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OK, have been trying to train myself up to do cryptic crosswords. Only the simple ones though! Anyway, after discussion elsewhere it was thought the best bet would be for me to post ones I do not understand here in a new occaisonal thread. Anyone who can tell me how to get from the given clue to the given answer will be considered a very clever clogs indeed!
First off:-
Clue: "To defame is baleful"
Answer: "Malign"
So hows that work then? How do you get 'Malign' from that clue?
It's a 'double meaning' type clue:
'To defame' means 'to malign' ('malign' as verb)
'baleful' means malign ('malign' as adjective')
Hope that helps... 
ah! I see! That's another type to add to the list!
Now I'm sure this has something to do with names or summats but as I am broadcasting my stupidity today I may as well go on,
Clue: A charming thing produced by Scott
Answer: Talisman
A talisman is a charm; Sir Walter Scott wrote "The Talisman".
Same as before, a talisman is a charming thing (i.e. a lucky charm), and there is Scott Talisman, minor celeb.
Simulpost, same but different. By the way, which crossword is this?
*debates chances of getting away with saying it's the Times* 
The two you've given so far don't sound very Times-ish (Times-ian? Times-ese?)
A Capital without the greek city?
How many letters?
A Capital without the greek city? (5)
doh! Can;t solve 'em, can;t write 'em either!
There's a book out called "Pretty Girl In Crimson Rose" its all about cryptic crosswords.
Ans: Rebelled
explanation: Pretty girl...belle
Crimson...red
re belle d
Rose as in in rising, ie rebellion
You might be interested in the linkword thread: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F19585?thread=244234
*still working on the Greek city clue*
Don't forget that "without" can also mean "outside".
And, for some light reading, while you are pondering:
A162208 The Times Crossword
A563690 How to solve the Times Crossword
The second was written by Manolan, who modestly recommended reading it without claiming fame to it - over there - you know - in the Brit Eng Thread.
A Capital without the greek city? (5)
After racking the brain of my parents (my dad is a bit of a crossword buff) we think the answer is Metro
A major or capital city is a metropolis. Polis is/was a Greek city. Drop polis and you're left with metro.
Well done (checks post again to ensure gets right person this time) Croz.
And 'Metro' is the freebie paper distributed at train stations through out the UK. Hmm, maybe I aint so bad at writting them!
Todays ones I do not understand:
Clue: Master-switch for the current
Answer: Stream
i can see stream / current but what has Master-switch got to do with it?
Clue: Possibly hopes rum will be responsible for sleep
Answer: Morpheus
eh?
If you 'switch' the letters of 'master' you get stream (i.e. it's an anagram)
Ditto for 'hopes rum' and Morpheus ('possibly' being the 'it's an anagram' clue here)
Can't help you on the master switch one, but the answer to the other one is that 'hopes rum' is an anagram of Morpheus.
(The only cryptic clues I ever get are the anagram ones)
Liz
~
 <darn> and <pish>
I usually get the anagram ones without too much problem!
Oh well.
Howsabout
Clue: Item in dock
Answer: Detail
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