Cryptic Crosswords – Solving hints #10

Clue - Chide son lacking in affection (5)

Starting with a straight forward one today.  As is usual you need to divide the clue into the right 2 parts.  This time like this:

Chide │son lacking in affection

Looking at the second part, the word “son” is often represented by an “s”.  So if that was first, what would be a 4 letter word meaning “lacking in affection” – I came up with “cold” which when you add the s is “scold” which can also mean “chide”.  Solved.

Sometimes, you can’t figure out the clues (actually often) before you have some letters in place as a result of solving other clues.  Because of this, my normal approach is to quickly go through the clues until I find one I can crack and then work on the clues that cross over that word so you have letters in place to help you.  This can help a lot.

Clue -  Gadget soldiers and army medic required (5)

A very similar split to the last one.  So you are looking for a 5 letter word meaning gadget.  The reference to “soldiers” can be to a variety of military abbreviations eg RE (for Royal Engineers – there is a definite British bent to many cryptic clues) – but in this case it is to GI’s which is American, of course.  To “Gis” you need to add  2 letters which could mean “army medic” – in this case “mo” – so you have “gismo” as the solution. 


Click here for the next post in the series.