Types of crypic crossword clues
Anagrams
Triggers include about, around, out, off, perhaps, maybe, somehow, confused, mad, strange, different, letters, characters, at sea, cocktail, etc.
Reversed out and got booked! (8) RESERVED
His patter confused analyst (9) THERAPIST
I hunt down characters for detective story (9) WHODUNNIT
Stinging insect damaged paws (4) WASP
Teach about swindler (5) CHEAT
For a change, son, I'm a simple man who met a pieman (5) SIMON
Hens to become truthful? (6) HONEST
Who's shaken up the display? (4) SHOW
Lisa mistaken to travel to sea (4) SAIL
Triggers include about, around, out, off, perhaps, maybe, somehow, confused, mad, strange, different, letters, characters, at sea, cocktail, etc.
Reversed out and got booked! (8) RESERVED
His patter confused analyst (9) THERAPIST
I hunt down characters for detective story (9) WHODUNNIT
Stinging insect damaged paws (4) WASP
Teach about swindler (5) CHEAT
For a change, son, I'm a simple man who met a pieman (5) SIMON
Hens to become truthful? (6) HONEST
Who's shaken up the display? (4) SHOW
Lisa mistaken to travel to sea (4) SAIL
Hidden words
The answer is sitting between two or more adjacent words of the clue. Triggers include in, hide, include, part, piece, some, little, etc.
Time to take part in flower arranging (3) ERA
Jane was hiding again (4) ANEW
Formerly of some concern (4) ONCE
Mislaid in Buffalo State (4) LOST
The answer is sitting between two or more adjacent words of the clue. Triggers include in, hide, include, part, piece, some, little, etc.
Time to take part in flower arranging (3) ERA
Jane was hiding again (4) ANEW
Formerly of some concern (4) ONCE
Mislaid in Buffalo State (4) LOST
Containers
The answer is contained within a word in the clue. Triggers include keep, kept, hold, held, ring, wrap, embrace, about, around.
Propensity to hold launches (5) OPENS
Large jug kept in brewery (4) EWER
Failure to contain trouble (3) AIL
Bouncer holds a little weight (5) OUNCE
Beckham, use men to provide a bit of entertainment (9) AMUSEMENT
Interior of dinners (5) INNER
The answer is contained within a word in the clue. Triggers include keep, kept, hold, held, ring, wrap, embrace, about, around.
Propensity to hold launches (5) OPENS
Large jug kept in brewery (4) EWER
Failure to contain trouble (3) AIL
Bouncer holds a little weight (5) OUNCE
Beckham, use men to provide a bit of entertainment (9) AMUSEMENT
Interior of dinners (5) INNER
Double meanings
These are often shorter clues, with no triggers.
Small matter of sponge dessert (6) TRIFLE
Leaves room for doors (5) EXITS
Still interferes with the reception (6) STATIC
Darling is expensive (4) DEAR
Sketch a one-all score (4) DRAW
Uses axe on meat cutlets (5) CHOPS
These are often shorter clues, with no triggers.
Small matter of sponge dessert (6) TRIFLE
Leaves room for doors (5) EXITS
Still interferes with the reception (6) STATIC
Darling is expensive (4) DEAR
Sketch a one-all score (4) DRAW
Uses axe on meat cutlets (5) CHOPS
Phonetic clues/homophones
Triggers for these clues include sounds, hear, call, say, said, told, speak, reportedly, apparently, etc.
Pop sounded more distant (6) FATHER
Heard tiny insect rush off (4) FLEE
First course requested on tray (6) ENTREE
This planet whirled, I hear (5) WORLD
Walt's mentioned a dance (5) WALTZ
Bound to sound like the tide (4) TIED
Triggers for these clues include sounds, hear, call, say, said, told, speak, reportedly, apparently, etc.
Pop sounded more distant (6) FATHER
Heard tiny insect rush off (4) FLEE
First course requested on tray (6) ENTREE
This planet whirled, I hear (5) WORLD
Walt's mentioned a dance (5) WALTZ
Bound to sound like the tide (4) TIED
Odds and evens
Triggers including odd, even, alternate, every other or every second, tell you to look at every second letter in the clue or part of the clue.
Take the odd snowshoe - it's only fair (2-2) SO-SO
Sprout evenly in plant container (3) POT
Have a meal with every other tenant (3) EAT
Triggers including odd, even, alternate, every other or every second, tell you to look at every second letter in the clue or part of the clue.
