A Guide to Crossword Clues
Here is a concise guide to the clue types you’ll meet in cryptic crosswords. Each clue usually contains a definition (straight meaning) and wordplay (instructions to build the answer). The definition is normally at either the beginning or the end of the clue. Lengths in brackets show the enumeration of the answer.
What is a cryptic clue?
A cryptic clue has two parts: a definition (a straight meaning of the answer) and a subsidiary indication (wordplay showing how to build the answer). The surface reading may mislead, but every fair clue gives you all you need to solve it.
Example: Speedy delivery of support rated top (5-5,4) → FIRST-CLASS POST (“speedy delivery”; “post” = support; “first-class” = rated top
All-in-one (&lit)
The entire clue acts as both the definition and the wordplay. Often short and neat; sometimes flagged with “!” or “?” but not always.
Example (hidden): Part of colosSAL VOlley? (5) → SALVO. The whole clue defines “salvo”; the answer is hidden.
Anagram
Rearrange letters indicated by an anagram indicator (e.g. mixed, broken, confused, dodgy, off).
Examples:
Light bubbly sorbet (6) → STROBE (anag. of SORBET).
Criminal can hide a large estate (8) → HACIENDA (anag. of CAN HIDE A).
Charade
Build the answer by placing parts side by side.
Examples:
Making waves on finding the account unpaid (9) → BILLOWING = BILL (account) + OWING (unpaid).
Kitchen item, say, good with British consumer (3,6) → EGG BEATER = EG (say) + G (good) + B (British) + EATER (consumer).
Combination clue
Two or more devices used together (e.g. reversal + container; anagram inside something; double definition where one half is cryptic).
Examples:
Capsized oarsman in vessel is in distress (8) → CAREWORN = ROWER (oarsman) reversed inside CAN (vessel) → CAREWORN (“in distress”).
Sampler of drinks given mix of teas in season (4,6) → WINE TASTER = (TEAS)* in
Cryptic definition
A definition that misleads with a different sense or pun; no separate wordplay.
Examples:
One suffering from lack of balance (8) → BANKRUPT (no money “balance”).
He hopes to find you well (5-7) → WATER-DIVINER.
Deletion
Remove letters as instructed (headless, heartless, endless, introduction dropped, etc.).
Examples:
Disheartened tinker making a row (4) → TIER from TIN KER (remove inner letters).
Very happy to be associated with dropping introduction (6) → ELATED from (R)ELATED (lose first letter).
Double definition
Two definitions leading to the same answer (often different parts of speech).
Examples:
Genuine / old Spanish coin (4) → REAL (adj. genuine; noun coin).
Declines / standards (5) → FLAGS (verb declines; noun standards).
Even / odd letters
Take letters at regular positions as indicated (regularly, evenly, oddly, at intervals, etc.). Often combined with other devices.
Examples:
Regulars in hard gang few saw (5) → even letters of “hArD gAnG fEw” → ADAGE (“saw”).
Spiritual yet oddly pushy style (7) → PSY (odd letters of PUSHY) + CHIC → PSYCHIC.
Hidden word
The answer is hidden within consecutive letters of the clue; indicators include in, part of, some of, among, within, held by, gripped by.
Examples:
Group of players from ReigaTE AMateurs (4) → TEAM.
Gripped by marijuANA THE MAn’s odious (8) → ANATHEMA.
Homophone
Sounds like another word; indicators include we hear, reportedly, it’s said, heard.
Examples:
Part of play heard, or otherwise perceived (4) → SCENE ~ “seen”.
Spring bloke, it’s reported (6) → GEYSER ~ “geezer”.
Initial / final letters
Take first and/or last letters of words as instructed (initially, at first; finally, at last; outwardly, edges, extremities).
Examples:
Type of guy’s attire, initially (4) → initials of Type Of Guy’s Attire → TOGA.
Material gain, say — all go in at last (5) → final letters: gaiN saY alL gO iN → NYLON.
Insertion (container)
Put one set of letters inside another; indicators include in, inside, within, about, around, held by, entering, aboard.
Examples:
Aboard boat there’s hard criminal (4) → H (hard) in TUG → THUG.
Turning Labour leader in rebellion (10) → L in DEFECTION → DEFLECTION (“turning”).
Reversal
Reverse the letters as indicated; “back”, “returned”, “receding” for across clues; “up”, “rising” for down clues.
Examples:
Time’s up! Come out! (4) → TIME reversed → EMIT (“come out”).
Anxious to give up sweets (8) → DESSERTS reversed → STRESSED.