Cryptic Crosswords Explained
What is a cryptic crossword?
A cryptic crossword is a crossword in which every clue is a small word puzzle in its own right. Each clue has two parts: a straight definition of the answer, usually at the very start or very end, and wordplay (an anagram, a hidden word, a reversal, a sound-alike and so on) that leads to the same answer by a second route. “Cryptic” means hidden: the clue reads like a normal phrase, but its real meaning is concealed. Cryptics are the standard crossword style in British newspapers and are popular in Australia, Canada, India and beyond.
Example clue — decoded
“Dirty room arranged where students sleep (9)”
Cryptic crossword meaning: how a clue works
Every fair cryptic clue follows the same recipe: definition + wordplay, sometimes joined by a link word such as “for”, “gives” or “is”. The number in brackets is the letter count, e.g. (4,3) for a two-word answer.
Find the definition
It is almost always the first or last word or phrase of the clue, and it has the same part of speech as the answer.
Spot the indicator
Words like broken (anagram), back (reversal), in (hidden or container) or we hear (homophone) tell you which kind of wordplay is in use.
Work the wordplay
Build the answer from the remaining words, then check it matches both the definition and the letter count. When both routes agree, you have it.
Types of cryptic clues: the 9 main kinds
Most cryptic clues use one of these nine devices, or combine two of them. Each example below is decoded letter by letter.
Anagram
The letters of a word or phrase (the fodder) are rearranged. Indicators suggest change or disorder: broken, mixed, wild, out, strangely, arranged.
Example
“Quiet, listen out (6)”
SILENT
Definition: Quiet. Indicator: out. Fodder: LISTEN (6 letters) rearranged = SILENT.
Hidden Word
The answer is spelled out in consecutive letters of the clue, sometimes across word breaks. Indicators: in, found in, some, part of, hidden by.
Example
“Age found in camera (3)”
ERA
Definition: Age. Indicator: found in. The answer is spelled out inside camERA.
Double Definition
Two different meanings of the same word are placed side by side, with no other wordplay.
Example
“Penalty that's all right (4)”
FINE
A penalty is a FINE, and all right also means FINE.
Reversal
A word is written backwards. Across indicators: back, returned, sent back. Down clues often use up, rising.
Example
“Lager sent back, fit for a king (5)”
REGAL
Definition: fit for a king. LAGER sent back (reversed) = R-E-G-A-L.
Charade
The answer is built from smaller pieces placed one after another, like syllables in the party game.
Example
“Vehicle and animal make a floor covering (6)”
CARPET
Definition: floor covering. Vehicle = CAR, animal = PET: CAR + PET = CARPET.
Container (Insertion)
One piece is placed inside another. Indicators: in, holding, around, about, taking in, swallowing.
Example
“Pint holding a coat of colour (5)”
PAINT
Definition: coat of colour. PINT holding A = P(A)INT = PAINT.
Homophone
The answer sounds like another word. Indicators: we hear, reportedly, on the radio, they say.
Example
“Atmosphere for successor, we hear (3)”
AIR
Definition: Atmosphere. A successor is an HEIR, which sounds like AIR.
Deletion
Letters are removed from a word. Beheaded or headless removes the first letter, endless or cut short the last, heartless the middle.
Example
“Beheaded beast shows direction (4)”
EAST
Definition: direction. BEAST beheaded (first letter B removed) = EAST.
Cryptic Definition
The whole clue is a single, misleading definition with no separate wordplay. A question mark often signals the pun.
Example
“Flower of London? (6)”
THAMES
Read flower as “something that flows”: the river that flows through London is the THAMES.
Beyond these nine you will also meet initial-letter clues (“initially”, “leaders of”), &lit or all-in-one clues where the whole clue is both definition and wordplay, and compound clues that mix several devices. There are examples of each in the practice set below.
Cryptic clue practice
Twelve practice clues in the classic style, roughly easiest first. Try each one, then click to reveal the answer and a full explanation.
“Heart broken? That's our planet (5)”
Reveal answer
EARTH
Anagram
Definition: our planet. Indicator: broken. HEART rearranged = EARTH.
“Unusual moon starer, one studying the heavens (10)”
Reveal answer
ASTRONOMER
Anagram
Definition: one studying the heavens. Indicator: Unusual. MOON STARER (10 letters) rearranged = ASTRONOMER.
“Fruit hidden by jungle mongoose (5)”
Reveal answer
LEMON
Hidden word
Definition: Fruit. Indicator: hidden by. jungLE MONgoose contains LEMON across the word break.
“Flower went up (4)”
Reveal answer
ROSE
Double definition
A ROSE is a flower, and went up = ROSE.
“Stressed, turning back to puddings (8)”
Reveal answer
DESSERTS
Reversal
Definition: puddings. STRESSED turning back (reversed) = D-E-S-S-E-R-T-S.
“Friend meets expert at royal residence (6)”
Reveal answer
PALACE
Charade
Definition: royal residence. Friend = PAL, expert = ACE: PAL + ACE = PALACE.
“Factory taking in energy produces world (6)”
Reveal answer
PLANET
Container
Definition: world. Factory = PLANT, taking in E (energy) = PLAN(E)T.
“Darkness for a knight, we hear (5)”
Reveal answer
NIGHT
Homophone
Definition: Darkness. KNIGHT we hear sounds like NIGHT.
“Aircraft cut short? That's the scheme (4)”
Reveal answer
PLAN
Deletion
Definition: scheme. PLANE cut short (last letter E removed) = PLAN.
“Heartless beast is the finest (4)”
Reveal answer
BEST
Deletion
Definition: the finest. BEAST heartless (middle letter A removed) = BEST.
“Side initially taking every away match (4)”
Reveal answer
TEAM
Initial letters
Definition: Side. Indicator: initially. First letters of Taking Every Away Match = TEAM.
“I’m a leader of Muslims (4)”
Reveal answer
IMAM
&lit (all-in-one)
Wordplay: I’M + A + leader of Muslims (M) = IMAM. Read as a whole, the clue is also the definition: an imam is a leader of Muslims.
Cryptic crossword FAQ
What is a cryptic crossword?
A crossword in which every clue is a small word puzzle: a straight definition of the answer plus wordplay that leads to the same answer by a second route. It is the standard style in British newspapers and is popular in Australia, Canada, India and elsewhere.
What does “cryptic” mean in a crossword?
Cryptic means hidden. A clue reads like an ordinary phrase, but that surface reading is deliberately misleading. The real instructions are hidden in the words: one part defines the answer and the rest tells you how to build it.
What are the types of cryptic clues?
The nine main types are anagram, hidden word, double definition, reversal, charade, container, homophone, deletion and cryptic definition. You will also meet initial-letter clues, &lit clues and combinations.
How do you solve a cryptic clue?
Ignore the surface meaning. Look for the definition at the start or end, find an indicator word such as “broken”, “back” or “we hear”, then work the wordplay until it produces a word that fits the definition and the letter count.
How is a cryptic different from a regular crossword?
In a regular (quick or American-style) crossword each clue is a straight definition or piece of trivia. Cryptic clues add wordplay, so every answer can be confirmed two ways. Cryptic grids also have more black squares, and not every letter is shared by two answers.
Keep learning
Guides and tools to help you get better at cryptics and crosswords in general.