Lately, I have been obsessed with the daily wordplay puzzle Minute Cryptic, based on cryptic crossword puzzles popular in the UK. An example from a recent game:
Antique Rocking Chair in empty attic (7)
The (7) means 7 letters in one word. If there are multiple words, it would have said something like (3,4). Each clue usually has the Definition of the the word, Fodder which helps build the word, and indicator(s) that tell what to do with the fodder.
In this example the definition is ANTIQUE
The fodder is CHAIR and ATTIC
The Indicators are ROCKING (means anagram) IN (container) and EMPTY (use extreme letters)
So you scramble the word CHAIR and put it inside container AC (extreme letters of attic) and get…
ARCHAIC which means antique.
So for fun, I made up a CW themed cryptic inspired by trying to get those pesky dragons. First person to solve it gets a flower from me! Here it is. Good luck.
To bag dragon is unusual at a unicorn party, usually! (4,3,2)
Please send me the answer privately, so others can try as well.
We have a winner. Congratulations @Eddi_Bets, the only solver.
To bag dragon is unusual at a unicorn party, usually! (4,3,2)
Here are some hints and the solution:
Fodder: bag dragon - letters will be used in answer
Indicator: unusual - indication the fodder will be an anagram of the answer
Definition: a unicorn party, usually! - what do we know about them?
Solution: The answer is GRAB AND GO - Unscramble the letters BAG DRAGON to get the answer to the definition a unicorn party, usually! As we know, most unicorn parties are grab and go, either in name or in practice.
Let’s try one more. The answer is NOT CW related, but this one is a little fun.
Lady Gaga covers pop song piece badly. (9 letters)
Someone told me a good cryptic is a sentence that makes sense as read, but also disguises the indicators, fodder and definition. So I could imagine Lady Gaga covering a pop song and not sounding great. (I really can’t imagine that because Lady Gaga is always pitch-perfect) And this cryptic has several possibilities for indicators, covers, piece, badly to name a few, so what to do?
If you get stuck, use these clues
Indicator: Piece and badly are NOT indicators. However covers and Gaga are! covers means one bit of fodder will surround another bit of fodder and Gaga means mix up some fodder (anagram)
Fodder: Lady should be anagrammed and surround another word for or an example of pop song piece
Definition: find a nine letter word meaning badly
Extra Hint: Since lady (anagrammed will be 4 letters you will need a 5 letter word that is an example of a piece of a pop song that will be in the middle of the answer
Answer: Anagram of Lady is ADLY
A pop song piece (or part) could be intro, verse, chorus, bridge, outro, etc.
But the only one that works here is VERSE
AD-VERSE-LY Adversely is another word meaning badly
most likely can not solve it but love it 
