Catnip
@catnipxword.bsky.social
Learning to set cryptic crosswords at https://mycrossword.co.uk/Catnip. Lover of wordplay, silliness, awful puns, quizzes, etc. Part-time proofreader. Booklover. Bellringer. Accidental runner. I also have a day job.
Pinned
Catnip
@catnipxword.bsky.social
· Jan 1
Cracking Cryptic Crosswords
Cracking Cryptic Crosswords eBook : Dexter, Colin: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
www.amazon.co.uk
🧵 Some suggestions for anyone who feels like getting into cryptic crosswords this year:
1. Get a good book to cover the basics of cryptics. Times (Tim Mooney) and Telegraph (Chris Lancaster) books are good, and I'd also recommend this by Colin Dexter: www.amazon.co.uk/Cracking-Cry... (1/6)
1. Get a good book to cover the basics of cryptics. Times (Tim Mooney) and Telegraph (Chris Lancaster) books are good, and I'd also recommend this by Colin Dexter: www.amazon.co.uk/Cracking-Cry... (1/6)
Goodwin pictured here providing his own scare quotes for when he's described as an "academic".
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK accused of embracing racism over its pick for head of student organisation
Matthew Goodwin argued people from minority ethnic backgrounds born and raised in UK were not always British
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Goodwin pictured here providing his own scare quotes for when he's described as an "academic".
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
True for any creative endeavour. My crosswords tend to veer mostly between 1 and 6.
November 9, 2025 at 12:24 PM
True for any creative endeavour. My crosswords tend to veer mostly between 1 and 6.
Same energy. Not all synonyms are equal.
November 9, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Same energy. Not all synonyms are equal.
Today's Minute Cryptic: No.
That is all.
That is all.
November 7, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Today's Minute Cryptic: No.
That is all.
That is all.
Fireworks sounding like a war zone and cats hiding behind the sofa.
Probably a couple more weeks of this. Marvellous.
Probably a couple more weeks of this. Marvellous.
October 31, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Fireworks sounding like a war zone and cats hiding behind the sofa.
Probably a couple more weeks of this. Marvellous.
Probably a couple more weeks of this. Marvellous.
Reposted by Catnip
Why won’t people talk about slow ghosts?
Because they’re the last taboo.
Because they’re the last taboo.
October 31, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Why won’t people talk about slow ghosts?
Because they’re the last taboo.
Because they’re the last taboo.
This rather leapt out at me this morning. 🤔
October 27, 2025 at 7:48 AM
This rather leapt out at me this morning. 🤔
Reposted by Catnip
I know I posted this on Twitter ages ago, but I came across it again last night and thought some may not have seen it yet.
(From the Not the Nine O'Clock News spin-off book, 1980.)
(From the Not the Nine O'Clock News spin-off book, 1980.)
October 19, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I know I posted this on Twitter ages ago, but I came across it again last night and thought some may not have seen it yet.
(From the Not the Nine O'Clock News spin-off book, 1980.)
(From the Not the Nine O'Clock News spin-off book, 1980.)
Well hello there, you lovely thing.
October 17, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Well hello there, you lovely thing.
Well! 🤯
Chambers has either pronunciation for the book, and the variant spelling 'primmer' in that sense.
But it insists on 'PRIMM-er' as the pronunciation for the (obs) printing types 'long primer' and 'great primer'. Apparently taking the lead from 'primarius' rather than 'primary'.
Chambers has either pronunciation for the book, and the variant spelling 'primmer' in that sense.
But it insists on 'PRIMM-er' as the pronunciation for the (obs) printing types 'long primer' and 'great primer'. Apparently taking the lead from 'primarius' rather than 'primary'.
Here’s a primer on ‘primer.’
It’s pronounced ‘PRIMM-er’ if you mean “a small book” or “a short informative piece of writing.”
It’s pronounced ‘PRY-mer’ if you mean “an initial coat of paint.”
It’s pronounced ‘PRIMM-er’ if you mean “a small book” or “a short informative piece of writing.”
It’s pronounced ‘PRY-mer’ if you mean “an initial coat of paint.”
October 10, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Well! 🤯
Chambers has either pronunciation for the book, and the variant spelling 'primmer' in that sense.
But it insists on 'PRIMM-er' as the pronunciation for the (obs) printing types 'long primer' and 'great primer'. Apparently taking the lead from 'primarius' rather than 'primary'.
Chambers has either pronunciation for the book, and the variant spelling 'primmer' in that sense.
But it insists on 'PRIMM-er' as the pronunciation for the (obs) printing types 'long primer' and 'great primer'. Apparently taking the lead from 'primarius' rather than 'primary'.
I had to read this several times before I realised they weren't proposing to relocate unsuccessful benefit claimants to SE England.
October 6, 2025 at 9:44 AM
I had to read this several times before I realised they weren't proposing to relocate unsuccessful benefit claimants to SE England.
September 28, 2025 at 6:31 AM
This is really interesting, but above all, I want to applaud the title of the paper:
"Why axis inversion?"
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/s...
"Why axis inversion?"
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/s...
