Cryptic Crossword Cheat Sheet
Print this page or bookmark it. Everything you need to decode any cryptic clue, at a glance.
Clue Structure
Every clue = DEFINITION + WORDPLAY
- The definition is always at the start or end of the clue — never in the middle.
- The wordplay tells you how to build the answer letter by letter.
- Both paths lead to the same answer. That is the fundamental contract.
5-Step Solving Process
- Read the clue. Identify the definition (first or last word/phrase).
- Look for indicator words — they signal the clue type.
- Identify the wordplay section (everything that is not the definition).
- Apply the transform(s) — substitution, anagram, container, etc.
- Check: does your answer match the definition and the letter count?
Clue Types at a Glance
| Type | What to do | Example indicators |
|---|---|---|
| Anagram | Rearrange letters of the fodder | broken, wild, mixed, crazy, ruined, dancing |
| Charade | Join word parts side by side | with, following, after, beside, and |
| Container | Insert one part inside another | holding, around, embracing, within, swallowing |
| Deletion | Remove letters from a word | losing, without, reduced, endless, headless |
| Hidden word | Find the answer hidden in the clue text | within, partly, some, in part, concealed |
| Homophone | Answer sounds like another word | reportedly, we hear, on the radio, say, aloud |
| Reversal | Spell a word or fragment backwards | back, returning, up (down clue), rising, overturned |
| Selection | Take specific letters (first, last, alternating) | initially, finally, alternately, odd, even |
| Substitution | Swap a word for a synonym or abbreviation | (often unmarked) — relies on abbreviation knowledge |
| Translation | Use a word from another language | in French, in Paris, say in Rome, foreign |
Top 30 Abbreviations
| Word | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| doctor | DR |
| note | DO / RE / MI |
| queen | ER |
| king | K |
| knight | N |
| love / nothing | O |
| English | E |
| American | US |
| article | A / AN / THE |
| river | R |
| gold | AU |
| silver | AG |
| iron | FE |
| loud | F |
| quiet | P |
| Word | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| north | N |
| south | S |
| east | E |
| west | W |
| right | R / RT |
| left | L |
| one | I |
| fifty | L |
| hundred | C |
| thousand | M |
| sailor | AB / TAR |
| soldier | GI / RE |
| learner | L |
| good | G |
| old | O / EX |
Indicator Words Quick Reference
Anagram
brokenwildmixedcrazyruineddancingdrunkmangledoutbadly
Charade
withfollowingafterbesideandthennext tobeforeon
Container
holdingaroundembracingwithinswallowingoutsideaboutkeepsclutchinghousing
Deletion
losingwithoutreducedendlessheadlesstoplesstaillesscutdroppedlacking
Hidden word
withinpartlysomein partconcealedburied inheld byamongcontained in
Homophone
reportedlywe hearon the radiosayaloudsounds likespokenby the sound of itaudibly
Reversal
backreturninguprisingoverturnedreflectedflippedaroundrecalledbackwards
Selection
initiallyfinallyalternatelyoddevenfirst oflast ofleadersheadstips
Substitution
(usually unmarked)forasmeansisrepresentsstands forbecomesshows
Translation
in Frenchin Parissay in Romeforeignabroadover the ChannelGermanLatinSpanish
Common Traps
- Punctuation is decoration. Setters use commas, dashes, and question marks to create a smooth surface reading. Ignore punctuation when parsing the wordplay.
- The definition is ALWAYS at the start or the end of the clue, never buried in the middle. If you cannot find the definition, re-read the clue from both ends.
- A single word can serve double duty. "Flower" might mean a river (something that flows), not a plant. Watch for cryptic definitions that exploit secondary meanings.
- Letter counts in parentheses are your friend. If the answer is (4,3), you need a two-word answer of 4 and 3 letters. Always check your answer matches the count exactly.
- Multiple techniques in one clue are common. A clue might combine a substitution with a container, or an anagram with a charade. Do not assume one transform covers the whole clue.