{} Follow Discussion :: ring sensing

In essence, a cryptic clue leads to its answer as long as it is read in the right way. What the clue appears to say when read normally (the surface reading) is a distraction and usually has nothing to do with the clue answer. The challenge is to find the way of reading the clue that leads to the solution.

A typical clue consists of two parts, the definition and the wordplay. It provides two ways of getting to the answer. The definition, which usually exactly matches the part of speech, tense, and number of the answer, is in essence the same as any ‘straight’ crossword clue, a synonym for the answer. It usually appears at the start or the end of a clue.

The other part (the subsidiary indication, or wordplay) provides an alternative route to the answer (this part would be a second definition in the case of double definition clues). One of the tasks of the solver is to find the boundary between definition and wordplay and insert a mental pause there when reading the clue cryptically. This wordplay gives the solver some instructions on how to get to the answer another way. Sometimes the two parts are joined with a link word or phrase such as “from”, “gives” or “could be”. There are many sorts of wordplay, such as anagrams and double definitions.

Because a typical cryptic clue describes its answer in detail and often more than once, the solver can usually have a great deal of confidence in the answer once it has been determined. The clues are ‘self-checking’.

Here is an example (taken from The Guardian crossword of 6 August 2002, set by “Shed”).

Very sad unfinished story about rising smoke (8)

is a clue for TRAGICAL. This breaks down as follows.

"Very sad“ is the definition
”unfinished story“ gives ”tal“ (”tale“ with one letter missing; i.e., unfinished)
”rising smoke“ gives ”ragic“ (a ”cigar“ is a smoke and this is a down clue,
so ”rising“ indicates that ”cigar“ should be written up the page; i.e., backwards)
”about“ means that the letters of ”tal“ should be put either side of ”ragic“, giving ”tragical“
”(8)" says that the answer is a single word of eight letters.

Deusovi ♦ wrote:

What is a cryptic clue?
A cryptic crossword clue is a phrase that leads to a single answer word through specific rules.
Crosswords made of them (cryptic crosswords) are most common in Britain,
but there are international publishers as well.

A cryptic clue has three parts:

• a precise definition (acceptable in traditional “quick” crosswords)
  
• a fair subsidiary indicator to the same answer (usually involving wordplay)
  
• and nothing else.
  

Also, cryptic clues are almost always given with their enumeration:
a string of numbers and punctuation inside parentheses giving away the lengths of the words
in the answer, as well as how they're punctuated. The enumeration for the answer
"JACK-O'-LANTERN" would be (4-1'-7), for instance.


Splitting
It must be possible to pick a point in the clue, then read the left and right parts as entirely separate clues. One is the definition; the other is the wordplay. There may be a word or phrase such as “or”, “is”, “and”, “to be” indicating where the split is between definition and wordplay, but there often is not. The solver must figure out the location on their own.

Definition
The definition half of a cryptic clue must be one acceptable as a standalone clue in a standard crossword. This means it can be a single-word synonym of the answer word, or something far more complicated. It does, however, have to agree in tense, conjugation, pluralization, and other aspects with the answer word. This means “becomes taller” would not be a valid definition for "GROWING“, but it would be a fine definition for ”GROWS".

Wordplay
Wordplay is where cryptic clues get interesting. In the wordplay half, disguised instructions tell you how to transform and combine strings of letters to form your answer word. There are countless different ways to do the wordplay half, and creativity is encouraged. However, there are a few very common clue types that make up a majority of the cryptic clues seen today. (These clue types can be mixed and matched as long as the indicators are placed appropriately; here, I've given basic examples of all of the types.)

Deusovi ♦ wrote:

Double Definitions
A double definition is a simple clue type: the wordplay is another, definition for the same word. Some examples are:

European shine (6)
Mathematician snake (5)
Furniture for advisors (7)
Reindeer's infamous party (6)

which lead to POLISH, ADDER, CABINET, and DONNER. (The splits in the latter two are at “for” and “'s”.)

Generally, the two definitions must be unrelated, or at least disconnected enough so that the answer is unambiguous.

Charades
Charades clues are also fairly simple: they just clue parts of the word independently. For instance, the clue

"French programming style is easily broken (7)"

clues FRAGILE: FR is an abbreviation for “French”, and “agile” is a programming style.
These, put together, make FRAGILE, a word for “easily broken”.

Another example is the clue

"Journey for particles leads to issues (9)"

which clues QUEST+IONS. Here the split is at “leads to”.
(This is allowed because the wordplay leads to the definition. It can't just be an arbitrary word.)

These pieces can sometimes be abbreviated. Abbreviations are discussed below.

Reversals
In reversal clues, all or part of a word is reversed. This must be indicated with a word that suggests inversion,
or a leftward direction. Common indicators include “back”,“overturned”, “left”, “sent back”,
“revolutionary”, “flipped”, and many others.

Some examples of reversal clues are:

Circle back to reservoir (4)

Left shaken-up smoothies and cakes, for two (8)

Cleans up backward servant with some poultry (8)

cluing POOL (LOOP back), DESSERTS (STRESSED back), and FRESHENS (SERF back + HENS).
Note that clue types can be combined, as in the last one.

Deusovi ♦ wrote:

Extractions
In extractions, pieces are taken from the clue itself. There are a few different types: the most common one is the acrostic, where a clue spells out its answer with some of the first letters. For instance:

Traveller nearly overlooked Mom and Dad at first (5)

clues NOMAD. The definition is “traveller”, and “at first” tells you to take the first letters of the previous words.

Extraction clues can also apply to only a single word. For instance, the clue:

Speech about pig's head and flower (5)

could clue P+ROSE.

