How does the PF Username Game work?

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The forum discussion revolves around a cryptic puzzle game where participants guess usernames of members based on clues provided. The game is structured with varying difficulty levels, utilizing techniques like anagrams, hidden clues, and trivia references. Clues are presented, and players respond with their answers and explanations. A limit is imposed on the number of correct answers to encourage broader participation. As the game progresses, participants solve clues, with many engaging in friendly banter and sharing insights on the cryptic nature of the clues. The thread highlights the collaborative and competitive spirit of the community as they work together to decipher the puzzles while enjoying the challenge.
Gokul43201
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It's been about a year now, so maybe it's time for another round, eh?

HOW THE GAME WORKS:

I make up cryptic clues, the answers to which are the usernames of different PF members. If you think you've got the answer, post it, along with the explanation. Sometimes, the answer may not be the complete username. For instance, I might refer to Greg Bernhardt simply as Greg.

Here's a very simple example:

i. Sounds like a cosmic bomb
Answer: Astronuc
Explanation: cosmic -> astro; bomb -> nuke, and nuc "sounds like" nuke

And here's a very difficult one:

ii. 102 Joule returned
Answer: Greg
Explanation: 1 Joule = 107 erg, so 102 J = 109 erg = 1 Giga erg -> Gerg; turn it back (i.e., return it) to get Greg

Most clues will be intermediate in difficulty to the above examples. Typical styles of crypticity will likely include anagrams, hidden clues, common abbreviations, Roman numerals, use of synonyms & homophones, and occasional sojourns into trivia.

I will get some clues ready sometime later today, when I've got less work to do...probably after dinner. Let's make it around 9:30pm EST (about 9 hrs from the time of this post).

In the meantime, please feel free to peruse earlier rounds (especially if you weren't around for them, and care to give this a shot ... moreso, if you are not terribly familiar with cryptic puzzles):

Round I
Round II
Solutions to Round II
Round III
Solutions to Round III

Any questions?
 
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Ha... it's good that I visited PF today. And I've doing cryptic crosswords for the past week! (it's a seasonal thing...) As always, looking forward to this.
 
Oooh, this is a great game Gokul! Too bad I stink at it. :redface:
 
Yey, although I guess I'll hae to wait until the morning.
 
Scout ran amok.

Edit: sorry it took so long to get it right.
 
jimmysnyder said:
In ran scout amiss, an engineer.

Anagram Astronuc
 
Two crazy conjunctions followed by one.
 
jimmysnyder said:
Two crazy conjunctions followed by one.
No idea who that is, jimmy.

Okay, I 've got a handful of clues ready. They're not as good as in previous years, but to make up for that, I'm trying out a few new ideas. As before, I will start off with somewhat easier clues, and eventually finish with harder ones.

Also, I will be imposing a limit (for now) on answering - anyone who has 4 correct answers will get a temporary time out, so others in different time zones and work schedules may get an opportunity to play as well.

Please answer by quoting the clue (or specifying the clue number) and posting your answer with a clear explanation.

Here we go ... (ummm, in a couple minutes)
 
I haven't checked through my previous threads, so I hope I haven't accidentally come up with the same clues I made before.

THE CLUES:

1. Dangerous brakemen.

2. Be a moron, silly!

3. Mosul chai.

4. Cut SONAR, then put it back together.

5. Recall the tropical herb.
 
  • #10
6. A weather vane scholar, in hiding

7. Am I hot inside? :-p

8. AP: Prez. screwed up!

9. The Terrible ruler of the ocean, we hear.

10. A way hot tum

(note: smilies are not germane to the clue)
 
  • #11
Gokul43201 said:
3. Mosul chai.

Let's see.. if you're from Mosul, you're probably Kurdish. And Chai is a kind of tea ("T").

Kurd+T = Kurdt?
 
  • #12
Gokul43201 said:
9. The Terrible ruler of the ocean, we hear.

