01:43 PM

Grit - Easy:-)

How about 'To egg on' 5 letters.

A - Toast

or

African Drum 3,3

A - Mud hut

finaly

Aquatic mammal 5,3

A - Ships cat

All genuine suggestions at the local pub!

DeG

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Amos
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 02:28 PM

The one thing worse for a polar bear than being left-pawed, it seems to me, would be to be no pawed, but that's 2,5. No-clawed, de-clawed or unclawed would work.


A

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 03:16 PM

But being left-pawed is no kind of disadvabtage to a Polar Bear in the first place.

Fiddling around to get the etters to give "No Answer" is OK - but there has to be something in a crossword clue that serves as the definition. And there isn't - so if that were the answer, it'd be a defective clue.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: MartinRyan
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 03:39 PM

left = "abandoned"?

Regards

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 08:07 PM

Amos, you're right that "the one thing worse for a polar bear than being left-pawed would be being no-pawed.   2, 6 answers such as "no footed" and "no legged" have been suggested, and I still think they make the most sense. But, again, how will we know when we've found the answer the crossword puzzle creator had in mind?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Acorn4
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 08:39 PM

Is there any significance in the Polar Bear being in capitals?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 10:09 PM

I've given up worrying about it

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 10:10 PM

But I WILL grab a 100

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: banjoman
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 08:41 AM

Its getting worse each day - will someone please rid me of my misery and come up with the right answer

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 11:45 AM

What was the pub called?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Amos
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 11:58 AM

uncoated

unsealed

No Kyotos

de-furred

unfurred

northpaw

You know what--I find thinking like a polar bear to be an exhausting effort!!

Is there no peace?


A

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 01:19 PM

Amos, the answer's supposed to be 2 words (2, 6), not an 8-letter word or hyphenated one.
A term like "no pawed" can be written with or without the hyphen (I'm seeing hyphen usage on the decline these days) but a term like "declawed" is never two words. : D

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Helen
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 02:17 PM

A South-Paw is a left handed person. Worse than being South-Pawed would be no-handed, i.e. it would be worse to have no hands at all than to be left (or right) handed.

A Polar Bear lives in the north = "no", which is the opposite of south. Pawed (in this context) is "handed".

??

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 03:08 PM

No handed or no footed.   (Actually bears don't have hands in the first place ... )

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 05:14 AM

Fiddling around to get the letters to give "No Answer" is OK - but there has to be something in a crossword clue that serves as the definition. And there isn't - so if that were the answer, it'd be a defective clue.

Exactly. A proper crossword clue would contain a definition. This one doesn't. It's not a proper crossword clue. It's hanging on a pub wall (why is that, do you think?).

Without a definition there can be no answer.
The clue evaluates to no answer.
The bar staff gave no answer.
Raggytash is not answering
He's laughing at you all.
So am I.
That's the whole purpose!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: banjoman
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 05:21 AM

As a member of the Bear Family, the Polar bear is An Ursine so worse than being left pawed which most polar bears are, would to be - wait for it - UN URSINE
I think this is the most likely answer if this really is a crossword question
I.m now going to bed having, in my own mind anyway, solved the puzzle, unless of course anybody knows differently

pete

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,cookieless Genie
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 05:41 AM

Smirk, some types of crossword puzzles use cryptic clues, usually not actual definitions.
They may be sententences with the answer embedded as a hidden word. They may be puns or riddles or jokes. They may contain anagrams of the answer. They may contain the answer written backwards. Etc.

This particular clue is obviously not a definition. It's some sort of hint, but we're not sure.

: D

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,guest Genie
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 05:44 AM

Trouble with "un ursine" is that "un" isn't a word. At least not in English.
(In French it's an article, but "ursine" being an adjective, you wouldn't say "un ursine."

The "2,6" designation does not denote a hyphenated word, either, so even if you wrote "unursine" as "un-ursine," it wouldn't fit.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 15 Dec 08 - 06:46 AM

"some types of crossword puzzles use cryptic clues"

We are dealing with a cryptic clue here.

"usually not actual definitions"

No, but cryptic clues usually contain a definition of the answer along with all the other devices you mentioned that enable one to arrive at the solution. The trick is to identify which is the definition and which are the devices.

This one contains the devices, but no definition. It is therefore unsolvable. There is no answer. It is merely a series of devices which lead to:

NO + A + NSWE + R

And if you ask anyone in the know for the answer, they will not tell you because THE ANSWER IS 'NO ANSWER'.