You can also have clues where other letters are taken. For instance, “feet” and “tail” can clue final letters (“horse's tail” → E), and “heart” and center can clue middle letters (“heart of stone” → O). There are also clues that use the words “odd” or “even” (or variants like “evens out”) to clue every other letter in a given phrase. You can make it more complicated too:

Fictional character rants, "Die, altar horse!" with both feet cut off (4,2'4)

leads to the answer RAND AL'THOR after removing the last two letters (“both feet”) of RAN(ts) D(ie) ALT(ar) HOR(se).
Learn more about Rand al'Thor… (it's in the T section)

Another type of extraction clue is the "hidden word" clue. This type involves a word hidden inside a phrase inside the clue. The easiest way to understand this clue type is by example:

Ambassador Ichigo conceals column of a sort (5)

Chief, if angered, hides game (4)

Burning bush - other kept secret (3)

Those clues contain DORIC, FIFA, and HOT in places indicated by the answer words.
("Ambassador Ichigo", for instance.) This clue type can be combined with others, but typically is not.
The full word must be extracted from the clue if this is the case.

Abbreviations
Abbreviations are commonly used in cryptic clues to clue 1-3 letters. There are many different cryptic abbreviations - here are just a few:

• Roman numerals
  
• Chemical element symbols Learn more…
  
• Country codes Learn more…
  
• Phonetic alphabets (“Bravo” → B) Learn more…
  
• Chess notation Learn more…
  
• Point → N, S, E, or W (compass points)
  
• Carbon → C
  
• Velocity → V
  
• Street → ST
  
• Doctor → MD
  
• Pound → LB
  
• Love → O (as in tennis)
  
• America → US, USA
  
• Club → Y (the Y M C A's nickname)
  
• Ring → O (shape)
  

There are many, many more. The Wikipedia page contains a fairly comprehensive list of them, some of which are region-specific.

Deusovi ♦ wrote:

Containers and Deletions
Containers and deletions are exactly what they sound like. In a container, one word (or string of letters) is put inside another. In a deletion, one or more letters is removed from a string. For instance:

Summing up obsession heartlessly (8)

Entertainer is most grating without tail (4)

Told about mouthpiece having a brain (8)

clue ADDIcTION, HOA R S EST, and RE(MIND)ED.
Individual letters or larger strings can be added and removed.
Reversals and other more complicated clues are also allowed - for instance,
REMINDED could have been clued as "DENIM backwards, without E, inserted into REED“.

Containers are typically clued with words such as ”about“, ”around“, ”surrounding“, ”outside“, ”inside“, ”having“, and ”held“. Grammatically, the container clue should indicate which word goes inside the other one.

Deletions are typically clued with words such as ”losing“, ”taken (away)“, ”cutting“, ”not“, ”erased“, and ”dropping out“. Sometimes, deletions can indicate position of what to be taken away rather than the letters themselves. In that case, clues are words like

”beheaded“, ”first off“, ”needing no introduction“ (for the first letter);
”curtailed“, ”abridged“, ”falling short“ (for the last letter(s));
”unlimited“, ”losing margins“ (for both letters); ”cored“, ”disheartened“, and ”hollow" (for middle letters).

Sound Clues
There are two common types of sound clues: homophones and spoonerisms. Homophones are exactly what they sound like: they clue a homophone of the word.

Reported quality level for fruit (6)

I heard celebrity was lazy (4)

These two clues give the solutions "CARROT“ and ”IDLE“.

Homophones are indicated with words or phrases suggesting sound: for instance, ”to the audience“, ”over the phone“, ”overheard“, ”they said“, and ”to the ear".

The Spoonerism clue is similar. A “spoonerism”, named after Reverend William Spooner, is a transposal of the starting sounds of two words in a phrase. For instance, the spoonerism of "nook and cranny“ is ”crook and nanny". Two examples of this type are:

Spooner's cheerful enthusiast? He'll get you across (8)

Spooner's pet's entry to working-class symbol (4,3)

which lead to FERRYMAN (from "merry fan") and FLAT CAP (from "cat flap“).

Spoonerisms are almost always clued with phrases including the word ”Spooner“, or more rarely, a capitalized ”Reverend".

The above two examples were taken from The Guardian.

Deusovi ♦ wrote:

Anagrams
Anagram clues are… well, exactly what you'd expect them to be. They're anagrams. Just like all the other clues, they can be combined with other clue types. There's only one catch:

The letters to be anagrammed must come directly from the clue.

(Clues in which this doesn't happen - that is, clues where you have synonyms leading to the word to be anagrammed - are called “indirect anagrams”. They are almost always unfair, and almost never fun to solve. Many publishers, especially those not in Britain, ban those clues.)

Some anagram clue examples include:

"Bizarre triangle" - a tool used in calculus (8)

Accepting talent or insane (8)

Teach and disrupt in the glen (9)

The answers are INTEGRAL, TOLERANT, and ENLIGHTEN.

Anagram indicators are incredibly varied. They include: abnormal, about, absurdly, adapted, adjustment, agitated, alteration, amiss, anew, another way, around, arranged, askew, assembly, assortment, awful(ly), awry, badly, batty, and bizarre, just to name a few.

The &Lit Clue
Finally, we have the &Lit clue. It's sort of an exception to the “three parts” rule in that the definition and subsidiary indication are one and the same. That's why it's called “&lit”: that stands for "and literally so". These clues are usually unindicated, but occasionally given an exclamation point at the end.

As usual, some examples:

First person to be USA's #2! (5)

Cast, or characters in play! (6)

Russia, reorganized after abolishing last traces of Nikolai and Alexandra! (4, abbr.)

These answers are ADAM +S, ACTORS, and USSR.
As you can see, the entire clue is the definition and the wordplay.

These three clues are taken from the 2011 MIT Mystery Hunt; this puzzle was written by Aaron Dinkin and Noah Snyder.

Scratch---Cat wrote:

Clues with question marks (?) lets you know that this clue needs lateral thinking.

For example:

A young lady off target? (4) — MISS

Snake in summer? (5) — ADDER

Musical ring? (4) — BAND (rock band, rubber band)

These clues are from Puzzle Choice.

Deusovi ♦ wrote:

Tips and Guidelines (for solvers)

• Words don't have to have the same meaning in the surface reading as in the cryptic reading. Pay attention to homographs that seem to be verbs, but are really nouns (or vice versa). “Putter”, for instance, could refer to a golf club or “dawdling around”.
  
  
• Don't look for the definition in the middle of a clue. It should be at the beginning or the end.
  
  
• Anagrams and hidden words are often the easiest to find. Look for those first.
  