Ivan (the terrible) + Sea King (ruler of the ocean) = Ivan Seeking?
 
  • #13
Correct & Correct! That's two up for you.
 
  • #14
Yay! good puzzles, Gokul. These are tough.
 
  • #15
What about mine! I got the coolest game ever.
 
  • #16
1. Berkeman
2. Moonbear
6. vanesch vane scholar
8. Zapper[Z]

The rest are anagrams. I'm out. :(
 
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  • #17
It feels a little warm in here. Maybe I'll step outside.
 
  • #18
I'm so bad at these I would never get any of them.
 
  • #19
Math Is Hard said:
It feels a little warm in here. Maybe I'll step outside.

Lol... ;-p
 
  • #20
neutrino said:
1. Berkeman
2. Moonbear
6. vanesch vane scholar
8. Zapper[Z]

The rest are anagrams. I'm out. :(
Correct neutrino. I'll let you back in later (if you're up late enough).

berkeman = anagram of "brakemen"
moonbear = anagram of "be a moron"
vanesch - hidden clue, as pointed out
Zapper = anagram of "AP Prez"

In these clues, words like "screwed up" and "silly" indicate that the letters may be jumbled, pointing to an anagram. Also, the phrase "is hidden" is a direct indicator of a hidden clue.
 
  • #21
Math Is Hard said:
It feels a little warm in here. Maybe I'll step outside.

TheStatutoryApe said:
Lol... ;-p
I thought I knew what she was saying, but if you are laughing at her joke, and not saying anything more, then I may be wrong...but I think not.MIH - you saving up your turns for later? :-p
 
  • #22
Gokul43201 said:
Correct neutrino. I'll let you back in later (if you're up late enough).

berkeman = anagram of "brakemen"
moonbear = anagram of "be a moron"
vanesch - hidden clue, as pointed out
Zapper = anagram of "AP Prez"

In these clues, words like "screwed up" and "silly" indicate that the letters may be jumbled, pointing to an anagram. Also, the phrase "is hidden" is a direct indicator of a hidden clue.

Well, when you explain it I just feel dumb.:frown:
 
  • #23
HOW THINGS STAND (clues in bold are as yet unsolved):

1. Dangerous brakemen. - solved by neutrino
Answer = Berkeman: anagram of "brakemen"

2. Be a moron, silly! - solved by neutrino
Answer = Moonbear: anagram of "be a moron"

3. Mosul chai. - solved by MIH
Answer = kurdt: Mosul is a town in Kurdistan, chai = tea -> T, kurd + t = kurdt

4. Cut SONAR, then put it back together.

5. Recall the tropical herb.

6. A weather vane scholar, in hiding - solved by neutrino
Answer = vanesch: hidden clue vane scholar

7. Am I hot inside? :-p

8. AP: Prez. screwed up! - solved by neutrino
Answer = Zapper: anagram of "AP Prez"

9. The Terrible ruler of the ocean, we hear. - solved by MIH
Answer = Ivan Seeking: Ivan is from Ivan the Terrible (first Tsar of Russia), and "ruler of the ocean" = sea king, which sounds like (hence, "we hear") Seeking

10. A way hot tum
 
  • #24
MORE CLUES: (might help to try Google or Wikipedia on some of these)

11. My God! Be physical, but in shorts.

12. They whip it good, but not half grand

13. Living under the lighthouse, she was a martyr to logic.

14. Somehow, Mendeleev's Scandium is lacking an O.

15. Chromium is too!

The last couple are pure evil, but the early ones are not too hard.
 
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  • #25
Fantastic that you have done this again, Gokul! I was sad to miss the last one. Pleased there were some left for this time zone! I like number 12's clue, evo? 4. Astro? 4. mixes the letters, and 12. is Devo, 'Whip it', sans the roman numeral for 500, 'D'.
 
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  • #26
Ooo, and 13. is Hypatia, the martyr from Alexandria, like the lighthouse?
 