Raggytash - if you're still there, you rascal (stop laughing!). We both know you can't give us the answer, for the reasons I've just given above. Could you at least confirm whether the correct answer appears somewhere in this thread? Thanks.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 07:15 AM

Sminky I don't know the answer !!! That's why I thought I'd ask the good people on Mudcat because it's bugging me

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 16 Dec 08 - 08:37 AM

Hmmmm....

OK, could you tell us what you meant by "if anyone there knows the solution they are not saying"?

Did they refuse to say - or did they simply not know (ie by saying "I don't know")? Exact words (or lack of them) is important.

Would it be possible to revisit the pub again?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 04:26 AM

I believe only two people know the answer, the guy who put it up and his son and they are definately not saying.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 05:40 AM

Three people - I know the answer but I'm not saying (and that's a clue).

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 07:07 AM

The first word (2 letters) is - for a polar bear

and the second (6 letters) is - worse than being left pawed


whaddaya say?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: BK Lick
Date: 17 Dec 08 - 06:37 PM

To "be killed" or "be clawed" would be worse than being "left pawed."

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 01:27 AM

But you wouldn't say "It's worse to be be killed than to be a south paw."
You WOULD say "It's worse to be no footed than to be a south paw." (Plus "No." is short for "north."

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: BK Lick
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 01:53 AM

One may interpret "being left pawed" with "left" as the past participle of "leave."

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 08:37 AM

And one may interpret "pawed" as the past tense of "paw". Thus, to be "left pawed" would mean to be "abandoned after having been molested". Note that in Raggytash's clue "left pawed" is two distinct words, not the compound "left-pawed", which is the form I would use if referring to one's preferrence for one paw over the other.

So, what's worse for a Polar Bear than being "abandoned after having been molested"?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 09:26 AM

I wonder if there's some Sarah Palin reference...

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 04:06 AM

Come on Sminky do us all a favour if you know the answer please let us have it, there are now several people not sleeping at night or having anxiety attacks because of this. I feel a responsibility to these good people now as it twas I who started this thread, be a nice caring person and put us out of our misery !!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Paul Burke
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 04:41 AM

He's given you his answer several times already. If he's right, it's a pretty poorly constructed conundrum.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 05:51 AM

Thanks Paul, at least somebody has got it.

I shouldn't be doing this. The whole 'joke' depends on giving no answer.

BUT, for one last time:

For a Polar Bear, worse than being left pawed

As I have explained above, this is not a 'correct' crossword clue in that it gives no hint as to what the solution is. It does not contain a definition. Therefore, however ingenious the attempts to solve the clue, one can never know if such a solution is correct. There is no answer.

One possible solution is as follows:

"a" = A

"Polar" = opposite extremes = North-South West-East = NSWE

Put these together to get ANSWE

"Bear" = def: take on, ie the above letters are contained by the following:

"worse than being left pawed" = having no right paw = No Right = NO R

Therefore put ANSWE into NOR. Result = NO ANSWER

That is a perfectly plausible solution to the clue, using well-established crossword-solving methods. Except that there is no definition, so we cannot know if it is correct (though it does give a strong hint). So let's see if the definition lies elsewhere.

Raggytash asks mine host and gets no answer. Notice that! The landlord doesn't say "I don't know" or "I'm not telling you" or "Work it out for yourself" - he gives no answer.

And there you have it. The definition is not contained in the clue, it lies in the reaction of those 'in the know'.

Now I realise there are people who will find that hard to accept, who remain convinced that the answer is 'in there somewhere' and will continue to rack their brains in an attempt to solve it. I wish them luck!

However, I'm afraid they are wasting their time. If there were a 'normal' solution to the clue we would have found it by now.

This whole exercise was intended to bamboozle and frustrate people - and, boy, it worked a treat!.

Sleep well everybody!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Bainbo
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 06:34 AM

I've got to say, Sminky, having tried to work it out, I was satisfied when you posted your solution on December 11 that you'd got it right. It's the one that makes the most sense, even if it is a bit of a cheat. It struck me that it was a bit like trying to find the hidden tiger in this picture.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: banjoman
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 07:22 AM

At last I mcan sleep peacefully - if that is the answer or no answer at all

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 07:26 AM

Sminky I got your explanation but just found the result so unsatisfactory that I wondered if you had found another solution.

The whole thing is a tad poor to say the least, but I do appreciate your assistance with this.

Hope you and yours have a great Christmas & New Year

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 09:00 AM

Sorry Raggy, just entering into the spirit of the 'wheeze'!

The deliberately annoying thing about all this is that it is impossible to prove. If we ask the perpetrators we will get 'no answer' (except perhaps under torture - hmmm... there's a tempting thought).