  
• Try to find the definition and separate it out. If you see “with” as the second word, then the definition probably isn't the first word only, because then the wordplay would start with “with”. In a short clue, that means it must be the last word; in a long clue, it must be either at the end or a longer definition at the beginning.
  
  
• Bizarre phrasing in the surface usually means the setter was constrained in some sense. Figuring out why they were constrained to not choose something more natural-sounding may give you an idea of what the wordplay actually is.
  

Tips and Guidelines (for setters)

• Indicator words must always grammatically indicate what they act upon. They can act on multiple different pieces, but they can't be separated from the indicator word unless the separation grammatically tells you what to act upon. ("Take E from TEAR“ is okay; ”take a bow E TEAR" is not.)
  
  
• Many clues rely on ambiguity of what an indicator acts on. Does “broken ___ and ___” mean to anagram the left blank, then add a synonym for the right blank, or does it mean to anagram both blanks and the word “and”? Combining this with a disguised definition can make cryptic clues difficult without being complicated.
  
  
• Make sure to pay attention to your surface reading. The best cryptic clues have a natural-sounding surface reading that is completely different from the cryptic reading: what were once verbs must be interpreted as nouns and vice versa, surface punctuation distracts from the correct parsing of the clue…
  
  
• Charades, double definitions, and &lit clues don't need to be indicated. Everything else does. If you're not sure if it's fair, go ahead and indicate it - there's nothing wrong with adding “with” or “by” to a charades clue.
  
  
• You can safely hide a necessary capital by putting the word at the start of your clue, or vice versa. “Apple product” can be a definition for IPAD, MACBOOK, JUICE, or SEEDS.
  NOTE: If the capital is necessary, PLEASE add a question mark (as @Scratch—Cat have mentioned above)
  

Some common pitfalls:

• Doing overcomplicated wordplay. You don't need to clue DRAWER as "WAR back in DE + R“ when you could just use ”REWARD back".
  
  
• Ambiguous anagram and homophone clues. The clue “Celebrity, I heard, was lazy” would've been ambiguous - the answer could be either IDOL or IDLE, and nothing would distinguish them except crossing entries.
  
  

—————————————————————————————————-
Resources
Here are various resources that may assist you in writing, solving, or understanding cryptic clues:

• Solving Cryptics
  
  
• Qat, a crossword assistant
  
  
• Crossword Unclued, a blog about cryptic crosswords
  
  
• The Guardian Cryptics, all cryptic crosswords that have ever been published in The Guardian
  

Scratch---Cat wrote:

You can also include emoji's, BBcode and [scratchblocks] elements in your clue. For example:

Online game (3)

n (5)

// Endless, facial clinic (7)

The answers are: LOL (League Of Legends); BLOND (Bold N scrambled); and COMMENT (COMMa + ENT).

These clues are what I created. If you see the same clue elsewhere, it's just that Great minds think alike.

Wikipedia • wrote:

Misleading clues [edit]
To make clues more difficult, cryptic constructors will frequently use traditional indicator words in a misleading manner.

• A cryptic crossword on the back page of the Daily Telegraph on 14 March 2012 included the answer ANALYSIS, whose clue was "Close study of broken nails, say (8)“: ”say“ in cryptic crossword clues normally means ”a word pronounced the same as“ or ”for example", but here it is part of an anagram.
  
• Daily Telegraph back page, 8 November 2012: “Drunk compiler's admitted boob (5)” means “Means ‘drunk’, MY contains ERR, has 5 letters”, = MERRY. (“Drunk” often mean “rearrange the letters”, but not this time.)
  
• In a crossword by Araucaria, “Araucaria is” coded for IAM (= “I am”) as part of an answer.
  
• Daily Telegraph page 30, 25 February 2014: “French place in island beset by cold sadly”: “sadly” usually means “damaged”, “with the letters rearranged”, but here it codes for “alas”; I inside C ALAS makes CALAIS, which is a French place.
  
• Daily Telegraph page 32, 3 April 2014: “Bug starts to move in dark, glowing endlessly (5)”: usually “endlessly” and similar mean “remove the last letter”, but here it is one of five consecutive words to form an acronym from, as the word “starts” shows; the answer is MIDGE.
  
• Sunday Telegraph on Easter Sunday 2014 had an anagram clue whose answer was EASTER SUNDAY, and its definition part was “today”.
  
• Daily Telegraph page 18, 1 September 2015: 4 down: "How one may find Etna to increase danger? (2,3,4)": the answer (UP THE ANTE) describes how to make the clue word ETNA, which is the reverse of usual.
  
• Daily Telegraph page 30, 27 March 2017: 10 down: “One might see flow in this game (8)”: the answer (WILDFOWL) describes how to make the clue word FLOW, which is the reverse of usual; “game” is as in sport shooting.
  
• Daily Telegraph page 16, 2 May 2017: 1 across: “Schoolchild's punishment, devising a cryptic clue for ‘crows’? (7,5)”: the answer is HUNDRED LINES: reverse of the usual way to use a Roman number.
  
• Daily Telegraph page 32, 14 November 2017: 28 across: "Very old diamonds, say (5): V O ICE: “say” in cryptic crossword clues normally means “a word pronounced the same as” or “for example”, but here it is the definition; the word “voice” can be used as a verb.
  
• Daily Telegraph page 34, 22 March 2018: 3 down: "Trouble from wind is turbulent": answer is DISTURB; the word “turbulent” suggests forming an anagram, which does not happen here.
  
• A clue in the Daily Telegraph September 2018 started "Communist leader", which would be expected to mean the letter C; but this time it was the definition, and the answer was CHE GUEVARA.
  
• Daily Telegraph page 30, 3 June 2019: 20 down: “Discover the truth about \ gang fight in New York City”: both parts are definitions of "RUMBLE“ :: in a British newspaper, although ”rumble“ for ”gang fight" is American street gang jargon.
  
• Daily Telegraph page 30, 21 June 2019: 12 across: "Greek goddess, flanked by banks of Tigris in ancient city (6)“: The Greek goddess is HEBE, not one much known of; between the first and last letters of TIGRIS, makes THEBES; ”ancient city" usually means UR, but not here.
  

