

If you are looking for a sure-shot Crossword app on the Android play store, this is the one to check out.
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This is a free Crossword App rated 4.6 with 107k reviews and 1M+ downloads. Let’s begin! (This list is not ranked) 1. The answer, ECONOMIST, is also one involved with cost.Also read: Best Laptop Table Top Stand To Buy If You Are Working From Home. In the clue above, involved indicates that an anagram should be made of the letters IM, ONE and COST. The entire clue acts as both the definition and the wordplay. & Lit – In full, this rare clue type means 'and literally so'. But the real meaning of the clue is that at twelve o'clock, the hands on a clock point upwards. The clue appears to ask for a show of hands from those willing to have an early lunch. This type of clue frequently, but not always, ends in a question mark. In this example, venomous creature (SCORPION) loses its tail N, giving SCORPIO, a star sign.Ĭryptic Definition – This type of clue is designed to mislead the solver, appearing to say one thing, but meaning something quite different.

Sign of venomous creature losing tail (7) An example would be 'the penny dropped', which might indicate that the letter P should be removed from a word. Single-letter indicators are commonly employed. They frequently suggest that the first or last letter should be removed from a synonym of one or more words in the clue, giving the answer. Subtraction – Examples of subtraction indicators are dropped, endless, and cut short. The answer, KAYAK, reads the same in either direction. In the clue above, the words sent back indicate that a word meaning 'college' (ETON) should be reversed, giving NOTE (a short letter).Ī special case of a reversal clue gives a palindrome as an answer. Reversal – Words such as returned, backing, and the wrong way often indicate that one or more words should be turned around to give the answer. Here, the homophone indicator is we hear and its position implies that the answer (MIST) sounds like a synonym for 'avoided' (MISSED). A homophone indicator such as heard, reportedly or pronounced will be present. Homophone – In this type of clue, the wordplay provides a word that sounds the same as the definition, but has a different meaning. The definition is boy and the letters KEITH appear in li ke it hot. The word some indicates that the letters following it contain the answer. Indicators such as some or partly introduce the section of letters in which the answer can be found. Hidden – With this type of clue, the letters of the answer are hidden consecutively within the clue itself. In this example, both 'refinement' and 'language' are definitions of the answer, POLISH. The two definitions must give words with the same spelling, but not necessarily the same pronunciation.

Instead, the wordplay consists of another definition of the answer. Here, the container indicator is in, and indicates that a word meaning 'everything' (ALL) should be put inside a word meaning 'broadcast' (SHOW), giving SHALLOW.ĭouble Definition – This type of clue has no indicator. In this clue, the anagram indicator is order, indicating that the letters CANCEL MY should be rearranged to form a plant, giving CYCLAMEN.Ĭharade – In a charade, the answer is formed by joining two or more words together.Ī word meaning 'to harvest' (REAP) followed by a fruit (PEAR) gives the answer, REAPPEAR (come back).Ĭontainer – The presence of container indicators such as embraced or within can signify that one or more words should be placed inside another.Įverything in the broadcast is superficial (7) Examples include doctor, model, organised, resort, wild and shattered.

The solver can spot this type of clue by identifying the anagram indicator, a word that implies change, disarray, uncertainty or failure. In an anagram, the letters of one or more words are rearranged to form another word or phrase.
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See the Further Details download for more information on abbreviations.Īnagram – This is the best-known cryptic clue type. When the solver encounters words such as company or firm, for example, they should consider the possibility that the letters CO should be substituted. These normally consist of one or two letters. Setters make much use of abbreviations in the wordplay. Most of the cryptic devices make use of an indicator, which alerts the solver to the type of device employed. The wordplay could be another synonym of the answer or it might require manipulation of individual letters or groups of letters of the answer. Wordplay – this involves one or more of the cryptic devices listed below and makes up the rest of the clue. A cryptic clue generally consists of two parts:ĭefinition – this is synonymous with the answer and is usually positioned at the beginning or end of the clue.