I suggest you confront the culprits next time you visit the place. Tell then you know the answer (but don't say what it is) and that it only took you 5 minutes to solve!

All the best to you too.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Mr Happy
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 09:13 AM

NO ANSWER=near snow?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Riginslinger
Date: 19 Dec 08 - 06:24 PM

Un-Thawed

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: CamiSu
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 01:28 AM

G Silver

I'm surprised no one has answered your riddle

On the bottom of the parrot's cage obIT!

That didn't take long! Just gotta keep your mind out of the gutter!

CamiSu

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Riginslinger
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 09:38 PM

At least we know the parrot's got it!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: banjoman
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 07:17 AM

Are we now saying that No Answer is NOT the answer - DAMN - more sleepless nights

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Slag
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 09:43 PM

Right maw. Solar flare. Dexter clawed. Sinister pawed? Worse, uh clawed? Ursa with bursa. Ask the nurse,uh. Is there a monetary reward posted for a correct answer and you are enlisting the Mudcats' combined creative abilities to come up with the correct answer? I take it that this is a "Brittish Crossword"? Bare with me. Ewe first. Snarled in rhyme again. Let me hibernate on it a while.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: banjoman
Date: 23 Dec 08 - 09:17 AM

I have just received an electronic Crossword Solver as a birthday present - when I entered the relevant information for this problem it displayed the message "No Answer" so draw your own conclusions. As for me I have spent too many sleepless nights agonising over this one so I am going to accept my crossword solvers answer and go away and enjoy Christmas although I may give it some thought in the new Year - a New year resolution to solve it once and for all perhaps??

Happy Christmas to crossworders and mud catters everywhere
Pete

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: banjoman
Date: 26 Dec 08 - 08:46 AM

Still working on it

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Helen
Date: 26 Dec 08 - 02:06 PM

Sminky,

Thanks for the explanation. I think you are correct and the answer is "No answer". I didn't get it until you put it all together in "cryptic clue language".

Helen

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 26 Dec 08 - 06:03 PM

Well, I'm still not convinced that "no answer" is the intended response. "No footed" makes as much or more sense to me and sounds more like an actual answer.
But by definition, the possible answers in a crossword puzzle are supposed to be limited by at least one letter having to also fit with an intersecting word.
Unless we can fill in at least one letter by way of an intersecting word, and without a factually correct answer (as with, say, an author's name or a geographic location), unless the puzzle maker tells us what he/she had in mind, there really is no clear answer. (That means that even "no answer" can't be definitively shown to be the intended answer.)

Without an intersecting word/clue, that thing about what's worse for a polar bear than being a southpaw isn't really a crossword puzzle clue. It's just a riddle of sorts.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 Dec 08 - 08:40 AM

I've just asked my wife - she does the Telegrsph crossword most days.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Slag
Date: 27 Dec 08 - 04:49 PM

Abandoned Ma'd!?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: banjoman
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 10:47 AM

HELP Please stop take it away I.m slowly going nuts

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 10:58 AM

Nobody's commented on 'Bainbo's one:
I've got to say, Sminky, having tried to work it out, I was satisfied when you posted your solution on December 11 that you'd got it right. It's the one that makes the most sense, even if it is a bit of a cheat. It struck me that it was a bit like trying to find the hidden tiger in this picture.
Which I thought was rather neat!
Just remember, you're not looking for the tiger in plain view, you're looking for 'The hidden tiger'!

Cheers
Nigel

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: fumblefingers
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 10:21 PM

All polar bears are left pawed. I like No Clawed, as I saw here by Amos.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 11:08 PM

Nigel, I didn't see the Hidden Tiger, but how about a Crouching Dragon?**BG**

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 12:51 AM

"No clawed" or "No footed" both fit the clue and the format (2, 6), and either one, I think, would be a better answer than "no answer." JMNSHO

Genie

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Slag
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 01:15 AM

I got The Hidden Tiger in about 3 seconds! By the same stripe so was the polar bare.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: fumblefingers
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 01:40 AM

After consulting with my old buddy, former Bristow helicopter pilot and now a luminary in Kuala Lumpar social circles, Dato Steve Day, the answer(s) is/are:

Crossword clue: For a Polar Bear, worse than being left pawed (2, 6)

The simple answer is NO THUMBS. Polar bears through urban legend are said to be left handed. They are also known for hot having opposable thumbs. I believe that this is the answer the simple person who wrote the clue is looking for.

But if you want a cryptic answer how about this?

"AN ATTACK"

"For a Polar....Bear....."

