Here are some cryptic questions to keep your mind off the current crisis

We will add questions each week and give the answers to the previous week’s questions. Questions will come in ‘categories’

 

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Week 1

For people living in the Cattistock area

 

22/3/20

 

 

1

Left in a Rachel Platten song for this family

Flight

 

 

2

Villa shall be re-organised

Savill Hall

 

 

3

A paradise for silk worms?

Mulberry Orchard

 

 

4

Ticking off for us, this May and June

Markers

 

 

5

Campanologist’s conspiracy

Ringers Plot

 

 

6

The old fashioned shape

The Square

 

 

7

L35 and M31

Cattistock

 

 

8

Dunes

Sandhills

 

 

9

Bill and Melinda, David and Gareth

Four Gates

 

 

10

Multani Mitti

Fullers Earth

 

 

Do contact us if you want our explanation to any of these answers            Contact

 

Week 2

Doctor, I think I’ve got …………

All answers lead to a medical condition or complaint

 

29/3/20

 

 

1

A maths problem

Asthma

 

 

2

Massage the Spanish and the French

Rubella

 

 

3

Spots the broken cane

Acne

 

 

4

Driven by Mr Bullivant

Piles

 

 

5

38.20 C

Scarlet Fever

 

 

6

Maybe suffered by a member on outside of chamber

Cramp

 

 

7

A pot does this out of sight

Boils

 

 

8

Sydexlia

Dyslexia

 

 

9

I go on the green in Paris

Vertigo

 

 

10

A case of painful fever

Plague

 

 

11

Go out with nothing to lose

Gout

 

 

12

A wee burning sensation

Cystitis

 

 

13

‘Daddy, I want a flying glass elevator’, she said

Verruca

 

 

14

Amnausia

Morning sickness

 

 

15

Right in the midst of a military takeover of a government

Croup

 

 

16

Amnesia

 

 

17

It is still no change

Tonsillitis

 

 

18

Run, run, run

Diarrhoea

 

 

19

Left out of fashion

Stye

 

 

20

Doctor, I think I’ve got all of the above

Hypochondria

 

 

Do contact us if you want our explanation to any of these answers            Contact

 

 

Week 3

Count on us

Mostly cryptic clues. All answers are or contain a number

 

5/4/20

 

 

1

Crazy handouts

Thousand

 

 

2

Net returns

Ten

 

 

3

A nifty fine for the Rev. Archibald

Fifty nine

 

 

4

The lowest number you cannot score with a single dart

23

 

 

5

First, fill in form to earn extra numbers

Fifteen

 

 

6

Life’s answer

42

 

 

7

Julian, Dick Anne, George and Timmy

(Famous) Five

 

 

8

Cambridgeshire hamlet with a large rear

Six Mile Bottom

 

 

9

This makes one cross in Rome

9  (IX)

 

 

10

Herbie gets a number

53

 

 

11

Perfect in the beautiful south

10

 

 

12

F = C

-40

 

 

13

The French enter the flat

Eleven

 

 

14

Get right out of the south west estuary

Seven

 

 

15

Sounds like we need to rearrange tea for two

42 or 240

 

 

16

A dilemma for Joseph Heller

22

 

 

17

Take that, Mr Brubeck!

5

 

 

18

They moved like Mick or Bianca

(Maroon) 5

 

 

19

Turner, the noted artist is valued

20   (the new Ł20 note)

 

 

20

Family group stops after Finsbury Park

Seven (Sisters)

 

 

Do contact us if you want our explanation to any of these answers            Contact

 

 

 

Week 4

Just the job

Mostly cryptic clues. All questions lead to occupations

 

12/4/20

 

 

1

Iron Lady

Thatcher

 

 

2

Dipped in eggs?

