I'm a cruciverbalist. I solve crossword puzzles. Or at least try to. Here are some clever clues from one----a New York Times Saturday no less---from 2009. No, it didn't take me that long to solve it . It just happens to be one left from a desk calendar whose daily puzzles I saved to be worked on at a later date. Which turned out to be today. I wouldn't expect you to figure all of them out. Especially out of context. You know, without any other crossword answers that may help out. So I'll give you a letter or two. Take a go at it and see what you can do. The answers---in case you give up---are at the very end, after a look at three people who got a perfect score. [Just kidding!].
CLUES + BOXES
1, Cooking product _ _ _ _ A
2. They may come with socks _ _ _ N_ R_
3. Enjoyed London and France _E_ _
4. Swing set players? B_ _ B_ _ _ _
5. Nose-In-the-air types _L_ N_ _
6. Do without much daring? _U_
7. Like it _E_ T_ _
8. Provides with a seat V_ _ _S _ _
9. Clothes hangers? T_ _S_ _ _ _
10. Bath suds spot? _ _B
[Puzzle by Joon Pahk. Edited by Will Shortz. 09/26/09]
1. Aroma
2. Shiners
3. Read
4. Big Bands
5. Planes
6. Bun
7. Neuter
8. Votes in
9. Tassels
10. Pub
Filed under: entertainment, games and recreation
I wasn't that good at crosswords, but this method of presentation reduces it to Wheel of Fortune, I mean Merv Griffin said "hangman."
I've found it occasionally (very occasionally) helpful to have some context and letters provided by the word in the perpendicular direction.
Whew! This guy is, well, serious about his puzzles. Some of those clues were mean (but I remember Jack London and Anatole France). Thanks for the challenge!