- a Polar = a northern = AN
- bear = to bear against (i.e. as a lion bears against his prey) = "ATTACK"

An attack is "worse than being left pawed."

On balance, however, the answer is NO THUMBS,

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Genie
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 02:03 AM

"No thumbs" works too. I really think the 2-letter word in the answer is "no."

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 10:56 AM

I have just received an electronic Crossword Solver as a birthday present - when I entered the relevant information for this problem it displayed the message "No Answer"

I rest my case!

I'm off now until the New Year. Very best wishes to everyone.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 11:54 AM

banjoman, how ya doin'? No Thumbs seems a good answer, eh?!:-)

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 12:26 PM

Other than Sminky, everyone is being too literal - it's a crossword clue, after all, and meant to be devious. The fact that it's a stand-alone clue, on a pub wall, should imply that there is 'no answer.'

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Amos
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 12:36 PM

POlar bears have no thumbs to begin with, so I fail to see why having no thumbs would be worse than being left-handed.

No is also the abbreviation for North, which is the opposite of being a south-anything. "No Handed" would be a good answer.


A

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: fumblefingers
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 12:48 PM

Here's somethng in the way of justification for "No thumbs"

http://www.dullmen.com/trivia.htm

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=33d3e1d27634fc967665fd7f567e5478&showentry=580&blogid=165&autocom=blog

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 03:42 PM

No answer that's been given so far, including "no answer", has much in the way of "gotcha" to it. If anything that's been tossed out as a possibility is the actual answer the puzzler intended, then it's a pretty crappy puzzle.

Anyone can make up a "puzzle" for which "no answer" could be an appropriate answer. To prove my point, I'll make one up on the spot: "What's worse for a folk singer than having his foot run over by a steam roller?" There's no answer because I just pulled the elements of the question out of thin air. I had no connection in mind. But I could pretend there's a connection if I had nothing better to do than jerk a bunch of old folkies around for a few weeks.

The hidden tiger thing, on the other hand, has lots of "gotcha".

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: banjoman
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 07:35 AM

I think I have finally solved this one __

" ALL THUMBS" Nothing could be worse for a Polar Bear.
No doubt some will dispute this as No Answer at all but I dont care - it will do for me

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: freda underhill
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 07:44 AM

lovers of British crime have a head start on these two:

1. underground comic brings the roof down (3,3,3)





and

2. epitaph for a dumb dick (2. 4. 3)


any takers?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 08:27 AM

'All thumbs' is simply wrong - one too many letters. The answer consists of a two letter word followed by a six letter word.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 12:52 AM

How about 'it stinks'?

:D

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: banjoman
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 07:45 AM

Looks like I'll have to dig out the calculator and start again although Thumbs is a good start

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Kampervan
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 05:05 PM

In one sense I hate to resurrect this thread, but did we ever get a definitive answer to the original question?

Or did Raggytash ever receive proper punishment for starting it in the first place?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Neil D
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 01:13 AM

Be headed

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: DMcG
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 03:04 AM

The local freebie has a 'coffee break' crossword. The clues are so cryptic that the composer must take extremely long coffee breaks. Here's a clue and the right answer; can anyone explain the connection?

Clue: Smear anchor to spin endlessly while making a rice dish.
Answer: Kedgeree

Kedgeree is certainly a rice dish, but what's all the rest about?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: DMcG
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 03:09 AM

Oh, I should have said that a kedge is also a type of anchor, but I still don;t quite get it. What's smeared?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Llanfair
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 05:46 AM

don't know, but ree(l) is spin endlessly.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: bobad
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 07:24 AM

Smear (spread out) anchor (kedge) to spin endlessly (ree(l)) while making rice dish (kedgeree)

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Chris
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 10:13 AM

I saw this puzzle on a pub wall in Whitby this week, the chap who set the puzzle passed away and his surviving relatives are not giving up the answer, the frame to the puzzle has a few words coming down but with no clues to their solution, the last letter in the 6 may be a U as the 3 word answer that comes there starts with a Q and unless it is QED or something like that then a U would be the obvious letter. It has bugged me for a good few days but I may well drop it very soon!!!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Chris
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 10:25 AM

oh and the first letter of the 2 answer must be a O as it leads down to a 2 letter clue ending in Z. That is of course if it is a real question and not as has been pointed out just a hoax clue........

