The "Second Verse, Same As The First" Clue
This is a new type of clue that has only just popped up from my favourite cryptic crossword setter, Fraser Simpson. That’s right: something new, even after all these years. Impressive, no?
The clue is a cross between an anagram and a composed clue. It involves repeating almost all the letters from a single word several times, then scrambling them to give you the answer. There doesn’t seem to be a particular trigger word; it’s just a description of the process. 
In this example, the definition portion of the clue is “has no meaning.” The riddle involves repeating various pieces of the word “lens” several times over and scrambling it into a word that means “has no meaning”. It takes a little thinking but eventually you get to: SENSELESS
Because I’m still mastering it myself, I haven’t included any of this type of clue in my practice puzzles. Got it. Take me back to the list of riddles. I want to try some more. You know what? I think I’m ready to try a practice puzzle! |