最近在看一个比较有意思的英剧 Inside No.9，其中 S3Ep3 The Riddle of the Sphinx 的主题是关于这个 cryptic word puzzles，我觉得特别有意思，就稍微了解了一下。
cryptic word puzzles 差不多就相当于中文的猜字谜，给你一句话（往往是双关的或通过某种 wordplay）的谜面，告诉你谜底的长度，让你猜这个词。往往是以 crossword 的形式出现的，也可以直接猜。
A cryptic clue generally consists of two parts:
Definition – this is synonymous with the answer and is usually positioned at the beginning or end of the clue.
Wordplay – this involves one or more of the cryptic devices listed below and makes up the rest of the clue. The wordplay could be another synonym of the answer or it might require manipulation of individual letters or groups of letters of the answer. Most of the cryptic devices make use of an indicator, which alerts the solver to the type of device employed.
在剧中出现的 puzzles 中，第一个使用的 indicator 是 anagram indicator。
Anagram is the best-known cryptic clue type. In an anagram, the letters of one or more words are rearranged to form another word or phrase. The solver can spot this type of clue by identifying the anagram indicator, a word that implies change, disarray, uncertainty or failure. Examples include doctor , model , organised , resort , wild and shattered .
在剧中，一个学生问教授他是教什么的，教授回答：
I teach wild creature without hospital building (12)
这个谜面虽然不是非常完美，但是也可以作为例子说明了。
谜面的尾部 “building"是谜底的 definition，而 wild 是 anagram indicator。那么试着对"I teach” “creature"重新排列，发现一共有 14 个字母。现在注意到"without hospital” ，提示去掉两个字母。hospital 有什么两个字母的同义词或者子集吗？有 A&E（急诊）。所以去掉 a 和 e 两个字母，重新排列得到 architecture，是 building 的近义词，也就是谜底。
可以再看一个例子，
Space in any mine where poets re-entwine (5)
Space in any mine 是 definition，re-entwine 提示了 anagram，根据长度判断，是 poets 重新排列，意思是 space in any mine，那么就是 stope（矿场）。
或者，
Cancel my order for plant (8)
order 提示了 anagram，根据长度判断，是 cancel my 重新排列，谜底是一种 plant，那么就得到 cyclamen（仙客来）。
另一种和 anagram 比较相似的 device 是 Reversal。
Words such as returned , backing , and the wrong way often indicate that one or more words should be turned around to give the answer.
e.g. Going round stronghold, take a look (4)
Reversal indicator: going round
Definition of word to be reversed: stronghold
Definition: take a look
Answer: peek (stronghold->keep->peek)
e.g. Physician brings fish round (3)
Reversal indicator: bring round
Definition of word to be reversed: fish
Definition: physician
Answer: doc (fish->cod->doc)
还有一种罕见的 anagram。The entire clue acts as both the definition and the wordplay.
I’m one involved with cost (9)
involved indicates that an anagram should be made of the letters IM, ONE and COST.
The answer, ECONOMIST, is the one involved with cost.
接下来再介绍几种 device
Charade
– In a charade, the answer is formed by joining two or more words together.
e.g. Come back to harvest fruit (8)
A word meaning ‘to harvest’ (REAP) followed by a fruit (PEAR) gives the answer, REAPPEAR, which means come back.
Container
– The presence of container indicators such as embraced or within can signify that one or more words should be placed inside another.
e.g. Everything in the broadcast is superficial (7)
Here, the container indicator is in, and indicates that a word meaning ‘everything’ (ALL) should be put inside a word meaning ‘broadcast’ (SHOW), giving SHALLOW.
Hidden
– With this type of clue, the letters of the answer are hidden consecutively within the clue itself. Indicators such as some or partly introduce the section of letters in which the answer can be found.
e.g. Put away in chest or elsewhere (5)
The word in indicates that the letters following it contain the answer. The definition is the whole sentence and the letters STORE appear in chest or e lsewhere.
e.g. Cooker is part of best oven (5)
The word part indicates that the letters following it contain the answer. The definition is cooker and the letters STOVE appear in best oven.
Subtraction
– Examples of subtraction indicators are dropped , endless , and cut short . They frequently suggest that the first or last letter should be removed from a synonym of one or more words in the clue, giving the answer. Single-letter indicators are commonly employed.
e.g. Sign of venomous creature losing tail (7)
In this example, venomous creature (SCORPION) loses its tail N, giving SCORPIO, a star sign.
Double Definition
– This type of clue has no indicator. Instead, the wordplay consists of another definition of the answer. The two definitions must give words with the same spelling, but not necessarily the same pronunciation.
e.g. Refinement of language (6)
In this example, both ‘refinement’ and ‘language’ are definitions of the answer, POLISH.
Homophone
– In this type of clue, the wordplay provides a word that sounds the same as the definition, but has a different meaning. A homophone indicator such as heard, reportedly or pronounced will be present.
e.g. Fog avoided, we hear (4)
Here, the homophone indicator is we hear and its position implies that the answer (MIST) sounds like a synonym for ‘avoided’ (MISSED).
e.g. This cover sounds like a 50 Cent song (4)
Here, the homophone indicator is sounds like and its position implies that the answer (WRAP) sounds like a synonym or subclass for ‘song’ (RAP).
Cryptic Definition – This type of clue is designed to mislead the solver, appearing to say one thing, but meaning something quite different. This type of clue frequently, but not always, ends in a question mark.
e.g. Hands up for an early lunch? (4)
The clue appears to ask for a show of hands from those willing to have an early lunch. But the real meaning of the clue is that at twelve o’clock, the hands on a clock point upwards. The answer is therefore NOON.
总而言之，这种 puzzle 还是比较有意思的，但是难度是非常高，而且需要非常巨大的词汇量，涉及很多非常生僻的词，即使是 native speaker 做起来也感觉吃力。如果背单词感到累了，可以做做玩玩。
。第三季 b 站还阉割了三集，这一季我最爱 ep2 账单疑云，虽然反转一般，但是其中的黑色幽默很对我口味。