"Balance" wsj cryptic

[Meg]

It’s a HEX, of course! You know you want to do it!

[RPardoe]

The more, the merrier....cryptics are my preferred style of puzzle so eagerly anticipate the Cox/Rathvon WSJ contribution each month (or so).

[Julie O]

Happy to say I finished this one! I agree I like cryptics better than straight up crosswords. Not sure I'm fully getting the mechanism for Balance Clue f. I know which part is the definition, but the word play part is eluding me. No spoilers, but but if someone could either pm me or post after the solution comes out, please.... TIA

[Julie O]

Not sure I'm fully getting the mechanism for Balance Clue f.

Firgured it out. Was attributing one of the answer's letters to the wrong part of the word play.

[KayW]

Not sure I'm fully getting the mechanism for Balance Clue f.

Firgured it out. Was attributing one of the answer's letters to the wrong part of the word play.

I still don’t get that one... i am hoping for the same post-enlightenment you found. Or the same pm/post you requested

[ChrisKochmanski]

I didn't get Balance Clue f either, but I just went with it, through contex. Fun variety cryptic!

[Meg]

Pm me for an explanation of f, which I had to Google for confirmation, if you want.

[KayW]

Thank you Julie O for a most excellent nudge towards the f wordplay. I had to google every single component of that entry-- I'd never have gotten there on my own.

And kudos on phrasing the hint so well!! When I know the answer I have a really hard time constructing a hint that doesn't out-and-out give the whole thing away. Yours was just enough to send me to the search engines.

[SewYoung]

I think I got the right answer for f. I am only missing b. I think I have filled in the shaded spaces correctly, but can't make anything of the letters that I have for the bottom of the 5th column.

[Al Sisti]

Fun and challenging. When I realized what they actually did in getting the shaded answer, I was even more impressed.

[Julie O]

Fun and challenging. When I realized what they actually did in getting the shaded answer, I was even more impressed.

Yes!

[Julie O]

Thank you Julie O for a most excellent nudge towards the f wordplay. I had to google every single component of that entry-- I'd never have gotten there on my own.

And kudos on phrasing the hint so well!! When I know the answer I have a really hard time constructing a hint that doesn't out-and-out give the whole thing away. Yours was just enough to send me to the search engines.

You're welcome!

[Nycerjohnnie]

Could anyone give a hint for 14 across? I’m just not seeing it at all. Thanks!

[SewYoung]

Could anyone give a hint for 14 across? I’m just not seeing it at all. Thanks!

The first word of the clue is the definition (but not a good one, in my opinion). Use just the first letter of the second word (I hope that is not too specific).

[Nycerjohnnie]

Could anyone give a hint for 14 across? I’m just not seeing it at all. Thanks!

The first word of the clue is the definition (but not a good one, in my opinion). Use just the first letter of the second word (I hope that is not too specific).

Thanks!

[anjhinz]

Thanks for posting this thread, didn't even realize WSJ has cryptics! Really loved this one, helped me pass a lot of time on the couch on Sunday

[Meg]

Thanks for posting this thread, didn't even realize WSJ has cryptics! Really loved this one, helped me pass a lot of time on the couch on Sunday

I check the wsj Saturday variety puzzle every week. Acrostics (meh), cryptics, and lovely things invented by Patrick Berry including Rows Gardens.

[SewYoung]

Thanks for posting this thread, didn't even realize WSJ has cryptics! Really loved this one, helped me pass a lot of time on the couch on Sunday

I check the wsj Saturday variety puzzle every week. Acrostics (meh), cryptics, and lovely things invented by Patrick Berry including Rows Gardens.

I agree with you on the Acrostics. Of course, any puzzle is better than no puzzle at all, but acrostics are my very least favorite. Love all the others, especially the cryptics.

[BethA]

Thought I was getting the hang of these but crashed and burned on this one!
I still need to go back and study further.

I always thought acrostics were kind of tedious, but since the WSJ has made it possible to do them on line, the tedious error-prone transcription of letters is gone! And I enjoy getting the quote to mull over.