Soldier

 

 

3

Astroo

Astronaut

 

 

4

Pearl’s job is entertaining folks

Singer

 

 

5

There is no coming between him or her

MP

 

 

6

Kept in business by Mrs Shilling

Milliner

 

 

7

Jack appeared in a teenage opera

Grocer

 

 

8

One of a pair host essential services

Air Hostess

 

 

9

Look in London’s East End

Butcher

 

 

10

Paul Carrack, Paul Young or Adrian Lee

Mechanic

 

 

11

Often asleep in the road

Policeman

 

 

12

A merciful drop can result in a big screen production

Film producer

 

 

13

Worked alongside Pilchard, Bird and Spud

Builder

 

 

14

Give a story in front of worker

Accountant

 

 

15

No ups and downs for this board member

Bishop

 

 

16

Dead end job carrying out the Queen

Executioner

 

 

17

Dissection of insects – it could be part of his work

Scientist

 

 

18

Sounds too young to go underground

Miner

 

 

19

Stir chowder

Cowherd

 

 

20

White collar worker filmed in Turville

Vicar

 

 

Do contact us if you want our explanation to any of these answers            Contact

 

 

 

Week 5

All Stitched Up

Mostly cryptic clues. All questions lead to an article of clothing

 

19/4/20

 

 

1

A draw?

Tie

 

 

2

US Hood

Bonnet

 

 

3

Point and ridicule protective garment

Smock

 

 

4

                     t

Singlet

 

 

5

Turret

Tank top

 

 

6

Bristol supporters!

Bra

 

 

7

International dialling code for the UK

Plus Fours

 

 

8

Shed clothes after September 1st

Sundress

 

 

9

One of 29 atolls in the Marshall Islands

Bikini

 

 

10

Took without permission

Stole

 

 

11

Aired by Bach

G-String

 

 

12

Silver and Baldry are both ….

Long Johns

 

 

13

Not needed by Phil Collins

Jacket

 

 

14

                     tt

Doublet

 

 

15

Hangs around the queen

Suspenders

 

 

16

Ideal footwear for a train journey

Platform shoes

 

 

17

Rapid breaths

Pants

 

 

18

Can lead to groans in Malaysia

Sarong

 

 

19

Yeovil supporters have a hand in these

Gloves

 

 

20

Be quiet, law has been broken

Shawl

 

 

Do contact us if you want our explanation to any of these answers            Contact

 

 

 

Week 6

Transport

All answers lead to a terms relating to transport past or present

 

26/4/20

 

 

1

Boys from Ipswich

Tractor

 

 

2

Sulked

Moped

 

 

3

Back at 11 in Rome

Taxi

 

 

4

Vehicle always at the forefront

Van

 

 

5

Bet it is part of a wine bottle

Punt

 

 

6

Good cover before the Queen

Glider

 

 

7

Re-order the hydrogen sulphide – Elementary!

HS2

 

 

8

Evan’s Act of Random Kindness

Ark

 

 

9

Back in the 1800s you could get 192 for Ł1

Penny Farthing

 

 

10

A glass of sherry or beer down under

Schooner

 

 

11

The English hunt for the Dutch

Yacht

 

 

12

A brightly coloured bird has a right to this kind of transport

Lorry

 

 

13

Its over in Germany

Uber

 

 

14

Incur a flu infection in the mountains

Funicular

 

 

15

Talk about Spanish river

Chariot

 

 

16

A rubbish carrier for young

Litter

 

 

17

Where Gary felt safe from being chased by Gary

Car

 

 

18

Found in Chester after rain

Raft

 

 

19

A divine form of transport in ‘99

National Express

 

 

20

C/?

Submarine

 

 

Do contact us if you want our explanation to any of these answers            Contact

 

 

 

Week 7

Five a Day!

All answers relate to either a fruit or a vegetable

 

3/5/20

 

 

1

Mrs Churchill

Clementine

 

 

2

Home of powered flight

Chard

 

 

3

A baby bush

Gooseberry

 

 

4

CaO

Lime

 

 

5

e’s found amongst 4 consecutive letters, out of order

Melon

 

 

6

Try 5 again

Lemon

 

 

7

Crazy to go back to young lad

Damson

 

 

8

Vegetation found under marmalade skies

Tangerine

 

 

9

Cuts and tears

Onion

 

 

10

Stockholm resident

Swede

 

 

11

Average cut

Parsnip

 

 

12

Found in Caerphilly cheese

Lychee

 

 

13

Returns between April and June

Yam

 

 

14

Shoots in Belgian capital

Brussels sprouts

 

 

15

Turn in front of a church

Spinach

 

 

16

pi

Turnip

 

 

17

Tell son to support this target

Apple

 

 

18

Nothing to lose from radio silence

Radish

 

 

19

At home in French Inn

Aubergine

 

 

20

Eat everything in Paris

Mangetout

 

 

Do contact us if you want our explanation to any of these answers            Contact

 

 

 

Week 8

Stay Home!

