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Lowdown Cryptic

@lowdowncryptic.bsky.social

460 followers 480 following 480 posts

Cryptics for The Browser, AVCX, OoLF, Crossweird, and Minute Cryptic. Canada’s rep for the World Cryptic Crossword Championship (London 2025) and World Crossword Federation. Scrabblegrams monthly. Letter banks repeatedly. He/him 🇨🇦

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · Nov 23

I created a custom feed to track posts about cryptic crosswords and cryptic clues, so go ahead and add it to your feeds. Please share!

If a post doesn't show, it may be delayed/sporadic due to "cloudy sky" (or maybe the post doesn't mention cryptic crosswords or cryptic clues or cryptics at all!)

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 15h

Clue from my #cryptic #crossword in The Browser this week:

Unopened Bach double-disc audio release? (5) 💽💽

"Unopened Bach double-disc audio release? (5)" - cryptic clue from The Browser Cryptic #241 by Larry Kline (October 5, 2025), edited by Dan Feyer

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 2d

Of course, thanks for test-solving! Just a few tiny changes, including half a hyphenated word in 7D. I'll post that clue tomorrow!

Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks for the test-solving, @viresh.bsky.social!

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 2d

Glad you solved it already then!

Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 2d

Clue from my #cryptic in The Browser this week:

Discover messing around isn't a race (9) 😏

"Discover messing around isn't a race (9)" - cryptic clue from The Browser Cryptic #241 by Larry Kline (October 5, 2025), edited by Dan Feyer

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 2d

Don't forget The Browser! Only 12 weeks remaining ☹️

Sleep is good, too 😴

Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 2d

Nice puzzle with a worthy, educational theme!

("online" is indirect and doubly tricky - like using "onward" to mean above the letter L(earner)?!)

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Reposted by Lowdown Cryptic

Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 3d

I have a new #cryptic #crossword out today – my fifth puzzle for The Browser 😀 I'll post a few clues this week...

Sadly, weekly cryptics in The Browser will wrap up at the end of this year ☹️ DM me for details on how to get the puzzles

Thanks to long-time editor Dan Feyer and all the test-solvers!

The Browser Crossword
Cryptic #241 by Larry Kline
October 5, 2025 - edited by Dan Feyer
3 cryptic clues from the crossword:
You have to fill it during long rides (4)
U.S. anthem is played with gusto (10)
Browser crossword constructor and editor ultimately in error (7)

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 3d

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 3d

I wasn't aware of any restraint at the time, but I've noted it now!

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 4d

Congrats to Veera Raghavan on his winning clue!
Weak citadel crumbled at the end of battle (8)

Also well done to ALP (@adamleepotter.bsky.social), Textrous, Manish, and VMA Nair

#1ACCWC #crypticclue #contest

1ACCWC 539 – DELICATE – Results

LowdownCryptic hosted the previous contest and here’s his summary of the results. We had 25 clues and 28 voters this week. While the majority of clues featured an anagram, 3 of the top 5 clue…

www.1across.org

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 5d

Time to make a DELICATE decision and vote for your favourite clues! 🗳️

Everyone who submitted a clue must vote and any other cryptic fans are also welcome to vote
#1ACCWC #cryptic #contest

1ACCWC 539 – DELICATE – Voting OPEN

Great response and we closed the contest with 25 clues, same as the previous contest. Voting is now OPEN CLICK HERE to cast your votes All participants who set clues are expected to vote. You are …

www.1across.org

Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 7d

Really? I had no idea, just chose it as a great meter/rhyme 'gram and for the fall season

Hope you're well - we can catch up a bit soon

Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 7d

Following up on my poetic #Scrabblegram posted yesterday, here's a seasonal one by the master, @dcscrabblegram.bsky.social

#scrabble #poetry #autumn #fall

Visit davesscrabblegrams.com for his amazing collection of 400+ Scrabblegrams!

Autumn Scrabblegram

Every autumn,
I gaze at the bottom
of overripe trees raining red.

So if I adjust clocks
in an equinox,
dayglow will be up ahead.

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 7d

Nice!

Could also be "With a Latin American beat, it's tricky" (which may be slightly trickier than yours)

Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 7d

Cool, lots of cryptic folks on Bluesky (most of whom aren't on Twitter anymore). Your clues show up on my feed, so some people will see them there. I'll solve them when I can!

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 8d

Great &lit!

I only realized now that your clues are based on the VSS daily writing prompt - good idea 👍

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 8d

Just in time for the end of September, here's my #Scrabblegram tweeted 3 years ago today (Sep 30, 2022)

My first 'gram with poetic meter and rhyme, it alternates iambic hexameter and iambic trimeter, but flipping to trochaic for the first half of line 3

#scrabble #wordplay #poetry #procrastination

Illustration of a melting clock face, with text below:

Avoid a Void

Procrastination's judged as being lazy, but…
Anxiety is real.

Conquer it, empower the self, avoid a void…
Remaking how you feel.

Scrabblegram (100 tiles)
Blanks: S, Y

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 9d

I'm hosting the 1ACross Clue-Writing Competition again this week! #1ACCWC #cryptic #contest

Please submit a cryptic clue for DELICATE and then come back to vote at the end of the week

May the finest clue win! 😀

1ACCWC 539 – DELICATE – OPEN for CLUES

This week’s contest is hosted by LowdownCryptic who won 1ACCWC 538 – INSECT taking him to the #4 spot in the hotly contested 2025 1ACCWC leader board For 1ACCWC 539, he’s chosen …

www.1across.org

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 11d

Abg rknpgyl jung lbh jnag, ohg gurer'f EBG-13

rot13.com

rot13.com

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Reposted by Lowdown Cryptic

Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · Oct 2

As horn blown repetitively, it's a New Year! (4,8) 🥳

#crypticclue #LowdownLetterBank
(tweeted as #LLB555 in Sep 2022)

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 16d

What a fabulous tribute to your mother! She had a cool cartooning style and obviously a great sense of humour.

Some of her drawing and subject matter are similar to my wife's great-uncle, Harry Mayerovitch, who was well known in Montreal as a prolific artist, architect, cartoonist, and writer.

Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 16d

Thanks Nat, good to hear from you! I'm still posting a 'gram every month 📆

I had a great time in London at the World Cryptic Crossword Championship, Wimbledon, visiting friends and family, and much more. We went to Quebec City after moving our son to Montreal to start his acting/theatre studies.

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Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 17d

Better. In the cryptic wordplay grammar it would really need to be “prisoner of” or “prisoner in”, but the intent is there!

Lowdown Cryptic @lowdowncryptic.bsky.social · 17d

If it's what I think, the hidden part should start in the middle of a word and end in the middle of a word (not end at the end).

And "A boxing B" usually means A is containing B. You could use it to mean hiding, but with your clue's order it would have to be "A boxed by B", so Boxing doesn't work.