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

The Difference between Cryptic and ‘Straight’ Clues
In a ‘straight’ or ‘quick’ crossword, the clues are normally simple definitions. For example:

Shorten (7) - ABRIDGE

Fictional detective (6) - HOLMES

Huge (7) - IMMENSE

A cryptic clue, on the other hand, normally consists of two parts: a definition and an additional hint or cryptic indication of the solution - usually involving some form of wordplay.

The definition part will normally occur at the beginning or end of the clue. Part of the fun is analysing the clue to discover which part is definition and which part is cryptic indication.

In the following pages, we will examine the various forms of wordplay that may be used in a cryptic indication. But first here are some examples to show the basic structure of a cryptic clue:

Shorten a card game (7) - ABRIDGE

Definition: Shorten

Cryptic indication: a card game (a bridge)

Fictional detective left in houses (6) - HOLMES

Definition: Fictional detective

Cryptic indication: left in houses (l in homes)

Some slim men seem huge (7) - IMMENSE

Cryptic indication: Some slim men seem

Definition: huge

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Double Definitions

The simplest kind of additional hint in a cryptic clue is a second definition.

For example, BASE can mean “ignoble” or “foundation” So a cryptic clue for BASE might read:
Ignoble foundation (4).
See if you can solve these “double definition” clues:

Crazy flying mammals (4) - BATS

Yearn for quite a while (4) - LONG

For this type of clue to be valid, the two definitions must relate to distinct meanings of the solution. Two synonyms would not be acceptable. For example, as a clue for the word KIND, “Sort variety” would be a bad clue, but “Benevolent type” would be acceptable.

Also, just like other types of clue, the surface meaning must make sense. What this means is that, if we forget for the moment that this is a crossword clue and just read it as a phrase or sentence we might encounter in a passage of prose, it should be coherent.

So, for example, Trees cricket trophy (5) would be a terrible clue for ASHES.
Although it consists of a double definition, there is no way that it can be read so as to make sense, or even amusing nonsense.

If you would like practice with this type of clue, here are some additional examples.

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Double Definitions

Here are some sample double definition clues for you to solve:

Spoil a short month (3)

Nothing for romance (4)

Put up with an animal (4)

Leave out a container for rubbish (4)

Expensive honey (4)

Armour in the post (4)

Instant credit (4)

Go over ice for fish (5)

Sound warning for a temptress (5)

Run away from infertile area (6)

A fast train, say (7)

Normal sort of flag (7)

Car plant (5)

Fish detected by its odour? (5)

Answers

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Cryptic Definitions
Sometimes a cryptic clue will consist only of a definition - but phrased in such a way as to be deliberately misleading.

For example, a clue The rest of the afternoon (6) may lead to the solution SIESTA.

The key to solving this type of clue is the ability to look beyond the obvious surface meaning of the clue and to consider what alternative meanings the clue might have.

It should be noted that some crossword setters, as well as some solvers, consider this type of clue to be unfair. Unlike other types of cryptic clue, the solver gets only ‘one bite of the cherry’ as the definition and the cryptic indication are merged. On the other hand, some regard this as the most satisfying type of clue, particularly if it involves very clever wordplay.

Try these “cryptic definition” clues:

A heavenly lighter (3) - SUN

The present time (9) - CHRISTMAS

If you would like practice with this type of clue, here are some additional examples.

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Cryptic Definitions
Female supporter (3)

Event for which one is late (7)

Jammed cylinder (5,4)

Refusal to give credit (9)

A drop in the ocean (10)

A brave leader (8)

His downfall was shattering (6,6)

Breathtaking passage beneath a bridge (7)

The growth of the fairytale (9)

A letter for Socrates (5)

Not infrequently a crossword setter will stretch or twist the meanings of words. Thus, in a cryptic clue the word FLOWER may indicate a river (something that flows) or DELIGHTED may indicate something dark (de-lighted). The following clues exemplify this devious sort of wordplay:

Parisian flower (5)

A sticky sweet (8)

A wicked thing (6)

Distressed Biblical character (6)

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Answers to previous exercise:
MAR LOVE BEAR SKIP DEAR
MAIL TICK SKATE SIREN DESERT
EXPRESS STANDARD LOTUS SMELT

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Anagram Clues
With an anagram clue, you have to rearrange the letters of one or more words to give the solution.

Anagram clues are sometimes encountered in ‘straight’ crosswords, with clues presented like this:

Cheap (anag.) (5) - PEACH (Quick clue)

An anagram clue in a cryptic crossword is rather more sophisticated than this, and will normally consist of three parts: a definition; the letters to be rearranged (sometimes referred to by crossword fans as the ‘anagram fodder’); and an indication that the letters are to be rearranged. This latter is commonly referred to as an ‘anagram indicator’ and will typically be a word or phrase such as MIXED, CRAZY, CONFUSED, REFORMED or ANOTHER WAY.

Have a go at these anagram clues:

Go near fresh fruit (6) - ORANGE - GO NEAR scrambled

Keeps dissolving in tears (7) - RETAINS - IN TEARS scrambled

There are literally hundreds of diferent anagram indicators, but you will find that some are used considerably more than others. A good crossword setter will use an anagram indicator that blends in with the surface meaning of the clue - hence the use of FRESH and DISSOLVING in the clues above - “Go near confused fruit” would not make as much sense.

Here are some more examples to give you some practice. And here, for reference, is a list of anagram indicators that you are likely to encounter.

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Anagram Clues
Here are some sample anagram clues for you to solve:

Get cast adrift in boat (6)

Times when things appear obscure? (6)

A Greek mountain could be so lumpy (7)

Provide only a novel (3,2)

Pleasant tumble in gale (6)

Delays upset traders (7)

Pleased about a dire gift? (9)

Desert or ruins made good (8)

Dreadful nag punter found offensive (9)

An outdoor event Pat and Gerry organised (6,5)

Playing Lydia, Glenda is a star (7,4)

Tour may gather members in seaside resort (5,8)

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Anagram Indicators
The typical anagram clue in a cryptic crossword consists of three parts: a definition, an anagram indicator, and the anagram fodder (the letters to be shuffled).

