Crypto Quiz

Perfect for beginners and seasoned pros, and all levels in between, our new CryptoQuiz game presents and explains cryptic crossword clues in an engaging and fun way. Although they’re outwardly devious, cryptic clues are always fair: you just have to know the rules of the game.

Each clue is dissected and examined to aid familiarity with the ins and outs of cryptic solving. Already proficient with cryptics? You can use CryptoQuiz to aid with your speed and clue recognition. Compatible with PCs, phones, and tablets,bthe multiple-choice format of CryptoQuiz is sure to remove that shroud of mystery from those curious clues!

Have you found a technical issue with the game or an error in a clue explanation? Use the ‘report an issue’ button and we’ll look into it. If you think you’ve spotted an error in a specific clue, please note the question ID number.

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TYPES OF CRYPTIC CLUES

ANAGRAMS

Triggers include: about, around, out, off, perhaps, maybe, somehow, confused, mad, strange, different, letters, characters,
at sea, cocktail and many more.

EXAMPLES

Clue: Moon-starers, perhaps? (11) Solution: ASTRONOMERS

Clue: Same agent, different alias (5,4) Solution: STAGE NAME

Clue: Somehow eat and drink at the same time (3) Solution: TEA

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.

EXAMPLES

Clue: Some female islander’s flower garland (3) Solution:
LEI

Clue: Favourite musicians include The Birds (4) Solution:
EMUS

Clue: Act part of pauper for me (7) Solution: PERFORM

CONTAINERS

The answer is contained within a word in the clue. Triggers include: keep/kept, hold/held, ring, wrap, embrace, about,
around.

EXAMPLES

Clue: Large amount held by Charlotte (3) Solution: LOT

Clue: Maiden rings helper (4) Solution: AIDE

Clue: Seafarer kept at a distance (4) Solution: AFAR

DOUBLE MEANINGS

These are often shorter clues, with no triggers..

EXAMPLES

Clue: Best toy (3) Solution: TOP

Clue: Greatly enjoy pickles (6) Solution: RELISH

Clue: Reminder to be punctual (6) Solution: PROMPT

PHONETIC CLUES / HOMOPHONES

Triggers for these clues include: sounds, hear, say, said, call, told, speak, reportedly, apparently, etc.

EXAMPLES

Clue: Without company calling for a loan (5) Solution: ALONE

Clue: Takes stock when Russell’s speaking (7) Solution: RUSTLES

Clue: I heard Stan doubt project (5,3) Solution: STAND OUT

ODDS & 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.

EXAMPLES

Clue: Even acquire
vicious dog (3) Solution: CUR

Clue: It’s added to chips – and the odd shal
lot (4) Solution: SALT

Clue: Swindle every other accou
nt? (3) Solution: CON

BITS & PIECES

Parts of a word are clued separately in some clues.

EXAMPLES

Clue: Board operated by ghosts? Yes, in France and Germany (5) Solution: OUI+JA

Clue: Get angry with fortune-teller and news boss (3,3) Solution: SEE R+ED

Clue: Author’s income has links to the Windsors (9) Solution: ROYAL+TIES

REVERSALS

These clues tell you to look at words backwards. Triggers include: back, return, reverse, turning up/back; these
can be hidden as well.

EXAMPLES

Clue: Whip back for golf (4) Solution: FLOG

Clue: When in reverse, yell up to block and tackle wheel
(6) Solution: PULLEY

Clue: Tool was returned (3) Solution: SAW

SUBTRACTIONS

Triggers including leave, left, lose, drop, remove, ignore, gone, without or missing, tell you to take letters out
of a word.

EXAMPLES

Clue: Beatles lost bet
for pub drinks (4) Solution: ALES

Clue: Manage to remove dogs from groun
ds (3) Solution: RUN

Clue: Finn left finances
to experts (4) Solution: ACES

ACRONYMS

Triggers including initially, start, leading, original, first, head, primarily, etc, tell you to look at the first
letter of each word.

EXAMPLES

Clue: Starts as lettuce
and dressing (5) Solution: SALAD

Clue: Dreary, uninteresting leading
letters (4) Solution: DULL

Clue: This important bone
is an original
(5) Solution: TIBIA

WORDPLAY

These clues usually require some lateral thinking – or in many cases, literal thinking.

EXAMPLES

Clue: These are trying places! (10) Solution: COURTROOMS

Clue: They pop up in kitchens (8) Solution: TOASTERS

Clue: A lot of his life is in ruins (13) Solution: ARCHAEOLOGIST

GOING TO EXTREMES

These clues tell you to use the outside extremities of a word or words in the clue. Triggers include: extremely,
outside, outskirts.

EXAMPLES

Clue: Move suddenly to the outskirts of Davenport(4)
Solution: DART

Clue: Priests have extremely common allergy (6) Solution:
CLERGY

Clue: Following bully outside is madness! (5) Solution: FOLLY

COMPANIONS

COMPANION clues are often indicated by: with, goes with, found with, seen with, before, following, etc.

EXAMPLES

Clue: It goes with coat and cane, honey (5) Solution: SUGAR

Clue: Celebrity seen with signs (4) Solution: STAR

Clue: Shrieks with excitement before a daisy (6) Solution: WHOOPS

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.

EXAMPLES

Clue: Guard came to Spooner for a session of poker (4,4) Solution: CARD GAME

Clue: Spooner says B chords make fine music (9) Solution: KEYBOARDS

Clue: Insincere smile on Spooner’s greasy chin (6,4) Solution: CHEESY GRIN