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Laura
Date: 23 Jun 12 - 07:05 AM

No Thumbs!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 23 Jun 12 - 10:06 AM

AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggggh!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Jun 12 - 11:07 AM

But what about the "hidden" tiger? Is it there?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: kendall
Date: 23 Jun 12 - 08:25 PM

My guess, Left behind. It came to me immediately.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: banjoman
Date: 24 Jun 12 - 06:08 AM

I thought that this one had gone away for good. I still have the occasional sleepless night trying to find an answer. I have grown old and decrepid with this puzzle but can find nothing better to do , other than make another banjo, if she who must be obeyed would allow me

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 24 Jun 12 - 03:07 PM

Ebbie:
But what about the "hidden" tiger? Is it there?
As I said on the previous page:
It struck me that it was a bit like trying to find the hidden tiger in this picture.
Which I thought was rather neat!
Just remember, you're not looking for the tiger in plain view, you're looking for 'The hidden tiger'!

It is there!

Cheers

Nigel

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Jun 12 - 04:24 PM

Thanks for the pm, Nigel. I doubt that I would ever have found it- unless I'd been paid to keep looking!

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,SWIRLY
Date: 14 Jan 13 - 04:19 PM

LAST DOWN CLUE BEGINS WITH Q - THEREFORE POLAR BEAR CLUE ENDS IN U - ANY IDEAS

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,SWIRLY
Date: 14 Jan 13 - 04:26 PM

16 OF US ON A DAY TRIPTO WHITBY ALWAYS START OFF OUR DAY IN THIS PUB IN WHITYBY AS PREVIOUS SOLVER !!! - WE DEBATE OVER THE CLUE CERTAINLY A TALKING POINT BUT DONBT KNOW IF WE WILL EVER SOLVE THIS CLUE - O - FIRST LETTER U LAST LETTER - WHAT GOES IN BETWEEN - HEAVENS KNOWS - CERTAINLY GOT EVERYBODY GOING CANT FIND ANY WORDS THAT WOULD FIT - ANY IDEAS

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 14 Jan 13 - 05:28 PM

Ormolu but it does not fit the definition.

There are some words that start with Q but do not have U as the second letter. What is that clue. Better yet do you have a copy of the puzzle to post on line. perhaps you can photograph it?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jan 13 - 05:32 PM

Good idea, Jack.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Mo the caller
Date: 15 Jan 13 - 09:11 AM

Is the hidden tiger hiding behind his friend?

I agree that No Answer is the answer
..... except that, if it is the answer then there ISN'T 'no answer' so it isn't the answer.

oh, BTW can anyone tell me who shaves the barber who shaves everyone that doesn't shave himself?
Or what a man who always lies would say if you ask him if he is telling a lie (and would it be a lie)?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Rumncoke
Date: 15 Jan 13 - 11:47 AM

de feeted you has it?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Stanron
Date: 15 Jan 13 - 12:54 PM

There are 28 6 letter words ending with u if you google '6 letter words ending with u'. Most of which I've never heard and can't define.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: gnu
Date: 15 Jan 13 - 03:01 PM

And one more... "cheatu"?

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 16 Jan 13 - 04:27 AM

Mo:
oh, BTW can anyone tell me who shaves the barber who shaves everyone that doesn't shave himself?
Or what a man who always lies would say if you ask him if he is telling a lie (and would it be a lie)?

The one with the barber is phrased so as to be a paradox, unless the barber is a woman, in which case there is no problem about shaving himself

If you ask a liar if he's lying he will say 'No', which is a lie. Thus maintaining his reputation.

Cheers

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 16 Jan 13 - 05:12 AM

Sorry, I seem to have forgotten to end the italics after "would it be a lie)?"

Could some mud-elf please correct?

Cheers

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,fred
Date: 15 Jun 14 - 03:06 PM

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 19 Dec 14 - 01:53 AM

I can usually fit clue to solution, even if only retrospectively sometimes. But rationale of one in this morning's Guardian has me puzzled.

Clue: Italian with bride can cause disturbance (6)

Answer: Tuscan

Well I got it from letters I had and taking first word of clue as the definition word. But can anyone point out how the clue leads to the solution, please?

≈M≈

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 19 Dec 14 - 01:58 AM

Ah -- no, OK. Got it. "Disturbance" is anagram of "Tuscan bride".

Sorry to have troubled you all. But got there at last!.

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 19 Dec 14 - 03:59 AM

Nice misleading clue. The use of "can cause" gets you rationalising that you've used the letters "can" and need to rationalise the rest.
"may cause" would have avoided the confusion.

Cheers

Subject: RE: Crossword Bafflement
From: GUEST,whitby local
Date: 23 May 15 - 10:31 AM

The extra letters in the The polar bear clue should be ignored.
I would not want you to be left floundering too much on your own without help