For example:
Do legal owners free birds? (4-5,4) - LONG-EARED OWLS
Anagram fodder: Do legal owners
Anagram indicator: free
Definition: birds

The ability to recognise anagram indicators - FREE, FRESH, NOVEL, RESORT, NUTS, IN A WHIRL, AT SEA, etc. - is one of the essential skills of a cryptic crossworder.

The list of anagram indicators presented here is by no means intended to be exhaustive, but it should provide information about almost all the anagram indicators that you are likely to encounter in a cryptic crossword.

Click on any indicator in the list to view its entry in the Cryptic Crossword Dictionary.

ABNORMAL
ABOUT
ABSURD
ADAPT
ADAPTED
ADDLED
ADJUST
ADJUSTED
ADJUSTMENT
ADRIFT
AFRESH
AFTER A FASHION
AGITATED
ALL OVER
ALTER
ALTERATION
ALTERED
ALTERING
AMISS
ANEW
ANOTHER WAY
ANYHOW
AROUND
ARRANGE
ARRANGED
ARRANGEMENT
ARRANGING
ASKEW
ASSEMBLE
ASSEMBLED
ASSEMBLING
ASSEMBLY
ASSORTED
ASSORTMENT
ASTRAY
AT ODDS
AT SEA
AT SIXES AND SEVENS
AWFUL
AWFULLY
AWKWARD
AWKWARDLY
AWRY
BAD
BADLY
BANANAS
B-A-S-T-A-R-d (without hyphens)
BATS
BATTERED
BATTY
BEATEN
BEATEN UP
BECOME
BECOMES
BECOMING
BEND
BENT
BIZARRE
BLEND
BLENDED
BOIL
BOILED
BOILING
BREAK
BREAKING
BREW
BREWED
BREWING
BROADCAST
BROKEN
BUILD
BUILDING
BUILT
BY ARRANGEMENT
BY MISTAKE
CAN BE
CARELESS
CARELESSLY
CAST
CAVORT
CAVORTING
CHANGE
CHANGED
CHANGES
CHANGING
CHAOS
CHAOTIC
CHARACTERS
CHOP
CHOPPED
CIRCULATING
COCKTAIL
COMPLICATE
COMPLICATED
COMPONENTS
COMPOSE
COMPOSED
COMPOSING
COMPOUND
COMPRISE
CONCEALED
CONCEALING
CONCEALS
CONFUSE
CONFUSED
CONFUSING
CONSTITUENTS
CONSTRUCT
CONVERSION
CONVERT
CONVERTED
CONVERTIBLE
COOK
COOKED
CORRECT
CORRECTED
CORRUPT
CORRUPTED
COULD BE
CRACK
CRACKED
CRACKERS
CRACKING
CRAZED
CRAZY
CRIMINAL
CUCKOO
CUNNINGLY
CURIOUS
CURIOUSLY
DAMAGE
DAMAGED
DANCE
DANCING
DEALT
DEFORM
DEFORMED
DEMOLISHED
DEPLOY
DEPLOYED
DERIVED FROM
DESIGN
DESIGNED
DEVELOP
DEVELOPED
DEVIATION
DEVIOUS
DICKY
DIFFERENT
DIFFERENTLY
DISARRAY
DISFIGURE
DISFIGURED
DISGUISE
DISGUISED
DISHEVELLED
DISLOCATED
DISMANTLED
DISORDER
DISORDERED
DISORDERLY
DISPERSED
DISPOSED
DISRUPTION
DISSEMINATED
DISTRESSED
DISTURBED
DISTURBING
DIVERSIFIED
DIZZY
DOCTOR
DOCTORED
DODGY
DOTTY
DREADFUL
DREADFULLY
DRESSED
DRUNK
DUD
DUFF
ECCENTRIC
EDIT
EDITED
ENGENDERING
ENGINEERED
ENSEMBLE
ENTANGLED
ERRATIC
ERUPTING
ESSENTIALS
EXCITED
EXOTIC
EXPLODE
EXPLODED
EXPLODING
EXTRAORDINARY
FABRICATED
FALSE
FANCIFUL
FANCY
FANTASTIC
FASHION
FASHIONED
FASHIONING
FAULTY
FERMENTED
FIDDLE
FIDDLED
FIND
FLUID
FLURRIED
FOOLISH
FOOLISHLY
FOR A CHANGE
FORCED
FORGE
FORGED
FORM
FRACTURED
FRAGMENTED
FRAGMENTS
FREE
FREELY
FRESH
FRESHLY
FROLICKING
FUDGE
FUNNY
GARBLED
GENERATING
GETS
GROTESQUE
GROUND
HAPHAZARD
HASH
HAVOC
HAYWIRE
HIDE
HIDING
HIGGLEDY-PIGGLEDY
ILL
ILL-DISPOSED
ILL-FORMED
ILL-TREATED
IMPROPER
IMPROPERLY
IN A FERMENT
IN A JUMBLE
IN A MESS
IN A WHIRL
INCORRECT
INCORRECTLY
IN DISARRAY
IN DISGUISE
IN ERROR
INGREDIENTS
IN RUINS
INTERFERED WITH
INVOLVE
INVOLVED
IRREGULAR
JITTERY
JUGGLED
JUMBLED
JUMPING
KIND OF
KINKY
KNOTTED
LAWLESS
LETTERS
LIQUID
LOOSE
LOOSELY
LUNATIC
MAD
MADE
MADE UP
MADLY
MAKE-UP
MALFORMED
MALFUNCTION
MALTREATED
MANAGED
MANGLED
MANOEUVRE
MASH
MASSAGED
MAYBE
MAY BE
MEANDERING
MEDLEY
MESS
MESSY
MINCED
MISHANDLE
MISPLACED
MISSHAPEN
MISTAKE
MISTAKEN
MISUSE
MIX
MIXED
MIXTURE
MOBILE
MODELLED
MODIFIED
MOVING
MUDDLE
MUDDLED
MUTILATED
MUTINOUS
NAUGHTY
NEW
NEWLY
NOT IN ORDER
NOT PROPERLY
NOT RIGHT
NOT STRAIGHT
NOVEL
NUTS
NUTTY
ODD
OFF
ORDER
ORDERED
ORDERLY
ORGANISE
ORGANISED
ORIGINAL
ORIGINALLY
OTHERWISE
OUT
OUT OF JOINT
OUT OF SORTS
PANTS
PECULIAR
PERHAPS
PERVERSE
PERVERSELY
PERVERT
PERVERTED>
PHONEY
PIE
PITCHING
PLASTIC
PLAYING
POOR
POORLY
POSSIBLE
POSSIBLY
POTENTIAL
POTENTIALLY
PREPARE
PREPARED
PROBLEM
PROCESSING
PRODUCE
PRODUCTION
PSEUDO
PUT OUT
PUT RIGHT
PUT STRAIGHT
QUEER
QUEERLY
QUESTIONABLE
QUIRKY
RAGGED
RAMBLING
RANDOM
RANDOMLY
RECOLLECTED
RECTIFIED
REELING
REELS
REFORM
REFORMED
REGULATED
REPAIR
REPAIRED
REPLACED
RESORT
REVIEW
REVIEWED
REVOLTING
REVOLUTIONARY
RIGGED
RIOT
RIOTING
RIOTOUS
ROCK
ROCKING
ROCKY
ROTTEN
ROUGH
ROUGHLY
ROUND
RUIN
RUINED
RUINOUS
RUM
RUN
RUNNING
RUNS
RUPTURED
SAD
SADLY
SCATTER
SCATTERED
SET OFF
SET OUT
SHAKE
SHAKEN
SHAKING
SHAKY
SHAMBLES
SHIFT
SHIFTED
SHIFTING
SHOT
SILLY
SLOPPY
SMASH
SMASHED
SMASHING
SNARLED
SOMEHOW
SPILL
SPILLED
SPIN
SPINNING
SPOIL
SPOILT
SPREAD
SPUN
STAGGERED
STAGGERING
STEW
STRANGE
STRANGELY
STRAY
SUBSTITUTE
SUBSTITUTED
SURPRISING
SURPRISINGLY
SUSPECT
SWIMMING
SWIRL
SWIRLING
SWITCH
SWITCHED
TANGLED
TATTERED
TIDIED
TIPSY
TORTUOUS
TRAIN
TRAINED
TRAINING
TRANSFORM
TRANSFORMED
TRANSLATE
TRANSLATED
TREAT
TREATED
TRICKY
TRIM
TROUBLE
TROUBLED
TUMBLING
TURN
TURNED
TURNING
TURNS
TWIST
TWISTED
UNDONE
UNNATURAL
UNRESTRAINED
UNRULY
UNSETTLED
UNSTEADY
UNTIDY
UNUSUAL
UNUSUALLY
UPHEAVAL
UPSET
USED
VAGUE
VAGUELY
VARIATION
VARIED
VARIETY
VERSION
VOLATILE
WANDER
WANDERING
WARPED
WAYWARD
WEAVE
WEAVING
WEIRD
WILD
WILDER
WILDLY
WORKED
WORKING
WORRIED
WOVEN
WRECKED
WRITHING
WRONG
WRONGLY

