Wordle 1,498 3/6* ⬛🟨⬛⬛🟩 ⬛🟨🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 26 July, 2025 (Tricky. I've woken up with a thousand thoughts and a low rate exiting my fingers. Speech would not be quicker, a fountain pen in Teeline turgidly torpid; on a diet, preoccupied by breakfast.) "Pair fouled by ref for enlarging balls" (3,4) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 3 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,497 2/6* (doesn't count - I vary my starting word and today I got lucky with the starting word. It's better than a 1 but worse than a 3 or 4.) 🟨🟨⬛🟩⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 25 July, 2025 (this was a good newspaper style clue that has me scratching my head until it came to me, but there is another potential answer if one includes Paris. Although that would be a newspaper style stretch showing off the setter's knowledge of the classics - I had to supplement a very vague memory with Wikipedia. Which is fine. I'm not the fastest or the slowest learner. And I'm always open to being wrong. In fact I probably am wrong and I want breakfast.) "Think back about origin of Greek horse made of wood sometimes" (6) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 3 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,496 3/6* ⬛🟩⬛⬛🟩 ⬛🟩⬛⬛🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 24 July, 2025 (Woke at 4an, nightmare, spine inflamed and can't get back to sleep, but I'm basically OK. Which is like being OK but without optional extras such as being able to block out how grim reading the morning news is without having to think "well at least it's not airborne space AIDS". This was a satisfying clue but hard to find a song that didn't make the answer more obvious than it needs to be. I am looking forward to breakfast and I'm otherwise quite grateful. Basically grateful. Which is like being grateful but thinking "there are a thousand and one worse things, bloody hell there are a thousand and one worse things". It's all woefully self indulgent and I'm going to read a book..) "Flat, crustless half-size loaf" (4) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 2 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,495 3/6* (at least 1/3 on 3) ⬛⬛⬛🟨🟨 🟨🟨🟩⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 23 July, 2025 (I think I have encountered a similar one to this in The Telegraph's How To Solve A Cryptic Crossword, which to my discredit I woy read the first three or four chapters of, because I skipped ahead one chapter by accident and found I could do the puzzles, so just ended up doing most of the exercises and example crosswords. It wasn't quite a Baedeker Guide to the British petty bourgeoisie. More like a pamphlet. An AI hallucination of BBC Radio 4. I will finish itge Telegraph's guide at some point. Maybe. It was helpful and I'd recommend the book. That clue was similar but not the same and I'm confident I would have gotten the answer anyway. It's unlikely to be plagiarism because there are only so many ways to do that one and I'm not accusing anyone of consciously doing that. And I could be misremembering. And I can't be bothered to check. Unless the next one is a double definition for ptarmigan. Song unrelated. I'm only marginally hungry for breakfast today. I want to lose 2-3kg. My BMI is fine and the muscle density waist/ratio is good but I keep snacking so my weight has been edging up. I ate a lot of jellybeans on holiday. So I'm reversing that. So far so good. The song is unrelated.) "Nineties freestyle icon known for his energetic MC work?" (8) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 4 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,494 3/6* ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟨🟨⬛🟩⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 22 July, 2025 (I could write something but I'm hungry.) "Get hanky out, choking on words of appreciation" (5,3) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 3 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,493 4/6* ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬛🟨⬛🟨⬛ 🟩⬛🟨⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 21 July, 2025 (Post universal internet, and not for crosswords, the international applicability of idioms is very interesting. I've observed some degree of convergence in relatives below the age of 20 or younger because of YouTube and Tiktok, mostly between American English and British English which are mostly similar with occasional contronyms that can lead to misunderstandings. But also via ghastly brainrot memes, basically deliberately obtuse or random often figurative art, and music from beyond English speaking countries. Maybe the great firewall of China has insulated both the Chinese and outside world from similar convergences and Italian Brainrot. It's mostly harmless. Anyone below age N likes stuff people above age N find inexplicable. Often anyway. The inverse of All Bran. Although I quite liked All Bran as a young person. Not as much as Crunchy Nut Cornflakes or hummus on wholemeal toast with butter.) "Edison half screwed a lightbulb?" (4) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 2 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,492 3/6* ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬛⬛🟨⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 20 July, 2025 (a tricky one that I suspect some will just Intuit. Stopped listening to the radio at just after midnight. It was good. Prepped breakfast, then went to bed. Woke a few hours ago. When I say prepped breakfast I mean put 15gm of chia seeds, 20gm of raisins, 13gms of 85% chopped dark chocolate and 80gms of frozen blueberries, in a bowl and topped with 100gms of yogurt. The yoghurt acts as a seal slowing oxidation. I cover it and leave it in the fridge and I'll have it with 40gms of All Bran in a few minutes. Apart from the chia seeds it's pretty good. Chia seeds aren't awful. Without them it's basically desert. Sainsbury's seem to be shrinking the amount of All Bran they selll. They'll stop selling it once it's only myself and Noel Edmonds are buying it.) "Drinker’s release from prison initiated after back massage" (4) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 3 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,491 3/6* ⬛🟨⬛⬛⬛ 🟨🟨🟩⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 19 July, 2025 (I feel pretty good today. Aided by an open window and cooling rain all night. Normally I'd be thinking about what horribly grey weather it is going to be and how tedious it is going to be. But I slept well and the spondylopathy is way less bad, which could change, or not, I'm just grateful I've had a good night's sleep, which, between thinking and aching, was getting a bit tedious. It will be tedious another time. And I'd prefer to think with occasional tediousness, than not think with no occasional tediousness. The only people who think with no occasional tediousness aren't trying. I don't shun quirky women. Unless their quirk is punching me in the nuts. I think most people would agree that was fair enough.) "Cold guys heartlessly shun quirky women" (7) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 3 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,490 X/6* (well, now I know.) ⬛🟨🟨⬛⬛ 🟨🟩⬛⬛⬛ ⬛🟩🟩⬛🟩 ⬛🟩🟩⬛🟩 ⬛🟩🟩⬛🟩 ⬛🟩🟩⬛🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 18 July, 2025 (I found this one challenging and used a letter. I'm feeling it all a bit today, but it will pass. And if it doesn't pass I fully intend to delude myself I am fine. The song is unrelated; Circuit Des Yeux, and her Jackie Lynn alter ego(s), are good.) "Bound escapee heard admitting crime essentially" (4) 🟡🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 2 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,489 4/6* ⬛🟩⬛⬛⬛ ⬛🟩⬛⬛⬛ ⬛🟩🟨🟩🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 17 July, 2025 (I slept better. I'm not wholly 'with it' in the morning, but, I'm basically diurnal unless I've been doing stuff all night. And it's generally a pleasant 'not with it' – doing pleasant morning stuff, rather than having a psychotic argument with a thermostat about yoghurt.) "Today’s Wordle partly brought about yawning" (6) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 2 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