Why do some gamers invert their controls? Scientists now have answers, but they’re not what you think
The phenomenal response to an article we published on this question led to detailed cognitive research – and the findings have implications that go way beyond gamers
www.theguardian.com
September 18, 2025 at 8:13 AM
This is really interesting, but above all, I want to applaud the title of the paper:
"Why axis inversion?"
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/s...
"Why axis inversion?"
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/s...
You're not singing,
You're not singing,
You're not singing anymore!
You're not singing,
You're not singing anymore!
Bangor Cathedral choir suspended over 'inappropriate' hymn
Bangor Cathedral choir suspended over 'inappropriate' hymn
Bangor Cathedral choir walk out of a communion service in a protest over proposed job cuts.
www.bbc.com
September 11, 2025 at 9:19 AM
You're not singing,
You're not singing,
You're not singing anymore!
You're not singing,
You're not singing anymore!
Reposted by Catnip
🚨 UK PRE-ORDERS ARE OPEN 🚨
Roll up roll up - assure yourself a copy of Unch now!
Visit: unchcrosswords.com#shop
Roll up roll up - assure yourself a copy of Unch now!
Visit: unchcrosswords.com#shop
a man in a suit and tie is saying oh my god okay it 's happening .
Alt: Michael Scott (US Office) saying oh my god okay it's happening .
media.tenor.com
September 9, 2025 at 3:25 PM
🚨 UK PRE-ORDERS ARE OPEN 🚨
Roll up roll up - assure yourself a copy of Unch now!
Visit: unchcrosswords.com#shop
Roll up roll up - assure yourself a copy of Unch now!
Visit: unchcrosswords.com#shop
Huh. Tour of Britain coverage just had an extended discussion of counterintuitive evidence that large breasts offer an aerodynamic advantage to cyclists.
One way to boost interest in women's cycling, I suppose.
One way to boost interest in women's cycling, I suppose.
September 5, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Huh. Tour of Britain coverage just had an extended discussion of counterintuitive evidence that large breasts offer an aerodynamic advantage to cyclists.
One way to boost interest in women's cycling, I suppose.
One way to boost interest in women's cycling, I suppose.
It's a bit wordy, so I think the "ends" must point to the tails of preceding words. If you don't mind the comma, that could give an anagram (desperate) of RDMY, possibly inside DRAW or TIE...
When a headline sounds too much like a #cryptic #crossword clue. I wonder if anyone can make it work? 🤔
September 1, 2025 at 4:46 PM
It's a bit wordy, so I think the "ends" must point to the tails of preceding words. If you don't mind the comma, that could give an anagram (desperate) of RDMY, possibly inside DRAW or TIE...
Annoying that ZITTING = SPOTTING would want a big QM, because it basically kills any "bird spotting" formulation. All I've got is:
Spot cat soliciting uneasy bird (7,9)
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Z...
Spot cat soliciting uneasy bird (7,9)
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Z...
Zitting Cisticola Breeds in Britain for the First Time
Family party in Suffolk confirms long-anticipated arrival of a new breeding species on the British mainland
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk
September 1, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Annoying that ZITTING = SPOTTING would want a big QM, because it basically kills any "bird spotting" formulation. All I've got is:
Spot cat soliciting uneasy bird (7,9)
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Z...
Spot cat soliciting uneasy bird (7,9)
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Z...
Hivemind: I've got a grid filled with a theme referring to a specific entry. Would you:
a) Refer to the relevant entry in all theme clues
b) Leave it as an exercise for the solver
c) Some other option I haven't thought of?
a) Refer to the relevant entry in all theme clues
b) Leave it as an exercise for the solver
c) Some other option I haven't thought of?
August 30, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Hivemind: I've got a grid filled with a theme referring to a specific entry. Would you:
a) Refer to the relevant entry in all theme clues
b) Leave it as an exercise for the solver
c) Some other option I haven't thought of?
a) Refer to the relevant entry in all theme clues
b) Leave it as an exercise for the solver
c) Some other option I haven't thought of?
August 28, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Reposted by Catnip
My bear's diarrhoea problems are starting to worry me. The vet says he's getting better but he's not out of the woods yet.
August 24, 2025 at 9:35 AM
My bear's diarrhoea problems are starting to worry me. The vet says he's getting better but he's not out of the woods yet.
A new puzzle by me, for your enjoyment. Sample clues:
Idiot following potty revolutionary (4)
Dog noses around perfectly innocent property (8)
mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2664
Idiot following potty revolutionary (4)
Dog noses around perfectly innocent property (8)
mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2664
Cryptic crossword No 2,664 · MyCrossword
Solve Cryptic crossword No 2,664 on MyCrossword. 15x15 grid with 32 clues by Catnip. Published Sat 23 Aug 2025. Features annotated solutions and special instructions. Free to solve online.
mycrossword.co.uk
August 23, 2025 at 11:25 AM
A new puzzle by me, for your enjoyment. Sample clues:
Idiot following potty revolutionary (4)
Dog noses around perfectly innocent property (8)
mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2664
Idiot following potty revolutionary (4)
Dog noses around perfectly innocent property (8)
mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2664
What more could you want from a holiday?
August 23, 2025 at 11:08 AM
What more could you want from a holiday?