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Answers to previous exercise:
B-R-A FUNERAL SWISS-ROLL DISBELIEF SPLASHDOWN
GERONIMO HUMPTY-DUMPTY NOSTRIL BEANSTALK SIGMA
SEINE LOLLIPOP CANDLE SAMSON

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Hidden Words
In this type of clue the solution is actually embedded in the clue, hidden inside a longer word or phrase as, for example:

DAB is hidden in round a bend
TALL is hidden in not allowed
HEIST is hidden in atheists
This type of clue will always contain a word or phrase to indicate that the solution is hidden. Typical “hidden” indicators are:
buried in, part of, concealed.
Simple words like in or from, however, may also serve as “hidden” indicators.

See if you can solve these “hidden word” clues:

Stop getting letters from friends (3)

Some teachers get hurt (4)

Metal concealed by environmentalist (4)

Hide in Arthur's kingdom (4)

Who means to reveal where the heart is? (4)

Pole coming from Pakistan or Thailand (5)

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Answers to previous exercise:
OBTAIN NIGHTS OLYMPUS LAY-ON GENIAL
R-E-T-A-R-D-S GRATIFIED RESTORED REPUGNANT GARDEN-PARTY
LEADING-LADY GREAT-YARMOUTH

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Homophones
Homophones are pairs of words (or phrases) that are quite distinct in spelling and meaning but have the same pronunciation. For example:

CREWS / CRUISE DUCT / DUCKED PROFIT / PROPHET
ARRAYED / A RAID ILLEGAL / ILL EAGLE PHARAOH / FAIR ROW
(In the reference section of this site, you will find an extensive list of homophones.)

A typical homophone clue in a cryptic crossword is this one:

Remained sober, so we hear (6) - STAYED

You should read this as: a word meaning remained which sounds the same as a word meaning sober. The fact that this is a homophone clue is signalled by the indicator so we hear.

Other common homophone indicators are: heard, so it's said, in speech. And here, for reference, is a more extensive list of homophone indicators.

Here are a few more examples of homophone clues:

Neckwear that's Siamese, so we hear (3)

Narrow channel - not winding, we hear (6)

Expensive animal, by the sound of it (4)

I'd heard and observed (4)

An advance, we hear, on its own (5)

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Homophone Indicators
Words and phrases in a cryptic clue indicating a word that sounds like another.


ACCORDING TO HEARSAY
ANNOUNCED
AS WE HEAR
AUDIBLE
AUDIBLY
AUDITOR'S
AURALLY
BY THE SOUND OF IT
FOR THE AUDIENCE
FOR THE AUDITOR
FOR THE LISTENER
HEARD
HEARER'S
IN AUDITION
IN CONVERSATION
IN RECITAL
IN SPEAKING
IN SPEECH
LISTENER'S
ON THE RADIO
OVERHEARD
PRONOUNCED
REPORTED
REPORTEDLY
SAID
SAY
SO IT'S SAID
SO TO SPEAK
SO WE HEAR
SOUND
SOUNDED
SOUNDING
SPEAKER'S
SPOKEN
TO THE AUDIENCE
TO THE AUDITOR
TO THE LISTENER
VOCAL
VOICED

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Answers to previous exercise:
END ACHE IRON SKIN HOME NORTH
Notice that SKIN means “Hide” and the indicator is the “in” after it.

