Short is Sweet
To paraphrase Polonius, brevity is the soul of a good cryptic clue. This week I’m running some of the shortest – and sweetest – clues culled from a range of cryptic sources, primarily The Times and The Guardian.
Usually, when a clue comprises only two words, a solver has every right to suspect a double meaning is at play. Eats birds, say, is SWALLOWS. Yet don’t be lulled. Some of these li’l gems have their own built-in brand of mischief.
Enjoy the challenge. Feel free to take a stab at the answers, via a Post. (I’ve supplied a key letter or two to ease the agony.) Promise I’ll mail the solutions later in the week.
According to my sly-o-meter, the level of difficulty climbs from first to last:
1) I don’t know success __ __ S __
2) Stand up in shower __ __ S __
3) Lindwall beamer? __ __ Y
4) Couple hired band __ R __ __ __ L __ __
5) Telephone fuse? __ __ O __ E __
6) Land on your head __ A __ __ __ __
7) Splitting headache? __ __ I __ __ __ Y
8) A different girl? __ __ __ T __ E __
9) Veteran fighter content __ L __ I __
10) Landslip to entertain __ __ R __ A __ __
11) Switch for sale? __ N / __ __ __ E __
12) Bankrupt justice divided? __ __ / __ __ E / __ O __ __ __