How to Read Cryptic Clues: A Beginner's Guide to the Main Types

A cryptic clue is two clues in one sentence. One part is a plain definition of the answer. The other part is wordplay that builds the same answer letter by letter. If you can find the seam between them, the clue stops being nonsense and becomes a small, checkable puzzle.

That is the whole skill, and it is what Minute Cryptic asks of you each day: one clue, the answer length given, and hints that count against your par. Below are the seven types you will meet most. The examples are made up, and each wordplay produces its answer exactly.

Start by finding the seam

The definition is almost always the first words or the last words of the clue, not the middle. Everything else is wordplay. The sentence will often read as if it is about something else entirely, and that misleading surface meaning is deliberate. Ignore what the clue seems to say.

Wordplay comes with signal words, called indicators, that tell you which trick is in play. Learn the indicators and you can classify most clues in seconds.

1. Anagram

The wordplay gives you letters and a word that says to scramble them. Indicators include “confused”, “in a mess”, “broken”, “wild” and “badly”.

Silent, in a mess, pay attention (6)

“Pay attention” is the definition. “Silent” is the raw letters, and “in a mess” tells you to shuffle them. SILENT rearranged is LISTEN, which means to pay attention. The letter count matches.

2. Hidden word

The answer is sitting inside the clue’s own text, spread across one or more words. Indicators include “some of”, “found in”, “part of” and “inside”.

Bird found in shadow looks (3)

“Bird” is the definition. “Found in” signals a hidden word, and inside “shadow looks” you can read shad-OW L-ooks, which gives OWL.

3. Charade

The answer is built by joining smaller pieces end to end, like a charade. Often there is no special indicator, just “and”, “with” or “next to”.

Vehicle and animal companion make floor covering (6)

“Floor covering” is the definition. A vehicle is a CAR, an animal companion is a PET, and put together they make CARPET.

4. Container

One piece goes inside another. Indicators include “holding”, “in”, “around”, “boxing” and “swallowing”.

Request pea holding left (4)

“Request” is the definition. “Holding” says the first piece contains the second. PEA holding L (the usual abbreviation for left) gives P(L)EA, which is PLEA.

5. Homophone

The answer sounds like another word. Indicators include “we hear”, “reportedly”, “on the radio” and “sounds like”.

Dark period, we hear, for a medieval warrior (6)

“Medieval warrior” is the definition. “Dark period” is NIGHT, and “we hear” tells you to use its sound-alike. That gives KNIGHT. Notice that the clue works only when spoken, which is the whole trick.

6. Double definition

Two ordinary definitions of the same word sit side by side, with no wordplay at all. These are often the shortest clues and the hardest to spot, since the surface reading hides that you are being given two meanings.

Close marine mammal (4)

One meaning is “close”, as in to close an envelope: SEAL. The other is a marine mammal: also SEAL. Nothing is hidden, which is why these are easy to miss.

7. Reversal

The letters of a word are read backwards. Indicators include “brought back”, “returned”, “going west” (in an across clue) and “reflected”.

Growths brought back as drinking aid (5)

“Drinking aid” is the definition. “Growths” is WARTS, and “brought back” means reverse it. WARTS backwards is STRAW.

Putting the steps together

When a clue stumps you, work through the same short routine:

1. Look at both ends of the clue and guess which one is the definition.
2. Scan the rest for an indicator word.
3. Use the answer length to rule out candidates.
4. Check that the wordplay produces the answer exactly, letter for letter, and that the answer fits the definition.

The last step matters most. A cryptic clue is satisfying because it can be verified. If your answer fits the definition but you cannot explain the wordplay, you are probably guessing.

Using Minute Cryptic well

Minute Cryptic gives you one clue a day with unlimited guesses, but hints count against your par. That makes it a good place to practise, because you can try a classification first and only reach for help once you have a theory.

Our Minute Cryptic hints are there when you are stuck. For clues that involve an anagram, the anagram solver lets you test a set of letters quickly, and the crossword solver can help when you have partial letters. If you want a gentler step into clue-solving, our Mini Crossword speed tips cover the straight-definition side.

Word Game Clues is an independent hint site and is not affiliated with The New York Times or any of the game publishers mentioned here.