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SPECIAL SAMPLE ISSUE
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. . . A N D H O W YO U S O LV E T H E M
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CRYPTICS
MADE
CLEAR
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7
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1 Bits of bread 9
M
– crikey! (6)
2 One and B
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onlyfish (4)
S
3 A team’s
whispered
15 16
remark (5)
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Hello, and welcome to your special sample edition of Puzzler Cryptic Crosswords. In the
following pages, you’ll get the chance to find out what’s on offer in our brand new 64-page
magazine. It’s published every two months. We cater for all abilities in the magazine;
beginners will have the opportunity to build up solving skills, and there’s plenty to
challenge seasoned cryptic fans too.
This sample edition contains warm-up pages from the early part of the magazine as well
as a standard cryptic puzzle on page 10 for you to tackle. We start off by explaining how to
solve anagram and hidden word clues. Editor: Catherine Filby
Once you get the hang of these, you’re well on your way. Below, you’ll find a description of the other types of
cryptic clue you can look out for.
Happy solving,
Catherine
Cryptic clue types
Nearly all cryptic clues consist of two parts: the definition and the wordplay. The definition is a word or
phrase synonymous with the answer, and is almost always positioned at the beginning or end of a clue,
very rarely in the middle. The wordplay, or cryptic devices (listed below), make up the rest of the clue. A combination of two of these listed types may appear in the same clue.
Charade
In this sort of clue, the answer is formed by joining two
or more words together.
Example: Come back to harvest fruit (8)
Add the word ‘to harvest’ (REAP), to ‘fruit’ (PEAR) to make
‘Come back’. Answer: REAPPEAR
Container
In this device, one or more words should be placed
inside another. Words to indicate this include embraced,
trapped and held.
Example: Everything in the broadcast is superficial (7)
Here, the container indicator is in, hinting that a word
meaning ‘Everything’ (ALL) should be put inside a
word meaning ‘broadcast’ (SHOW), to form ‘superficial’.
Answer: SHALLOW.
Double Definition
This type of clue gives two definitions of the answer, but
not necessarily with the same pronunciation.
Example: Refinement of language (6)
In this case, both ‘refinement’ and ‘language’ lead to the
same word. Answer: POLISH
Homophone
The wordplay here involves a word that sounds the
same as the definition, but has a different meaning.
Words indicating this device include heard, reportedly or
pronounced.
Example: End part of story, we hear (4)
Here, the homophone indicator is we hear and its
position implies that the solution required sounds like a
synonym for ‘story’ (TALE). Answer: TAIL
Reversal
In this device, words such as returned, backing, and the
wrong way indicate that one or more words should be
turned around to give the answer.
Example: short letter college sent back (4)
The indicator this time is sent back, signifying that
‘college’ (ETON) should be reversed. Answer: NOTE
Subtraction
This type of clue involves the removal of the first or last
letter of one or more words in the clue. Expect indicators
such as unopened, endless and cut short.
Example: Almost throaty sound to increase (4)
The indicator, almost, means that ‘throaty sound’
(GROWL) is minus its last letter. Answer: GROW
As well as all the above, compilers frequently make use of abbreviations – so, if you see the word ‘doctor’,
expect DR or MO as part of the answer. Likewise, ‘street’ or ‘saint’ both indicate ST. Solving cryptic
crosswords is not as hard as you think. It’s just a matter of combining all these tricks of the trade.
2
Cryptic CROSSWORDS
Anagram
In our first warm-up puzzle all the clues are of the anagram variety, each containing a
definition, an anagram indicator and the letters from which you can form the answer.
Anagrams will be signposted by words such as: out, off, confused, crisis, around, disorderly,
unfortunately, spreading, wild, moves, battered, misconstrued, arranged, upset and
reassembled.
For example, in 1 across: ‘Clients ordered drawing aid (7)’ the anagram indicator is
‘ordered’, so we know that the letters of a word (or words) must be put in order to create
the solution. We know the answer contains seven letters, so ‘clients’ seems a good place
to start. Ordering the letters of ‘clients’ gives us STENCIL, and here we have the solution to
the definition part of the clue ‘drawing aid’.