Take the odd snowshoe - it's only fair (2-2) SO-SO
Sprout evenly in plant container (3) POT
Have a meal with every other tenant (3) EAT
Bits and pieces
Parts of a word are clued separately in some clues.
Pizza topping with capsicum on half of it (9) PEPPERONI
Actually concerning friend in war (6) REALLY
"Crime not good," explained sailor (6) SINBAD
Orange food makes automobile decay (6) CARROT
Parts of a word are clued separately in some clues.
Pizza topping with capsicum on half of it (9) PEPPERONI
Actually concerning friend in war (6) REALLY
"Crime not good," explained sailor (6) SINBAD
Orange food makes automobile decay (6) CARROT
Reversals
These clues tell you to look at words backwards. Triggers include: back, return, reverse, turning up, turning back; these can be hidden as well.
Signs that slang is back (7) SIGNALS
Ardent diva returns (4) AVID
Spot reversible shirts (4) TOPS
Wicked to live backwards (4) EVIL
These clues tell you to look at words backwards. Triggers include: back, return, reverse, turning up, turning back; these can be hidden as well.
Signs that slang is back (7) SIGNALS
Ardent diva returns (4) AVID
Spot reversible shirts (4) TOPS
Wicked to live backwards (4) EVIL
Subtractions
Triggers including leave, left, lose, drop, remove, ignore, gone, without or missing, tell you to take letters out of a word.
The reason a son left that place (5) THERE
Might many miss the point? (3) MAY
Stylish mechanic is a name-dropper (4) CHIC
Bee leaves branch for cattle station (5) RANCH
Triggers including leave, left, lose, drop, remove, ignore, gone, without or missing, tell you to take letters out of a word.
The reason a son left that place (5) THERE
Might many miss the point? (3) MAY
Stylish mechanic is a name-dropper (4) CHIC
Bee leaves branch for cattle station (5) RANCH
Acronyms
Triggers including initially, start, leading, original, first, head, primarily, etc, tell you to look at the first letter of each word.
Highly exciting and dramatic? Yes, initially (5) HEADY
The place to start generating your muscles (3) GYM
Original Easter gift given (3) EGG
Triggers including initially, start, leading, original, first, head, primarily, etc, tell you to look at the first letter of each word.
Highly exciting and dramatic? Yes, initially (5) HEADY
The place to start generating your muscles (3) GYM
Original Easter gift given (3) EGG
Wordplay
These clues usually require some lateral thinking – or in many cases, literal thinking.
They come out periodically (9) MAGAZINES
Very attractive bars? (7) MAGNETS
They went in order to worship (4) NUNS
These clues usually require some lateral thinking – or in many cases, literal thinking.
They come out periodically (9) MAGAZINES
Very attractive bars? (7) MAGNETS
They went in order to worship (4) NUNS
Going to extremes
These clues tell you to use the outside extremities of a word or words in the clues. Triggers include extremely, outside, outskirts.
Jubilant feeling outside Galilee (4) GLEE
Extremely handsome residence (4) HOME
Also on the outskirts of Toledo (3) TOO
These clues tell you to use the outside extremities of a word or words in the clues. Triggers include extremely, outside, outskirts.
Jubilant feeling outside Galilee (4) GLEE
Extremely handsome residence (4) HOME
Also on the outskirts of Toledo (3) TOO
Companions
These clues are often indicated by with, goes with, found by, seen with, before, following, etc.
Kitty goes before burglar calls (3) CAT
Wild horse found by Sally (7) MUSTANG
Insignificant player seen with broker (4) PAWN
These clues are often indicated by with, goes with, found by, seen with, before, following, etc.
Kitty goes before burglar calls (3) CAT
Wild horse found by Sally (7) MUSTANG
Insignificant player seen with broker (4) PAWN
Spoonerisms
When you see the word Spooner in a clue, you need to switch the first sounds of two words around to find the answer. Spelling is not relevant, because it only goes by sounds.
Plane landing in Spooner's Dutch town (9) TOUCHDOWN
Spooner laced wine - it's a vital statistic (9) WAISTLINE
Dad bets Spooner he'll get money troubles (3,5) BAD DEBTS
When you see the word Spooner in a clue, you need to switch the first sounds of two words around to find the answer. Spelling is not relevant, because it only goes by sounds.
Plane landing in Spooner's Dutch town (9) TOUCHDOWN
Spooner laced wine - it's a vital statistic (9) WAISTLINE
Dad bets Spooner he'll get money troubles (3,5) BAD DEBTS