All answers are or lead to a part of a house or object found therein

 

10/5/20

 

1

I am short and stout

Teapot

 

2

Shh! New magician in a spin

Washing machine

 

3

Deceiving flattery in the bathroom

Flannel

 

4

Love match for Tiffany

Radio

 

5

False excreta

Shampoo

 

6

Not made by Tracey Emin

Bed

 

7

Indicate to the Queen

Shower

 

8

South Northamptonshire town

Toaster

 

9

The French follow boy

Ladle

 

10

Either side of you, we hear

TV

 

11

Gulp back

Plug

 

12

Hospital gown?

Wardrobe

 

13

Drinking its contents, could end up in a wreck

Wine rack

 

14

Thrown in by the loser

Towel

 

15

It results in a clothing decrease

Iron

 

16

No right to toil

Wok

 

17

Sydney Harbour Bridge 

Coat hanger

 

18

A Titanic ending

Sink

 

19

Fenętre

French window

 

20

i

d

a

Eiderdown

 

Do contact us if you want our explanation to any of these answers            Contact

 

 

Week 9

Flower Power

All questions lead to the names of familiar flowers

 

17/5/20

 

1

Would look sweet on a tandem

Daisy

 

2

A neat mistake

Cowslip

 

3

Young at heart

Bluebell

 

4

Keeps Reynard’s hand warm

Foxglove

 

5

Flower in garden I pulled up

Lupin

 

6

Mushy merchant, confused

Chrysanthemum

 

7

aka Erica

Heather

 

8

Beautiful Italian lady

Deadly nightshade / Bella Donna

 

9

Built up from the foundations

Buttercup

 

10

Boris’s advice to drive to work could make England this

Carnation

 

11

Drag on

Snapdragon

 

12

Sounds like a symptom of diabetes

Sweet Pea

 

13

Found in Bridport or Chideock

Orchid

 

14

A blooming avalanche!

Snowdrop

 

15

Mary is all mixed up

Amaryllis

 

16

Alone on the dance floor

Wallflower

 

17

The leading light at Christmas

Star of Bethlehem

 

18

Groups of sheep are heard

Phlox

 

19

Cute Billy

Sweet William

 

20

M

E

Anemone

 

Do contact us if you want our explanation to any of these answers            Contact

 

 

Week 10

---- and the -------

Music Quiz. Answers are acts that have had chart entries and have the name   …. and the ….

Questions lead to the name of the backing group (singular or plural)

 

24/5/20

 

Example

Found between Montana, Wyoming and Minnesota

Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas

 

1

Found in a formicary

Adam and the Ants

 

2

Shy at the fair

Kid Creole and the Coconuts

 

3

Minimum to Maximum

Bruce Hornsby and the Range

 

4

360°

Prince and the Revolution

 

5

Traipse around

Johnny Kidd and the Pirates

 

6

Area of no light

Cliff Richard and the Shadows

 

7

Washing, sewing and fruit

Florence and the Machine

 

8

Information from all directions

Huey Lewis and the News

 

9

Sounds as if only men allowed

Siouxsie and the Banshees

 

10

Tropical cyclone

Johnny and the Hurricanes

 

11

Sacred King of ancient Egypt

Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

 

12

Possibly one with rapid eye movement

Freddie and the Dreamers

 

13

Change water into wine for example

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

 

14

A year with Vivaldi

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

 

15

About to take the king on board

Emile Ford and the Checkmates

 

16

Wandering aimlessly

Cliff Richard and the Drifters

 