TIP: when solving anagrams, try writing
the letters in a ring so you can see them
all at the same time, like this:
1
5
2
3
4
S t e n c i l
6
l
I
C
S T
E
N
So, you have the first answer. See if you
can solve the rest of the puzzle. Don’t
worry if you can’t do it at first, it’s just a
question of patience and practice.
7
8
9
10
11
ACROSS
DOWN
1 Clients ordered drawing aid (7)
2 Three moves in that place (5)
7 Race around land unit (4)
4 Ten in CID misconstrued
occurrence (8)
6 Solve tick crisis in farm animals (9)
8 Team dies, unfortunately (4)
9 Is spreading calumnies manly? (9)
11 Tornado wild and emitting a
smell (7)
3 Hair pest found in battered tin (3)
5 Fish out chip lard (8)
8 Loans arranged in this room (5)
10 RAC reassembled motor (3)
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Hidden
Our second warm-up puzzle features ‘hidden’ clues. This simply means that you can
find the answer hidden within the text of the clue. With hidden clues there is a hidden
indicator, that is, a word or phrase suggesting the answer is hidden within the clue.
Common indicators are: in, inside, some, from, holding, part of and concealed.
For example, in 4 down we have ‘Quickly read part of Kipling’s Kim (4)’. With a little
practice, we might spot the indicator ‘part of’. If we then read the accompanying text
‘Kipling’s Kim’, we soon spot SKIM. This
gives us the answer to the definition
1
2
3
4
part of the clue ‘Quickly read’.
5
Have a go at this crossword, which
contains only ‘hidden’ type clues.
8
9
10
13
14
11
DOWN
6 Tree somewhat soaking (3)
2 In photo, get herons side by
side (8)
7 Alien conceals deception (3)
8 Tribal symbol found in Shinto
temple (5)
9 Colour of brooch remains to be
seen (5)
11 Atlas entry has part of Panama
prominent (3)
13 Dairymaid carries a tune (3)
14 In Paris, Sue’s the point in
question (5)
4
7
ACROSS
5 Perfume accepted by a
romantic (5)
S
K
I
M
6
12
1 Where shoppers are normally
inside (4)
3 Sofa stain concealed quickly (4)
4 Quickly read part of Kipling’s
Kim (4)
6 In shop Tim is trying to be a
hopeful type (8)
9 From the mouth, or a lip partly (4)
10 The vile wickedness inside (4)
12 Somewhat unpleasant request (4)
Cryptic CROSSWORDS
You decide...
So, you’ve tackled anagram and hidden word clues. Did you enjoy them? Be careful… you
might find yourself getting hooked. Cryptics are very addictive, and lots of fun.
OK, now that you know how to look for anagram indicators and for hidden word indicators,
here’s a crossword which features both types of clue. No starter answers for you here, but we
can tell you that 7 across is a hidden word clue and 4 down is an anagram clue.
And look out for the occasional clue
where the answer is hidden not
forwards, but backwards! There are
two such examples in this puzzle. If the
word appears backwards there should
be an extra indication such as ‘reversed’,
‘back’ or in the case of a down clue ‘up’
or ‘raised’.
1
2
5
3
6
7
8
9
10
Anagram clues: 5A, 10A, 12A;
3D, 4D, 6D, 9D
DOWN
7 Some had option to espouse (5)
2 Horse’s gait back up in Egypt or
Turkey (4)
8 Rocky hill seen in Santorini (3)
11
12
ACROSS
5 Garden herb rampant – traps me
in (9)
4
1 Continent which is partly India’s, I
assume (4)
9 Grass found in dry environment (3)
3 Food poisoning – is it real bad? (8)
12 Excellent brain till drunk (9)
6 Difficult to understand strange
coteries (8)
10 Decayed molar will teach you a
lesson (5)
4 Performing arts celebrity (4)
9 Disastrously bury precious
stone (4)
10 Animal trainer conceals whisky (4)
11 Items put up in Christie’s to let
people bid for them (4)
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Back-solved
Solving Guide
As you can see, we’ve filled in this crossword grid for you. One of the most effective ways
to get the hang of cryptics is to back-solve, that is, to have the answers to hand while you
study the clues. As well as anagrams and hidden words, look out for charade, container
and reversal clues. And don’t forget, all the clue types featured are explained on page 2.
