Lowdown Cryptic
@lowdowncryptic.bsky.social
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 🇨🇦
Well, at first I thought "positions" was the anagrind, and it's the same number of letters in front of that!
November 11, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Well, at first I thought "positions" was the anagrind, and it's the same number of letters in front of that!
You mentioned AVCX (mostly American-style but includes cryptic), and The Browser has had a weekly cryptic for 5 years but sadly that's ending next month (you could subscribe temporarily to get the entire archive) www.thebrowser.com/crossword/
Crosshare has indie cryptics for free! www.crosshare.org
Crosshare has indie cryptics for free! www.crosshare.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:43 PM
You mentioned AVCX (mostly American-style but includes cryptic), and The Browser has had a weekly cryptic for 5 years but sadly that's ending next month (you could subscribe temporarily to get the entire archive) www.thebrowser.com/crossword/
Crosshare has indie cryptics for free! www.crosshare.org
Crosshare has indie cryptics for free! www.crosshare.org
For cryptics in a US / North American style, there are a few good subscription options for just a few dollars a month...
Out of Left Field by Joshua Kosman & Henri Picciotto (formerly of The Nation) www.leftfieldcryptics.com
Cryptic Crossweird www.patreon.com/cw/CrypticCrossweird
Out of Left Field by Joshua Kosman & Henri Picciotto (formerly of The Nation) www.leftfieldcryptics.com
Cryptic Crossweird www.patreon.com/cw/CrypticCrossweird
November 10, 2025 at 7:43 PM
For cryptics in a US / North American style, there are a few good subscription options for just a few dollars a month...
Out of Left Field by Joshua Kosman & Henri Picciotto (formerly of The Nation) www.leftfieldcryptics.com
Cryptic Crossweird www.patreon.com/cw/CrypticCrossweird
Out of Left Field by Joshua Kosman & Henri Picciotto (formerly of The Nation) www.leftfieldcryptics.com
Cryptic Crossweird www.patreon.com/cw/CrypticCrossweird
Not a great one. I think you could come up with a nicer clue for this word (I say that because many of your other clues have been more satisfying to solve!)
November 10, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Not a great one. I think you could come up with a nicer clue for this word (I say that because many of your other clues have been more satisfying to solve!)
I know the answer, but is “kicked” supposed to be an anagram indicator here?
November 10, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I know the answer, but is “kicked” supposed to be an anagram indicator here?
Thanks, Nat! You’re still the greatest (and fastest) Scrabblegram response writer of all!
November 9, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Thanks, Nat! You’re still the greatest (and fastest) Scrabblegram response writer of all!
I understand the school of thought against using connectors, but that's just one school. Still, I'll give you that avoiding connectors can often make a clue more "pure" and elegant.
My philosophy about connector directionality is in line with US cryptic experts Joshua Kosman & Henri Picciotto
My philosophy about connector directionality is in line with US cryptic experts Joshua Kosman & Henri Picciotto
Out of Left Field Cryptics
The home of Kosman and Picciotto's cryptic crosswords
www.leftfieldcryptics.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I understand the school of thought against using connectors, but that's just one school. Still, I'll give you that avoiding connectors can often make a clue more "pure" and elegant.
My philosophy about connector directionality is in line with US cryptic experts Joshua Kosman & Henri Picciotto
My philosophy about connector directionality is in line with US cryptic experts Joshua Kosman & Henri Picciotto
My philosophy is that connectors are fine but they should either lead you to the answer (WP for/into/becomes Def; Def from WP) or be non-directional (WP and/or Def)
So I always used to think "WP to Def" was OK, but I've seen a lot of folks don't like "to" and I try to avoid using it now
So I always used to think "WP to Def" was OK, but I've seen a lot of folks don't like "to" and I try to avoid using it now
November 7, 2025 at 5:13 PM
My philosophy is that connectors are fine but they should either lead you to the answer (WP for/into/becomes Def; Def from WP) or be non-directional (WP and/or Def)
So I always used to think "WP to Def" was OK, but I've seen a lot of folks don't like "to" and I try to avoid using it now
So I always used to think "WP to Def" was OK, but I've seen a lot of folks don't like "to" and I try to avoid using it now
Nice!
To me, since "losing directions" can mean remove an N, a W, and two Es (for example) it's not a stretch at all for "losing water" to mean remove two Hs and an O
To me, since "losing directions" can mean remove an N, a W, and two Es (for example) it's not a stretch at all for "losing water" to mean remove two Hs and an O
November 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Nice!
To me, since "losing directions" can mean remove an N, a W, and two Es (for example) it's not a stretch at all for "losing water" to mean remove two Hs and an O
To me, since "losing directions" can mean remove an N, a W, and two Es (for example) it's not a stretch at all for "losing water" to mean remove two Hs and an O
SPOILER ALERT
It works because ----- is two parts -------- and one part ------. You can treat those three parts as separate components.
It works because ----- is two parts -------- and one part ------. You can treat those three parts as separate components.
November 7, 2025 at 4:03 PM
SPOILER ALERT
It works because ----- is two parts -------- and one part ------. You can treat those three parts as separate components.
It works because ----- is two parts -------- and one part ------. You can treat those three parts as separate components.
It's whimsical/stretchy but you can see why Minute Cryptic often goes for looser, entertaining clues rather than tighter, more elegant ones.