17

The physics of motion

Mike and the Mechanics

 

18

Maintains a regular beat

Gerry and the Pacemakers

 

19

Apple seeds

Gladys Knight and the Pips

 

20

Simply the best, perhaps

Diana Ross and the Supremes

 

Do contact us if you want our explanation to any of these answers            Contact

 

 

Week 11

Animal Instinct

All clues lead to the names of animals

 

31/5/20

 

1

Came and left

Camel

 

2

Went astray

Newt

 

3

All about mum

Llama

 

4

Christmas present drawer

Reindeer

 

5

Flagged in the Falklands

Sheep

 

6

Get rich sooner

Rhinoceros

 

7

Notebook not started

Otter

 

8

Spot no change

Leopard

 

9

Fool accepts degree in return

Wallaby

 

10

A throat problem

Frog

 

11

Crumpled toga

Goat

 

12

Calmed by Shakespeare

Shrew

 

13

Found in a hole and eaten

Toad

 

14

The French go to the wall

Lemur

 

15

A deadly sin

Sloth

 

16

Work hard

Beaver

 

17

Stop the noise

Dingo

 

18

Computer screen

Monitor

 

19

Arrange to congratulate the happy couple

Stoat

 

20

Bond with Olga da Polga

Guinea Pig

 

Do contact us if you want our explanation to any of these answers            Contact

 

 

Week 12

A gem of a quiz

All clues lead to a gemstone or a piece of jewellery

 

07/06/20

 

1

Two pints with an unknown quantity added

Quartz

 

2

Rice stirred up in tin

Citrine

 

3

Shone bright for Rihanna

Diamond

 

4

Allow two in front

Bracelet

 

5

Found on safari or found in ivy

Ivory

 

6

Met hasty confusion

Amethyst

 

7

Hanging around during French

Pendant

 

8

Call round

Ring

 

9

Had cyclone that caused chaos

Chalcedony

 

10

Entrance to a garden

Agate

 

11

Report the French

Bangle

 

12

American city in neat surroundings

Onyx

 

13

Or zinc, perhaps

Zircon

 

14

Russian Capitalist

Muscovite

 

15

Johnny no mates!

Opal

 

16

Mobile software protected by county

Sapphire

 

17

Lunar rock

Moonstone

 

18

Hit the golf course

Cufflinks

 

19

Catch fish first

Garnet

 

20

Shilpa Shetty for example

Star of India

 

Do contact us if you want our explanation to any of these answers            Contact

 

 

We hope you are enjoying these free quizzes

 

We also have a charity quiz available for a Ł1 (minimum) donation The theme is ‘The Corona Virus Pandemic’ (closing date 19/07/20)

We hope you will support this

 

Money raised from this will go towards providing a Safe Home for vulnerable children in Fiji

 

To find out how to obtain your copy and pay,  please go to our website www.childrenoffiji.co.uk  or click here

 

For people local to us, the quiz is available from outside our house with a collecting tin for donations

 

 

Week 13

Bird Brain!

All clues lead to the name of a bird

 

14/6/20

 

1

Two dozen in a pie

Blackbird

 

2

No hair

Coot

 

3

Quiet Romeo

Plover

 

4

Rod Hull had a hand in it

Emu

 

5

Can make hourly appearances

Cuckoo

 

6

Angry William

Crossbill

 

7

Burning love

Flamingo

 

8

Swing low

Owl

 

9

Communist election

Redpoll

 

10

They meet resistance from all directions

Wrens

 

11

Pastime

Hobby

 

12

She had no regrets

Sparrow

 

13

Found on board

Rook

 

14

Down and out without scoring

Eider Duck

 

15

KLFC get a 10-0 reversal

Linnet

 

16

The match ought to hold the answer

Chough

 

17

Notes

Turnstone

 

18

Based largely around Polaris

Dipper

 

19

Khaled’s high flyer

Kite

 

20

Bad news for the accused

Blackcap

 

Do contact us if you want our explanation to any of these answers            Contact

 

 

Week 14

Abridged Quiz!

