How to crack a cryptic clue
- Find the definition. It's at the very start or the very end. The rest is wordplay.
- Spot the indicators. Words like “confused”, “back”, “in” or “we hear” tell you what to do to the letters.
- Count letters. If the words beside an anagram indicator have exactly as many letters as the answer, you've found the fodder.
- Think in abbreviations. “Sailor” is often AB or TAR, “about” is C or RE, “quiet” is P or SH.
- Check both halves. The answer must fit the definition and the wordplay.
More detail in the full guide.
Indicator types: Anagram · Hidden word · Reversal · Container · Insertion · Homophone · Remove first letter · Remove last letter · Remove outer letters · Remove middle letter · Outer letters · Central letters · First letters · Last letters · Alternate letters · Spoonerism · Charade (building blocks) · Link word