Puzzle Description:

Iron-backed cooler returned to watering hole -- See comment 1

#1: Joe (infrapinklizzard) on May 5, 2018

The description is a clue to the subject using cryptic crossword clue rules.

Every cryptic clue is made up of two parts; a definition, and a literal description of the answer using wordplay. They can be in either order (though not intertwined) and there is no separation between them.

Here is a page describing some of the techniques:
http://gamesmagazine-online.com/cryptic-crosswords/
or an easier-to-read PDF:
http://gamesmagazine-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/CrypticsGuide.pdf

cafe

Susan, you are fast! But please mark your answers with the "Spoiler" tag.

This is a charade clue (with a reversal)

Iron-backed = "Fe" behind
cooler returned = "a/c" reversed
(thus cafe)
to = joiner bit (the first part changes "to" the answer)
watering hole = definition

I think I'm getting closer. I saw the watering hole clue and thought, "a spring?" It kinda worked with the iron (metal) part, and a water source type spring is a play on that. So I didn't have the right word, but I was on the right track.

Goto next topic

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