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Cryptic Crosswords

Cryptic crossword clues use wordplay, definitions, and indicators to obscure the answer. Common types of clues include anagrams, where letters must be rearranged; reversals, where part of the clue is read backwards; and hidden words, where letters are taken from part of the clue. Successful solvers must understand the structure of clues and use multiple word meanings and wordplay techniques to arrive at the concealed answer. Sample clues are provided to illustrate different types of cryptic wordplay. Popular sources where cryptic crosswords can regularly be found are also listed.

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Paul Martin
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195 views3 pages

Cryptic Crosswords

Cryptic crossword clues use wordplay, definitions, and indicators to obscure the answer. Common types of clues include anagrams, where letters must be rearranged; reversals, where part of the clue is read backwards; and hidden words, where letters are taken from part of the clue. Successful solvers must understand the structure of clues and use multiple word meanings and wordplay techniques to arrive at the concealed answer. Sample clues are provided to illustrate different types of cryptic wordplay. Popular sources where cryptic crosswords can regularly be found are also listed.

Uploaded by

Paul Martin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Cryptic Crosswords

How to solve them


Kinds of Clues
CLUE STRUCTURE EXAMPLE

a definition, an anagram indicator, and the Modern Siam (def) had a lint (anagram) storm (indicator) (8) >> Thailand (old name
anagram anagram (the letters to be shuffled) Siam)
definition, reversal indicator, part to be read
reversal backwards Physician brings fish round (3) >> doc (=physician, also=cod fish reversed)
Auditor´s (homophone indicator) reference (to make reference is to "cite" which sound
definition, homophone indicator, a word that like "site") point (definition: site) (4) >> answer=site (4 letters and not the closest to the
homophone sounds like another homophone indicator)
hidden word (bits definition, hidden word indicator, part with the The first of (first letters) my usual Sunday errands (take first letters) is a source of
of) hidden word inspiration (definition) (4) >> muse
definition, subtraction indicator, part from Crime is the result when clergyman loses his head (5) >> arson (parson is a clergyman,
subtraction where to delete parts take p heading=arson a crime)
a definition, a container/contained indicator, a
part to insert (content), a part where to insert
contained in/around (container) Bird allowed outside tavern (6) >> Linnet (a kind of bird; let/allowed around inn/tavern)
addition (one part
after/leading/added definition, first part, addition indicator, second
to another) part to be added (also called Charades) Everyone was in debt - that's permitted (7) >> allowed (permitted; also all+owed)
hidden word (bits definition, hidden word indicator, part with the Howard’s End servant (take bits from here) harbors (hidden word indicator) broadcasts
of) hidden word (definition) (5) >> sends (=broadcasts)

definition, + part which defines a word whose Grow (double meaning) just fine (definition) (5) >> swell (=just fine, but second meaning
double meaning alternate meaning is the same is also grow)
composed clues Sleeps (synonym)) around (contained indicator) family (synonym) serviettes (definition)
(most!) definition (usually at the beginning or end), (6) >> napkin (nap+kin)
one of the above and all together it is ALSO Angered? Awfully! (7) >> enraged (awfully mixes angered to get enraged, which is
& Lit Clues the definition awfully angered)
Examples
● 11d Bird seen in the museum (3) [ wordplay: some of the letters of (“seen in”) THEMUSEUM ][
definition: bird ]If we look up EMU in Collins Dictionary, we discover – among such extra details as
its number of toes – that the EMU is indeed a bird. =EMU.
● 10a Perhaps hawk’s attempt to catch rook (4) [ wordplay: synonym for “attempt” containing (“to
catch”) + chess abbreviation for “rook” ][ BID containing R ][ definition: perhaps hawk ] = BIRD
● 12a Perhaps 2000 or 2020 players struggle to control Real’s midfield (4,5) [ wordplay: anagram
(“struggle”) of PLAYERS containing middle letters of (“midfield”) REAL “EA” ][LEAPYRS containing
EA ][ definition: perhaps 2000 or 2020 ] =LEAPYEARS
● 19a Coke and rum originally served in saloon, say (3) [ wordplay: initial letters of (“originally”) COKE
AND RUM ] [ definition: saloon, say ] Here, Brendan uses “saloon” as an example of a CAR, but
new solvers should be aware that “say” in a clue might also indicate EG (more Latin tips here)
example.
● 21a Angry report on Dirty Duck? (8)[ wordplay: synonym for “angry” WILD and synonym for “dirty”
FOUL …soundalike of it (“report on”) FOWL] =WILDFOWL.
● 10a Checks possibly amber clothing at home (5,2) [ wordplay: “amber” is an example of RESIN,
containing (“clothing”) synonym for “at home” IN] [ RESIN containing IN ] =REINS IN [ definition:
checks ]

PLACES TO FIND CRYPTIC CROSSWORDS:

https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/series/cryptic

https://games.dailymail.co.uk/games/daily-cryptic-crossword

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/puzzles-and-crosswords/cryptic-crossword/

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