Please explain this crossword answer

[Maurice Yeatman]

Nice bit of anagrind inversion in that i crossword too:

A way to get artist some water in NZ? (4, 6)

Good one. I'm always slow to spot a reverse anagram.

A pity the i's budget doesn't extend to publishing original crosswords. They're all ones that have previously appeared in The Independent.

[pancreas]

Today's Guardian was absolutely fucking exemplary.

https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29246

[Maurice Yeatman]

Today's Guardian was absolutely fucking exemplary.

https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29246

Not done it yet, but Tramp is brilliant. He was also recruited as a Times setter a few months ago.

[dissolute ocelot]

Today's Guardian was absolutely fucking exemplary.

https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29246

Not started it yet, still working on yesterday's which appeared to have multiple Elon Musk-related clues.

[MojoJojo]

This one from Quiptic is annoying (i.e. I don't get it):

It's digitally displayed data ... dear? (4-3)

I know the answer is

Spoiler alert

READ OUT

[close]

and

Spoiler alert

read is dear backwards, although I don't see an indicator to reverse a word - it's a down clue if that makes any difference

[close]

. What obscure abbreviation/knowledge/bridge terminology am I missing?

[FeederFan500]

Read "out" ie out of place ie is an anagram of dear. The question mark is the hint that it's a playful definition.

[touchingcloth]

The best introductory level puzzles are the Times Quick Cryptics that appear five times a week from a stable of about 15 setters. The Guardian Quiptic is only once a week and uses only 4 or 5 setters, not all of whom seem to be able to reduce the difficulty appropriately. Unfortunately the Times crosswords aren't free.

They have some as standalone books, and they look decent from the previews I can see on Amazon. They seem to be absolutely piracy-resistant, though! Can't find copies of them anywhere, though I have found a site for saddos where they post the clues plus answers in the form of a daily blog, just without the grids, the cunts.

[Pseudopath]

read is dear backwards

Chucked out ethnics possibly examine this fool? (5, 3, 4, 5)

[dissolute ocelot]

The Guardian Monday Cryptic tends to be easy if you want a simple cryptic crossword (and is free online). The Quiptic was originally promoted as an easier alternative, but is significantly harder. I'm not sure if the Guardian's Cryptic is supposed to get harder each day from Tuesday to Friday but I don't think there's much difference except on Monday.

[madhair60]

You (4)

[MojoJojo]

Read "out" ie out of place ie is an anagram of dear. The question mark is the hint that it's a playful definition.

Oh bums. I have seen that type before, I think I might have got it if I hadn't decided that read = backwards dear (which uh, it isn't).

[phantom_power]

Stop putting up clues without the answers you bastards

[FeederFan500]

A similar classic one is a variation of

"An alcoholic drink, K?" (8)

Spoiler alert

Cocktail

[close]

[holyzombiejesus]

Spooner owned horse and produced wretched individual. (7)

[dontpaintyourteeth]

Try aping this unseen character! (6, 6)

[holyzombiejesus]

Nation without castle describes dontpaintyourteeth (4)

[kalowski]

The Guardian Monday Cryptic tends to be easy if you want a simple cryptic crossword (and is free online). The Quiptic was originally promoted as an easier alternative, but is significantly harder. I'm not sure if the Guardian's Cryptic is supposed to get harder each day from Tuesday to Friday but I don't think there's much difference except on Monday.

Before he died Rufus did the Monday and what annoyed me was his style rarely helped you learn the craft because his clues were full of shit puns.

[Dex Sawash]

today's NYT xword

Causes to grow, humo(u)rously (9)

Spoiler alert

embiggens

[close]

[Maurice Yeatman]

today's NYT xword

Causes to grow, humo(u)rously (9)

Spoiler alert

embiggens

[close]

Don't really get the (u) bit there, apart from it making the word bigger. I'm probably missing something but it's not spelt like that in Britain either.

[Dex Sawash]

Don't really get the (u) bit there, apart from it making the word bigger. I'm probably missing something but it's not spelt like that in Britain either.

I put the u in to un-americaniz(s)e my spelling. Often incorrectly.

[Maurice Yeatman]

I put the u in to un-americaniz(s)e my spelling. Often incorrectly.

Ah, I misunderstood. I wasn't being pedantic, I really thought the (u) was in the original clue and it was one of their cryptic ones.

While I'm here, here's one I liked from the Times, a good example of a wittily disguised definition:

Character on Baywatch warned off after dealing? (7,6)

Spoiler alert

TRAFFIC WARDEN

Definition = Character on Baywatch. Wordplay = anagram ('warned' off) after traffic (eg dealing)

[close]

[touchingcloth]

There's a

Spoiler alert

traffic warden

[close]

in Baywatch?

What's the

Spoiler alert

dealing

[close]

got to do with anything?

[Maurice Yeatman]

There's a

Spoiler alert

traffic warden

[close]

in Baywatch?

It's a whimsical definition – rather than saying something like

Spoiler alert

'parking attendant'. Traffic wardens would be characters who'd be keeping their eyes on parking bays.

[close]

What's the

Spoiler alert

dealing

[close]

got to do with anything?

Dealing (with a question mark) is a possible example of

Spoiler alert

'traffic' in drugs.

[close]

I'm not sure anyone gives a shit about

Spoiler alert

spoilers in this thread.

[close]

[Mobius]

I watched that episode of Inside No. 9 all about cryptic crosswords last night and excitedly went to do one today with a new understanding, and I still haven't got a fucking clue.

[Dex Sawash]

Today's NYT xword stuck on the rebus in 4 down

Spoiler alert

_OG

[close]

I solved everything but the one rebus letter, hit the solve puzzle button to give up but it won't show the letter hiddwn by the rebus

thinking it may be

Spoiler alert

Bog

[close]

but it didn't like it when U put that there

[Maureen Brontë]

Those particular bores have their own separate website and everything, and it's the tweest thing possible,

Someone's decided to liven things up a bit in the blog for last month's Private Eye puzzle, in a reference to the clue for UNZIPPED: International body moved fast, prepared to expose member 
Comment #5  https://www.fifteensquared.net/2024/02/10/private-eye-cyclops-771-poor-taste-alert/