  • #27
Is 15 me?
 
  • #28
fuzzyfelt said:
Fantastic that you have done this again, Gokul! I was sad to miss the last one. Pleased there were some left for this time zone! I like number 12's clue, evo? 4. Astro? 4. mixes the letters, and 12. is Devo, 'Whip it', sans the roman numeral for 500, 'D'.

fuzzyfelt said:
Ooo, and 13. is Hypatia, the martyr from Alexandria, like the lighthouse?
Good job, ff! All three are right.

cristo said:
Is 15 me?
Do you have an explanation?

C'mon folks! 7 and 10 are easy - 10 is a direct clue ... not a great clue, actually but kinda simple. I'd say this is close to the halfway point. Many more coming up soon.
 
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  • #29
7 Am I hot inside?
 
  • #30
16. "No, not any!" he rages.

17. In part, M and N are the middle letters.

18. In longer DNA, he is transcribed backwards.

19. Antonius, who wanted your aures.

20. It is not beneath him to interact like -(1/r)e-mr
 
  • #31
Kurdt said:
7 Am I hot inside?
That wins you the best mih (other than the real one, she knew the answer too) award!
 
  • #32
Gokul43201 said:
Do you have an explanation?

My answer probably isn't cryptic enough, but: chromium has chemical symbol cr, then 'is too' makes cristo.
 
  • #33
Is 18 Danger? Just another anagram.

And is 17 Artman? M and N = MAN and the art part of part? :-p
 
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  • #34
18 is Andre: 'longer DNA' is ErDNA, which when read backwards is Andre.

(It's quite obvious I don't know what ErDNA is but it at least exists, as per google!)
 
  • #35
I think you have it cristo. I was trying to think of an andrew somebody and I totally forgot andre :redface:

Sorry Andre.
 
  • #36
14. Borek. Mendeleev's Scandium is Ekaboron and lacking AN O it is an anagram of Borek.
 
  • #37
Gokul43201 said:
10. A way hot tum

That will be red hot belly. 98.

And I got myself, but Kurdt beat me.
 
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  • #38
cristo said:
My answer probably isn't cryptic enough, but: chromium has chemical symbol cr, then 'is too' makes cristo.
Close enough. You're also supposed to make it lose an O, so that cristoo becomes cristo.

Kurdt said:
And is 17 Artman? M and N = MAN and the art part of part? :-p
Close, but it's simpler even than that. Take another look at it.

cristo said:
18 is Andre: 'longer DNA' is ErDNA, which when read backwards is Andre.

(It's quite obvious I don't know what ErDNA is but it at least exists, as per google!)
Correct.

Kurdt said:
14. Borek. Mendeleev's Scandium is Ekaboron and lacking AN O it is an anagram of Borek.
Good job.

Borek said:
That will be red hot belly. 98.

And I got myself, but Kurdt beat me.
Yes, it's Redbelly.

Okay, let me post a summary and more clues...
 
  • #39
21. Same clue as 10, strangely

22. Eta prime?

23. Is my junior New York Democrat insane?

24. kcascti crmnfe

25. Other AZ Sen. follows chariot racer's dad?
 
  • #40
neutrino, you are back in the game now, with a new limit of 3 solves.
 
  • #41
HOW THINGS STAND (clues in bold are as yet unsolved):

