Phibs – Page 5 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

EV 1665 (Hints)

Enigmatic Variations 1665 (Hints)

Untitled by Luxor

Hints and tips by Phibs

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The credit for inventing the Alphabetical Jigsaw belongs to Araucaria, although his AJs were blocked puzzles with 26 unnumbered lights.

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EV 1663 (Hints)

Enigmatic Variations 1663 (Hints)

The Right Fit by Piccadilly

Hints and tips by Phibs

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I thought I’d throw ChatGPT a bit of a curveball, so I asked, “What might a sentence described as ‘apt’ that is concealed in a crossword puzzle entitled ‘The Right Fit’ be?”

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EV 1661 (Hints)

Enigmatic Variations 1661 (Hints)

Pig Latin by Chalicea

Hints and tips by Phibs

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As I understand it, translation into Pig Latin involves an initial consonant (or group of consonants) being moved to the end of a word, and the suffix -ay being added, so Phibs becomes Ibsphay and crossword is osswordcray.

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EV 1659 (Hints)

Enigmatic Variations 1659 (Hints)

Problem by Eclogue

Hints and tips by Phibs

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Keen to offer ChatGPT a chance for redemption, I asked, “Can you suggest some problems from literature to which the answers have ten letters?”

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EV 1655 (Hints)

Enigmatic Variations 1655 (Hints)

Assertion by Skylark

Hints and tips by Phibs

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Seeking comfort on behalf of solvers, I asked ChatGPT, “Do you think that a puzzle by a setter called Skylark is likely to be easier than one set by Pandiculator?”

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EV 1653 (Hints)

Enigmatic Variations 1653 (Hints)

Petitioned King by Pandiculator

Hints and tips by Phibs

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Pandiculation is ‘an instinctive movement, consisting in the extension of the legs, the raising and stretching of the arms, and the throwing back of the head and trunk, accompanied by yawning; it occurs before and after sleeping, also in certain nervous affections, as hysteria, and at the accession of a fit of ague.’ Continue reading “EV 1653 (Hints)”