I would have preferred Psychic Type's Indigo Plateau rather than Marillion's Lavender but it's not as good a reference to the clue. Indigo Plateau is just adjacent. Lavender gives the mullet far more nobility than it deserves and I'm not sure I'd like to listen to it on speakers rather than headphones. I'm not drunk at a wedding reception.

Wordle 1,488 4/6* ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬛🟨⬛⬛🟨 ⬛⬛🟨🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 16 July, 2025 (I got it with slight satisfaction, rather than full blooded satisfaction, because I got the wordplay after the solve. I am distracted by tiredness and, my own, irrationality. I worke at 3am, did Wordle, then attempted Minute Cryptic and felt increasingly stupid until I gave up and got a little bit of sleep. I'm still stupid today but got the correct answer. I have found Cory Calhoun's clues challenging in the past and I think he's a good setter.) "I love doing gymnastics with this extremely springy bunch?" (7) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 3 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,487 3/6* 🟩⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩⬛🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 15 July, 2025 (I found this one difficult because I confused some of the fodder with an indicator. Definitions are usually at the beginning or end, indicators, wordplay and fodder often, but not always (take ?!), in the middle. The Minute Cryptic website has a really fun guide at the bottom of the front page which helped me learn, for which I'm grateful, and I think their book will be good. I'm still learning and I've successfully done a few cryptic crosswords from broadsheet newspapers. My problem with the broadsheets is I feel like they're consciously showing off their social status in the clues - which I'm not wholly opposed to, I like learning and finding out new things, but it's quite daunting. Not quite the same, but similar, to someone like me referencing Introduction to Algorithms or 1990s hardcore, electronic music, in a crossword clue for a general audience. I don't know an easy way around that and maybe it's good. But, regardless of that, the answers say a lot about the setter and what the setter wants to consciously, or subconsciously, say. Maybe there should be a section about the UK petty bourgeoisie in any guide to solving them. 'This is a raclette grill, it's quite good, but spoilt by wankers conveying wonderful memories of a delightful meal with other wankers.' I'm always least 70% sure not all English people who go on about raclette are wankers. And what'd be the problem with that anyway? We've all got hobbies.) "Idol tied back ponytail" (5) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 2 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,486 3/6* ⬛🟨🟨🟨⬛ ⬛⬛🟨🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 14 July, 2025 "Goats go off behind baker's trailer for crumbs!" (4) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 2 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

