Double-cross

In this article

Double-cross
Reversed double-cross
Phonetic double-cross

Two words or phrases are each divided into two pieces; then their second pieces are switched to form two others. Example: maids, rapture, mature, rapids. (This would appear in the solutions list as “ma|ids, rap|ture”.)

DOUBLE-CROSS (8, 5, 4, 9) (9 = NI2)

With a slim, steely ONE,

The foul deed was done;

The client was given the sack.

From offstage, a noble

Sang “Woman is mobile.”

So—who could FOUR have on his back?

A dread hunch had he

When he felt the sack THREE:

Of what burden was he the carrier?

Gilda set up a din

(TWO had not yet set in)

And bade FOUR farewell with an aria.

=Pen Gwyn

The solution: ONE = stiletto, TWO = rigor, THREE = stir, FOUR = Rigoletto. (This would appear as “sti|letto, rigo|r”.)

The enumeration of all four parts of a double-cross is given.

When composing or solving a double-cross, be careful not to mix up THREE and FOUR: note that ONE and THREE have the same beginning, as do TWO and FOUR.

In a reversed double-cross, after switching the second pieces of ONE and TWO, you reverse the results to get THREE and FOUR. Example: red rover, Erebus, suborder, revere. (This would appear as “red ro|ver, Ere|bus”.)

In a phonetic double-cross, the parts are rearranged phonetically and not by spelling. For example: karaoke, lover, carryover, lucky.

Seealso change of heart and trans-cross.

Based on an idea by Stilicho, the double-cross was introduced by Nightowl at the 1980 convention.

Double-cross

See also

See also