1
2
L A T E
5
H
E
S
7
H O V E R
U
E
O
9
R E L I S H
T
T
12
13
14
S
C A P E
16
S
I
A
17
K E N Y A
R
C
E
19
H A I R
ACROSS
1 On the side afterwards with a
learner (7)
7 Hang about in Soho, verbally (5)
8 Keep playing cricket with a stick (5)
9 Pickle inside barrel is hot (6)
10 Small trap outside tree‑home (4)
12 Cold? Take off cloak! (4)
14 I am unfortunately returning this
sausage (6)
17 Country boy gets upmarket
agreement! (5)
18 Partially calibrate the scales (5)
19 Musical score from The Barber of
Seville? (7)
6
3
4
R A L
6
U
I
O
8
B A T O N
E
R
E
10
N E S T
11
H
G
15
A L A M I
C
B
R
18
L I B R A
L
O
I
C U T
DOWN
1 Not all durable velvet is smooth (5)
2 New truths pushed forward (6)
3 Right award for grand dress (4)
4 Some fuel, I treble amount of
petrol (5)
5 Ask Hector about biscuit (9)
6 Without principles, replace clue in
hat (9)
11 Piece of sugar licked as cooking
ingredient (6)
13 Nip into shop in Chertsey (5)
15 Monk wrecked boat round front of
bay (5)
16 In Amritsar, it’s a garment (4)
Cryptic CROSSWORDS
ACROSS
1 On the side afterwards with a learner (7)
Here we have a charade clue where afterwards (LATER)
is put with a (A) learner (L) to give LATERAL as the
definition of on the side.
7 Hang about in Soho, verbally (5)
The hidden clue indicator here is in and we find the
synonym for hang about among the letters of soHO,
VERbally.
8 Keep playing cricket with a stick (5)
Here we have a charade clue where BATON (stick) is
formed by putting together BAT and ON (keep playing
cricket/continue to bat).
9 Pickle inside barrel is hot (6)
Another hidden word clue, where inside tells us that
the answer to pickle appears in barREL IS Hot.
10 Small trap outside tree-home (4)
In this container clue the container indicator is outside,
hinting that a word meaning trap (NET) should be
placed outside a word for small (S). S is commonly
used to signify small (as in dress size) as well as other
words including south, son, shilling and sulphur. So,
placing NET outside S gives us NEST – a tree-home.
12 Cold? Take off cloak! (4)
The answer to this charade clue is formed by putting
together C and APE. Add the letter C (for cold, as in
cold tap) to APE (take off or mimic) to get a synonym
for cloak.
DOWN
1 Not all durable velvet is smooth (5)
In this hidden word clue the indicator is Not all and
the definition of smooth is seen in durabLE VELvet.
2 New truths pushed forward (6)
The anagram indicator in this clue is New and the
jumbled letters of truths provide the synonym for
pushed forward – THRUST.
3 Right award for grand dress (4)
The answer to this charade clue is formed by putting
together R (right) and OBE (award). As with the letter
S, R can stand for numerous words including river,
rand, (electrical) resistance, king/queen and reverse
(as on an automatic car gear shift).
4 Some fuel, I treble amount of petrol (5)
Here, the hidden word indicator is Some and we see
the answer to amount of petrol in fueL I TREble.
5 Ask Hector about biscuit (9)
About is the anagram indicator, so rearrange the
letters of Ask Hector to get SHORTCAKE (biscuit).
6 Without principles, replace clue in hat (9)
Another anagram clue, and this time the indicator is
replace. We re-place the letters of clue in hat to get
UNETHICAL (without principles).
11 Piece of sugar licked as cooking ingredient (6)
Piece of suggests a hidden word and we can see the
cooking ingredient in the letters of suGAR LICked.
14 I am unfortunately returning this sausage (6)
In this reversal clue the indicator is returning, telling us
that I am (I’M) unfortunately (ALAS) should be reversed
to give SALAMI (this sausage).
13 Nip into shop in Chertsey (5)
This time the hidden word is indicated by into and we
find the synonym for Nip among the letters of shoP IN
CHertsey.
17 Country boy gets upmarket agreement! (5)
Here we have a charade clue, where KENYA (Country)
is formed by putting together boy (KEN) and upmarket
agreement (YA, as in a posh way of saying ‘yes’).