1. Dangerous brakemen. - solved by neutrino
Answer = Berkeman: anagram of "brakemen"

2. Be a moron, silly! - solved by neutrino
Answer = Moonbear: anagram of "be a moron"

3. Mosul chai. - solved by MIH
Answer = kurdt: Mosul is a town in Kurdistan, chai = tea -> T, kurd + t = kurdt

4. Cut SONAR, then put it back together. - solved by fuzzyfelt
Answer = Astronuc: anagram of "cut sonar"

5. Recall the tropical herb. - solved by neutrino
Answer = lisab: trpoical herb = basil, reverse it to get lisab

6. A weather vane scholar, in hiding - solved by neutrino
Answer = vanesch: hidden clue vane scholar

7. Am I hot inside? - solved by kurdt
Answer = MIH: Am I hot (hidden clue)

8. AP: Prez. screwed up! - solved by neutrino
Answer = Zapper: anagram of "AP Prez"

9. The Terrible ruler of the ocean, we hear. - solved by MIH
Answer = Ivan Seeking: Ivan is from Ivan the Terrible (first Tsar of Russia), and "ruler of the ocean" = sea king, which sounds like (hence, "we hear") Seeking

10. A way hot tum - solved by Borek
Answer = Redbelly: "way hot", as in red hot, and "tum" = tummy = belly ( I know it's kinda lame, but's its part of a set-up)

11. My God! Be physical, but in shorts. - solved by Borek
Answer = mgb phys: "short" forms of "My God", "be" and "physical" are MG (like in OMG), B and phys

12. They whip it good, but not half grand - solved by fuzzyfelt
Answer = Evo: "Whip it" is a single by the band Devo, half grand = D in Roman numerals, Devo - D = Evo

13. Living under the lighthouse, she was a martyr to logic. - solved by fuzzyfelt
Answer = hypatia: direct clue; look up Hypatia (alt. Hyapatia) of Alexandria, if you don't know the story

14. Somehow, Mendeleev's Scandium is lacking an O. - solved by kurdt
Answer = Borek: Mendeleev predicted the existence of the element Scandium, and named it Ekaboron; ekaboron - "an o" = ekbor = Borek, after unscrambling

15. Chromium is too! - solved by cristo
Answer = cristo: Chromium = Cr, so "Cr is too". Is what too? Is lacking an O, naturally. So, cristoo - o = cristo

16. "No, not any!" he rages.

17. In part, M and N are the middle letters.

18. In longer DNA, he is transcribed backwards. - solved by cristo
Answer = Andre: in "longer dna" is erdna, which reversed, makes andre

19. Antonius, who wanted your aures.

20. It is not beneath him to interact like -(1/r)e-mr

21. Same clue as 10, strangely

22. Eta prime?

23. Is my junior New York Democrat insane? - solved by neutrino
Answer = jimmysnyder: anagram of is+my+jr+NY+dem

24. kcascti crmnfe

25. Other AZ Sen. follows chariot racer's dad?
 
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  • #42
Gokul43201 said:
neutrino, you are back in the game now, with a new limit of 3 solves.

Thank you, sir.

5. lisab. Recalling, i.e., reversing basil - the tropical herb.
23. jimmysnyder: anagram of is my jr ny dem. (Nice way of including "current affairs" :) )
 
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  • #43
Gokul43201 said:
11. My God! Be physical, but in shorts.

Terribly obvious.

My God! Be physical
 
  • #44
Oll korrect! My previous update has been re-updated to reflect the changes.
 
  • #45
Gokul43201 said:
22. Eta prime?

That's one of the mesons. Chi? But honestly, I am stabbing in the dark.
 
  • #46
Borek said:
That's one of the mesons. Chi? But honestly, I am stabbing in the dark.
Good stab. Eta prime is sometimes called the Chi meson.

Incidentally, Chi is not the only meson in PF.
 
  • #47
24. Chemistree? Bad guess I think.
 
  • #48
Do you have an explanation?

I think you're on the right track - you just have to look more carefully.
 
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  • #49
Gokul43201 said:
20. It is not beneath him to interact like -(1/r)e-mr

LowlyPion

Lowly from "not beneath him" and Pion from the Yukawa interaction -(1/r)e-mr.
 
  • #50
26. Heels broke in the evening - returned.

27. Eetu, for a Fin.

28. First course at the the atomic cafe?

29. μα'θημα: know front to back.

30. Meh ... cooties is gone, somehow.
 

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