It's a valid clue, just a style that some Xims/purists won't like. A few MC clues have bothered me for other reasons, but I like today's clue!
It's a valid clue, just a style that some Xims/purists won't like. A few MC clues have bothered me for other reasons, but I like today's clue!
November 7, 2025 at 3:47 PM
It's whimsical/stretchy but you can see why Minute Cryptic often goes for looser, entertaining clues rather than tighter, more elegant ones.
It's a valid clue, just a style that some Xims/purists won't like. A few MC clues have bothered me for other reasons, but I like today's clue!
It's a valid clue, just a style that some Xims/purists won't like. A few MC clues have bothered me for other reasons, but I like today's clue!
Minute Cryptic is doing a great job of helping them catch on with a new generation world-wide! www.minutecryptic.com
Despite major news outlets dropping them, I see North American interest in cryptic crosswords increasing 🤓
Despite major news outlets dropping them, I see North American interest in cryptic crosswords increasing 🤓
November 4, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Minute Cryptic is doing a great job of helping them catch on with a new generation world-wide! www.minutecryptic.com
Despite major news outlets dropping them, I see North American interest in cryptic crosswords increasing 🤓
Despite major news outlets dropping them, I see North American interest in cryptic crosswords increasing 🤓
The Browser has included a weekly US cryptic for the past 5 years but sadly that's ending next month
AVCX is an awesome subscription for high-quality crosswords (including a regular cryptic) www.avxwords.com
Crosshare has lots of indie cryptics www.crosshare.org
and GAMES mag still has cryptics
AVCX is an awesome subscription for high-quality crosswords (including a regular cryptic) www.avxwords.com
Crosshare has lots of indie cryptics www.crosshare.org
and GAMES mag still has cryptics
November 4, 2025 at 1:45 AM
The Browser has included a weekly US cryptic for the past 5 years but sadly that's ending next month
AVCX is an awesome subscription for high-quality crosswords (including a regular cryptic) www.avxwords.com
Crosshare has lots of indie cryptics www.crosshare.org
and GAMES mag still has cryptics
AVCX is an awesome subscription for high-quality crosswords (including a regular cryptic) www.avxwords.com
Crosshare has lots of indie cryptics www.crosshare.org
and GAMES mag still has cryptics
US cryptics have dropped from newspapers and mags but continue via online subscription outlets and indie xword sites
Subscribe to Out of Left Field by Joshua Kosman & Henri Picciotto (formerly of The Nation) www.leftfieldcryptics.com
and Cryptic Crossweird www.patreon.com/cw/CrypticCrossweird
⬇️
Subscribe to Out of Left Field by Joshua Kosman & Henri Picciotto (formerly of The Nation) www.leftfieldcryptics.com
and Cryptic Crossweird www.patreon.com/cw/CrypticCrossweird
⬇️
November 4, 2025 at 1:45 AM
US cryptics have dropped from newspapers and mags but continue via online subscription outlets and indie xword sites
Subscribe to Out of Left Field by Joshua Kosman & Henri Picciotto (formerly of The Nation) www.leftfieldcryptics.com
and Cryptic Crossweird www.patreon.com/cw/CrypticCrossweird
⬇️
Subscribe to Out of Left Field by Joshua Kosman & Henri Picciotto (formerly of The Nation) www.leftfieldcryptics.com
and Cryptic Crossweird www.patreon.com/cw/CrypticCrossweird
⬇️
Congrats, Sowmya! Amazing milestone 🎉
November 3, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Congrats, Sowmya! Amazing milestone 🎉
Thanks, v.edgy! 🎃
October 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Thanks, v.edgy! 🎃
Thanks, Dave! Yes, it's an exciting #Halloween here in #Toronto with the #BlueJays playing at home tonight to become #WorldSeries champions!
(Let's see what happens - I could always write a baseball Scrabblegram later)
(Let's see what happens - I could always write a baseball Scrabblegram later)
October 31, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Thanks, Dave! Yes, it's an exciting #Halloween here in #Toronto with the #BlueJays playing at home tonight to become #WorldSeries champions!
(Let's see what happens - I could always write a baseball Scrabblegram later)
(Let's see what happens - I could always write a baseball Scrabblegram later)
Thanks, Skinny!
Check out the #Scrabblegram hashtag for more of my 'grams and a few by the master, @dcscrabblegram.bsky.social
Check out the #Scrabblegram hashtag for more of my 'grams and a few by the master, @dcscrabblegram.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Thanks, Skinny!
Check out the #Scrabblegram hashtag for more of my 'grams and a few by the master, @dcscrabblegram.bsky.social
Check out the #Scrabblegram hashtag for more of my 'grams and a few by the master, @dcscrabblegram.bsky.social
Thanks, @guineverecryptic.bsky.social!
Check out the #Scrabblegram hashtag for more of my 'grams and a few by the master, @dcscrabblegram.bsky.social
Check out the #Scrabblegram hashtag for more of my 'grams and a few by the master, @dcscrabblegram.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Thanks, @guineverecryptic.bsky.social!
Check out the #Scrabblegram hashtag for more of my 'grams and a few by the master, @dcscrabblegram.bsky.social
Check out the #Scrabblegram hashtag for more of my 'grams and a few by the master, @dcscrabblegram.bsky.social
