Cryptic crossword thread

Ooh not me, I do the crossword daily but can't get my head around the cryptics

I’m rubbish at cryptic clues, but go on then let’s have a go.

I have varying levels of success, but I do like the cryptic clues!

I do the cryptic crossword every day in the Guardian with varying degrees of success - I get on better with some compilers than others. All the compilers I believe set crosswords for the main papers but tha G tells you which compiler it is. I find that helpful because you get to know their different styles. How can we make this an ongoing thread- post clues we are stuck on? I sometimes want to share a particularly well crafted clue - that would be nice on here.

This is a brilliant idea. Dh and I photocopy the Times Quick (?) crossword to do at lunchtime and then the cryptic to do during the afternoon and evening. It's not really a competition but I do like to finish first!!

You can all be my back up team!!!!

MaryEliza, there are definitely compilers that I can 'get' more easily than others!

Here’s on from Saturday.

They fetch sport men after line fails 6

Gofers.

Am I supposed to offer one now (sorry, I don’t do the games threads)?

I have spent the last few years trying to teach myself the "language" of cryptic crosswords with varying degrees of success. I have a small electronic crossword dictionary and I confess that I do use the anagram solver when I know that it is an anagram I am looking for!

Anybody interested in working out cryptic clues (__exhibiting their vast intellectual superiority__)

I've been trying to solve the one I thought was in the OP - then I realised you meant to cross out Eglantine


I'm useless at cryptic clues but I did read a fabulous book ("Pretty Girl in Crimson Rose") about the people who devise the crosswords, there's only a handful of them.

I love cryptic crosswords,used to do them with dad when he was alive,hate it when I can't finish one!!!

I enjoy TRYING cryptic crosswords and puzzles---not usually very successfully. My favourite is the Ladygram, weekly in The Lady magazine. The one by Bert Baker can be horrendously difficult at times but I keep on picking away at it all week and get really annoyed if I can't finish it.

Yes, I'd enjoy a regular thread on this.

I'm doing the i one this afternoon, and I hadn't got that 'gofers' yet !

I'm so glad its not just me Ninathenana

Well I might follow this thread and learn something from you intelligent ladies ?

Eglantine21 can you give me the answer on my post please !! ?

They fetch sport men after line fails 6
gofers uhh?

It's golfers with the l for line missing, anne.

Thanks Maggiemaybe. I get it now. I'll keep trying.

My favourite cryptic clue of all time is S0S (13). Anyone care to have a stab at it?

Nothingnesses? If that’s even a word?

Ooh, you’re on the right track maggiemaybe! But not quite there I’m afraid

Yes, I’ve got it now! I’ll let someone else have a go.