The Black Dog - Mrs Frisbee? Skip The Dresden Dolls - Backstabber

Wordle 1,485 3/6* ⬛🟨⬛⬛⬛ ⬛⬛🟩🟨🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 13 July, 2025 (I think the party went well enough, followed up with a 2/10 hangover, which is partly because it was 31C in my bedroom before I went to sleep. Normally I'd have opened the windows earlier but I was out. Only 4 pints of lager, over an evening, but I hadn't had alcohol since September last year when my father died. Or really socialised that much. Not that I'm big on it in the first place.) "Kart redesigned to limit carbon footprint" (5) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 2 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,484 3/6* ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬛⬛🟩🟨⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 12 July, 2025 (Strategically mispronounced Époisses and Wensleydale while talking to lady dressed up as Alice's Disney nemesis. 5 hours sleep.) "Secretly ditch essay for game with mates?" (5) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 2 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,483 2/6* (Doesn't count. It was mostly luck. 5.5hrs sleep - an improvement.) ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 11 July, 2025 (about 30 seconds. I'm feeling nervous about the weekend. Tempered, mostly, by looking forward to finally understanding some post 1970s Disney references, which will be useful for crosswords, trivia, and without having to watch the films. Most of my smaller relatives like Minecraft and watching YouTube videos that are worse than Disney. I hope never to attend a YouYube themed party. I think I'd have to put my foot down on that one. I have limits. Unless it was a Katering Show themed party, but that's too niche and probably wouldn't be a good party even though it was a good YouTube show.) "Christmas song becoming useful for revolving music player?" (8) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 4 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,482 6/6* (mathematically I couldn't have failed this, but on three it was 1/4.) ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟨⬛⬛⬛🟩 ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 10 July, 2025 (I've had about 2 hours sleep. Foolishly, in the near past, I thought I'd do a puzzle to relax and did all of the Britannica Revealed, which I'd never done before, and I'm not slow, I got one wrong, but there were a few. It was hot and I couldn't sleep anyway and it occupied a smidgen of awake. It got my brain going and made it worse. So this Minute Cryptic clue was basically brute forced with a clammy, sleep deprived, mind - I won't give it away but often the definition is at the start or finish and in this case I, eventually, thought of a seven letter synonym with the definition, then worked out the wordplay and fodder afterwards. No shame in that but it wasn't an instant solve and if I valued a speedy breakfast over puzzles I'd have used clues. I would imply that I have anxiety about an upcoming party but that'd be artistic license because if there were currently a meteor in the horizon my panic would be overriden by the urge to get a few more minutes sleep before it hits. Maybe sleep deprivation is the answer to social anxiety. It probably is until the hallucinations kick in or when falling asleep attempting smalltalk with Cruella de Vil. Even the choice of song isn't the most apt.) "Admit spending time with really odd seaman" (7) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 2 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

Wordle 1,481 4/6* ⬛⬛⬛🟨⬛ ⬛🟩🟨🟩⬛ ⬛🟩⬛🟩🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle - A daily word game

Guess the hidden word in 6 tries. A new puzzle is available each day.

Minute Cryptic - 9 July, 2025 (Save the bees*). "Solitary Dancing Queen fan" (8) 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣 I scored: 3 under par

Minute Cryptic

Solve a clue with a hidden meaning

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