All clues lead to an answer containing ‘bridge’ in some form

 

21/6/20

 

1

Sketch entrance to castle

Drawbridge

 

2

Australia’s coat hanger

Sydney Harbour Bridge

 

3

Hardy’s Dorchester

Casterbridge

 

4

Sounds like three came before

Forth Bridge

 

5

….and then another two in between

Severn Bridge

 

6

21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen between locations (topical)

Air Bridge

 

7

Ending at Radcliffe Road

Trent Bridge

 

8

Elegant God takes a turn

Golden Gate Bridge

 

9

Coined in 2005

Menai Bridge

 

10

All little babies eat red tomatoes at first

Albert Bridge

 

11

Old bridge in Florence

Ponte Vecchio

 

12

Destination for Coconut Airways Flight 372

Bridgetown

 

13

Billie Joe jumped from this on June 3rd

Tallahatchie

 

14

Makes big red men twisters in the capital

Westminster Bridge

 

15

T’Pau

Bridge of Spies

 

16

Where to find skinny birds?

Slimbridge

 

17

Large or small by the sound of it

Bridge of Sighs

 

18

Can lay me down and ease your mind

Bridge over Troubled Waters

 

19

Either side of a Welsh span

Bridgend

 

20

Two top UK universities combine

Oxbridge

 

 

We also have a charity quiz available for a Ł1 (minimum) donation The theme is ‘The Corona Virus Pandemic’ (closing date 19/07/20)

Go to our website for more details

 

 

Week 15

Country capitals

All clues lead to names of countries or capitals

 

28/6/20

 

1

Shorts or triangle

Bermuda

 

2

Mixed pairs

Paris

 

3

Resettle when idle

New Delhi

 

4

Albert shortly leaves one country for another

Austria

 

5

No way! It has a right to be a country

Norway

 

6

I settled in a long soft seat

Sofia

 

7

Found in an apiary

Apia

 

8

Girl returns to life in France

Vienna

 

9

Buff coloured paper

Manila

 

10

Pure mixture

Peru

 

11

Womble in boots in Somerset?

Wellington

 

12

One’s entering a country and finds another

Indonesia

 

13

As then, is now

Athens

 

14

Part of a go slow campaign

Oslo

 

15

Jones, for example, takes one in

Suriname

 

16

Leave nothing

Quito

 

17

Those with a birthday here on December 30th missed out in 2011

Samoa

 

18

Bangles had a mix up

Bangladesh

 

19

Hot and cold?

Chile

 

20

Extensive view – no alternative

Panama

 

 

 

Week 16

……that’s all folks!!

All clues lead to the names of  cartoon characters

 

05/7/20

 

1

Greeting for young cat

Hello Kitty

 

2

Annoys rabbit

Bugs Bunny

 

3

First ferry comes to Scottish island

Fiona

 

4

A sober character from Bridgetown?

Garfield

 

5

Genius or foul, despicably twisted character

Felonious Gru

 

6

Somerset village cuts ties with Yorkshire city

Tintin

 

7

Young horse goes crazy in sub zero temperatures

Olaf

 

8

Smell nothing

Pongo

 

9

Sea bird protects an island girl

Moana

 

10

Fiddle with ring

Tinkerbell

 

11

Scream ‘I go’

Shrek

 

12

Bees can be heard 9460730472580800 m away

Buzz Lightyear

 

13

Tom from Wilmslow?

Cheshire Cat

 

14

In hope with one in a muddle

Winnie the Pooh

 

15

The nobility lose the right to be called this

Aristocats

 

16

Carpet vermin

Rugrats

 

17

Disability in London’s East End?

Andy Capp

 

18

A London marathon entrant for example

Road Runner

 

19

Court diplomacy case

Woody

 

20

The French taken in by merciless Satan

Cruella de Vil

 

 

This is the final ‘lock-down’ quiz. We hope that you have enjoyed them

 

The need for a safe home for vulnerable children in Fiji has never been greater. If you can make a donation to this cause please do so through our website www.childrenoffiji.co.uk

 

 

Thank you to all of our supporters

Look after each other and stay safe

Peter and Margaret