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Reversals
Some words may be reversed to give different words. For example:

PART / TRAP

DENIM / MINED

STRESSED / DESSERTS

In the basic type of reversal clue, the cryptic part of the clue consists of a definition of the word to be reversed, together with an indication that a reversal is to be performed. For example:

Going round stronghold, take a look (4) - PEEK - Anagram of KEEP.

Reversal indicator: Going round
Definition of word to be reversed: Stronghold
Definition: take a look

In the foregoing clue, the reversal indicator was going round. Needless to say, there are many other ways in which such a reversal might be indicated: turned, backward, reversed, etc. For reference, we have provided a more extensive list of reversal indicators.

See if you can solve these reversal clues:

Bambi, for example, overturned a plant (4)

Physician brings fish round (3)

Containers for drinks taken back to bar (4)

Tender god of love turns up (4)

Animal going round a shopping precinct (5)

All the foregoing clues involve reversing whole words. We shall see later in this tutorial, however, that cryptic clues might involve reversal of partial words. For example, in a clue for PINTS, the word PINTS might be broken down as PIN + reversal of ST. Such clues will be considered later when we come to the Bits and Pieces section of this tutorial.

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Reversal Indicators
Words and phrases in a cryptic clue indicating that a word or part-word is to be reversed.

Click on any word in the list to see the entry in the Crossword Dictionary.

ABOUT
AROUND
ASCENDING (DO)
BACK
BACKED
BACKING
BACK-TO-FRONT
BACKWARD
BROUGHT ABOUT
BROUGHT UP (DO)
CAST UP (DO)
CLIMBING (DO)
COMING BACK
COMING UP (DO)
COUNTER
FLIPPED
FLIPPING
FROM THE BOTTOM (DO)
FROM THE EAST (AcO)
FROM THE RIGHT (AcO)
FROM THE SOUTH (DO)
GOING BACK
GOING NORTH (DO)
GOING ROUND
GOING UP (DO)
GOING WEST (AcO)
LIFTED (DO)
LOOKING BACK
LOOKING UP (DO)
NORTHBOUND (DO)
OVER
OVERTURNED
RAISED (DO)
RAISING (DO)
RETREAT
RETREATING
RETROGRADE
RETROSPECTIVE
REVERSED
REVERSING
REVOLUTIONARY
RISING (DO)
ROUND
SENT BACK
SENT UP (DO)
SHOWN UP (DO)
TAKEN UP (DO)
TURN
TURNED
TURNING
TURNS
UP (DO)
UPENDED (DO)
UPSET (DO)
UPWARDLY MOBILE (DO)
WESTBOUND (AcO)
WRITTEN UP (DO)

Note: “(DO)” means “Down clues Only”. “AcO” means “Across clues Only”.

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Answers to previous exercise:
TIE STRAIT DEAR EYED ALONE

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Charades
Some words or phrases may be broken up into separate parts, one after the other, as in the game of Charades. For example:

EMULATE EMU + LATE
EVEREST EVE + REST
NOTICED NOT + ICED
CASTANET CAST + A + NET
In the basic type of charade clue, the separate parts are simply defined one after the other.

See if you can solve these charade clues:

Everyone was in debt - that's permitted (7)

Vehicle seen by people in opera (6)

Book matches are new things (9)

Weapon used by many a Round Table knight (8)

A country girl reading (7)

Obvious disagreement for one in court (9)

All the foregoing are clues for words that can be broken down into separate words. Crossword compilers, however, do not restrict themselves to such words. So, for example, the word BLACKING may be broken down into B + LACK + IN + G. Such clues will be considered later when we come to the Bits and Pieces section of this tutorial.

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Answers to previous exercise:
DEER DOC STOP SORE LLAMA

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Containers & Contents
We have previous looked at Charade clues in which a word or phrase may be broken up into separate parts, one after the other. In a Container & Contents clue, a word is also broken up into separate parts - but this time one part is inside the other. Here are some examples of such words:

KNOWING consists of NOW inside KING

MASONRY consists of SON inside MARY

TRAGEDY consists of AGED inside TRY

In the basic type of Container & Contents clue, the cryptic part of the clue will indicate either that one word includes or goes round another (Container) or that one word goes into is included by another (Contents).

Cryptic indicators of the first type include words and phrases such as: holding or surrounding or swallowing or taking in.

Cryptic indicators of the second type include words such as: within or filling or entering or tucked into.

For reference, we have provided a more comprehensive list of Container & Contents indicators.

Here are some sample Container & Contents clues:

Bird allowed outside tavern (6)

Object when put into torn clothing (7)

Outlaws in gangs carrying equipment (8)

Relative entering Highland dance and showing off (9)

Stuck with tot holding present (7)

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Container Indicators

ABOUT
ADMIT
ADMITS
ADMITTING
AROUND
BESIEGE
BESIEGES
BESIEGING
BOX
BOXES
BOXING
BRIDGE
BRIDGES
BRIDGING
CAPTURE
CAPTURED
CAPTURES
CAPTURING
CATCH
CATCHES
CATCHING
CIRCLE
CIRCLES
CIRCLING
CLUTCH
CLUTCHES
CLUTCHING
CONTAIN
CONTAINING
CONTAINS
COVER
COVERING
COVERS
EMBRACE
EMBRACES
EMBRACING
ENCIRCLE
ENCIRCLES
ENCIRCLING
ENFOLD
ENFOLDING
ENFOLDS
ENVELOP
ENVELOPING
ENVELOPS
EXTERNAL
FLANK
FLANKING
FLANKS
FRAME
FRAMED
FRAMING
FRAMES
GRASP
GRASPING
GRASPS
HARBOUR
HARBOURS
HARBOURING
HOLD
HOLDING
HOLDS
HOUSE
HOUSES
HOUSING
OUTSIDE
RING
RINGING
RINGS
ROUND
SHELTER
SHELTERING
SHELTERS
SURROUND
SURROUNDING
SURROUNDS
SWALLOW
SWALLOWING
SWALLOWS
TAKE IN
TAKES IN
TAKING IN
WITHOUT
WRAP
WRAPPING
WRAPS

Example: "This contain(s) that“ could be ”Ththatis", perhaps.


Contents lndicators


ABOARD
ADMITTED
AMIDST
BESIEGED
BOARDING
BOXED
BREAKING
BRIDGED
CAUGHT
CIRCLED
CONTAINED
CONTENT
CONTENTS
COVERED
CLUTCHED
DIVIDING
EMBRACED BY
ENCIRCLED BY
ENFOLDED
ENTERING
ENVELOPED BY
FILLING
FLANKED
GRASPED
HARBOURED
HELD BY
HOUSED BY
IN
INSIDE
INTERNAL
INTERRUPTING
INTRODUCED
LINING
OCCUPYING
PACKING
PARTING
PENETRATING
PIERCING
RINGED
SEPARATING
SHELTERED
SPLITTING
STUFFING
SURROUNDED BY
SWALLOWED BY
TAKEN IN
TUCKED IN
WITHIN
WRAPPED BY

Example: "This held by that“ could be ”thThisat".

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Answers to previous exercise:
ALLOWED CARMEN NOVELTIES LANCELOT PERUSAL PLAINTIFF

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Bits and Pieces
In the clues we have looked at in previous sections, we have considered whole words being manipulated in various ways: reversed, placed one after the other, placed one inside the other. In a cryptic clue these operations may be applied not just to whole words but to single letters or combinations of letters - the bits and pieces of the title.

One way in which these bits and pieces may be indicated is by making use of common abbreviations and symbols. Thus, for example, the word left in a clue may indicate the letter L, right may indicate R, that is may indicate IE, sailors may indicate RN, fliers may indicate RAF.

Among the abbreviations and symbols used most often, you will find:

Points of the compass - N, E, S, W and also SE, SW, NE, NNE, etc.
Roman numerals - I, V, X, L, C, D, M
Chemical elements - H, O, AL, CU, FE, SN, etc.

Here are some sample clues employing abbreviations: (See the next post for answers)

The first man seen by a duke in the morning (4)

Graduate going to New York a lot (4)

Insurance for a hundred and more (5)

The people who write cryptic clues, however, are by no means satisfied with ready-made abbreviations and symbols; they also employ a variety of cryptic devices to indicate odd letters. They may indicate the first letter, the middle, or the last letter of a word. For example:

Head of state to indicate S
Heart of stone to indicate O
Conclusion of journey to indicate Y
Land's End to indicate D
A piece of cheese to indicate C
Outskirts of Liverpool to indicate LL

Sometimes single words will do this trick: Maidenhead may indicate M and Lionheart may indicate IO.

Scratch---Cat wrote:

Note: "Start of something“ could clue ”s“.
”End of something“ could clue ”g“.
”Middle/heart of something“ could clue ”t“.
”Unlimited something“ could clue ”omethin".

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Answers to previous exercise:
LINNET RAIMENT BRIGANDS FLAUNTING ADHERED

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Subtraction
There are many words that can have one or more letters removed so as to form new words. For example:

PARSON - P = ARSON

NOTHING - H = NOTING

AVERSE - E = AVERS

A basic subtraction clue will have a definition of the solution, a definition of the word to be operated on, and an indication that one or more letters are to be removed. A number of cryptic devices are employed to indicate subtraction or deletion of letters from a word. Here are three clues using the examples above:

Crime is the result when clergyman loses his head (5)

Observing naught, losing heart (6)

Declares a piece of poetry is unfinished (5)

Among the ways of indicating that an initial letter is to be subtracted you will encounter: beheaded, not started, first off.

For the subtraction of the middle letter or letters: heartless, hollow.

For the subtraction of a final letter: incomplete, endless, not fully.

For the subtraction of initial and final letters: without limits, lacking wings.

And here, for reference, is a more extensive list of subtraction indicators (see below).

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Something => omething with these:

AFTER COMMENCEMENT
BEGINNING TO GO
BEHEADED
BEHEADING
DECAPITATED
FIRST OFF
HEADLESS
HEAD OFF
INITIALLY LACKING
LEADERLESS
LOSING OPENER
MISSING THE FIRST
NEEDING NO INTRODUCTION
NOT BEGINNING
NOT COMMENCING
NOT STARTING
START OFF
START TO GO
SCRATCH THE HEAD
STRIKE THE HEAD
UNINITIATED
UNSTARTED

Something => Somethin with these:

ABRIDGED
ALMOST
BACK OFF
CLIPPED
CURTAILED
CUT SHORT
DETAILED
EARLY CLOSING
ENDLESS
FALLING SHORT
FINISH OFF
FOR THE MOST PART
INCOMPLETE
INTERMINABLE
LACKING FINISH
MISSING THE LAST
MOST
MOSTLY
NEARLY
NOT COMPLETELY
NOT FULLY
NOT QUITE
TAILLESS
UNENDING
UNFINISHED
WITHOUT END


Something => omethin with these:

EDGES AWAY
LACKING WINGS
LIMITLESS
LOSING MARGINS
SHELLED
SIDES SPLITTING
TRIMMED
UNLIMITED
WINGLESS
WITHOUT LIMITS

Something => Somehing with these:

CORED
DISHEARTENED
EMPTIED
EMPTY
EVACUATED
FILLETED
GUTTED
HEARTLESS
HOLLOW
LOSING HEART


Something => Smtig (A) or oehn (B) with these:

ALTERNATELY
EVENLY (B)
EVENS OUT (A)
EVERY OTHER
EVERY SECOND
NOT EVEN (A)
ODDLY (A)
ODDLY LACKING (B)
ODDS (A)
SECONDS OUT

ＢＥＳＴ　ＦＯＲ　ＰＵＺＺＬＥＳ wrote:

Answers to previous exercise:
ADAM MANY COVER