15 Monk wrecked boat round front of bay (5)
This clue combines anagram and container elements.
The position of wrecked suggests an anagram of Monk
or boat, but as we are looking for a 5-letter solution
we need to find a fifth letter elsewhere. We find this
by looking at the second part of the clue front of bay.
The front or first letter of bay is B. So, we need to put
an anagram round the letter B. If B is contained in an
anagram of boat we get ABBOT, a synonym for Monk.
18 Partially calibrate the scales (5)
Here, partially indicates the answer to the scales is
hidden among the letters of caLIBRAte.
19 Musical score from The Barber of Seville? (7)
This charade clue is a tricky one. At first glance, it
seems we are looking for an operatic connection,
but the definition part is in fact from The Barber. The
inclusion of of Seville is to continue the music theme
and throw us off track. So, from The Barber we get
HAIRCUT formed from Musical (HAIR) and score (CUT).
16 In Amritsar, it’s a garment (4)
And finally a hidden word clue where In tells us we
can find the solution to a garment in the letters of
AmritSAR, It’s.
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Two-speed
Try tackling the cryptic clues first, and if you get stuck the straight clues should help you out. If you are a beginner, why not solve the straight clues first? Then, compare your
answers with the cryptic versions and you will start to see the wordplay in action.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
13
16
12
14
15
17
18
19
20
22
23
24
jotting space
8
25
21
Cryptic CROSSWORDS
ACROSS
DOWN
5 Spots rook beside tree (4)
3 Clever‑clogs king without security
barrier? (4‑3)
1 Mug takes combat vehicle to a
small road (7)
8 Amaze, turning to Sudan (7)
9 Those singing from sheets, say (5)
10 Region is part of the Far East (4)
11 Ruined remains of clubs during
riotous rag week (8)
13 Hide the real problem? (7)
19 Negligent being without a vehicle
about start of Easter (8)
2 Confidently state a sure thing,
aloud (6)
4 ‘Allo ‘Allo character joins wife to
begin again (5)
5 Soldiers’ bike to use again (7)
6 Hard work with an advertising
catchphrase (6)
7 A shade envious (5)
12 Values old local taxes (5)
21 Either way, it’s midday (4)
14 Go one better than heavenly
happening (7)
23 Stone pillar is grabbed by drunken
bloke (7)
16 A bit of a fight (5)
25 Writer backing melody for sea
god (7)
18 Free toilets, with directions! (6)
ACROSS
DOWN
5 Overly hasty (4)
3 Smarty‑pants! (4‑3)
22 Some had duplicated to make
sense (3,2)
24 Party held in cafeteria (4)
1 Beer container (7)
8 Flabbergast, greatly surprise (7)
9 Church’s vocal group (5)
10 Sector, zone (4)
11 Remnants of a crash (8)
13 Biker’s clothing material (7)
19 Slapdash, shoddy (8)
21 12:00hrs (4)
22 Total the amounts (3,2)
23 Tall tapering monument (7)
24 School fair (4)
25 Eighth planet from the Sun (7)
15 Jewellery allowed on curly lock (7)
17 Brother lied about riding
equipment (6)
20 Sword wounded bears (5)
2 Declare positively (6)
4 Start afresh (5)
5 Take to the bottle bank, eg (7)
6 Memorable commercial phrase (6)
7 Outdoor bowling surface (5)
12 Appraises (5)
14 Solar or lunar phenomenon (7)
15 Lock of hair (7)
16 Discard as useless (5)
17 Riding harness (6)
18 Make less tight (6)
20 Curved cavalry weapon (5)
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For the Seasoned Solver
Cryptic
If you get stuck,
just take a look at
the solutions – it’s a
great way to get the
hang of solving.
ACROSS
1
9 Huge mines
exploded
around me (7)
10 Nut is able
to exercise
firstly (5)
11 Young Scout
leading a
country (4)
12 Tree remained,
we hear,
given early
treatment (5,3)
22 Message a mile
off (5)
23 Remote place
where letters
going away? (7)
10
4
9
11
5
6
7
10
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
24 Those who speak of a
crime novelist? (6)
8 Stealing oil, breaking
law (11)
DOWN
15 Father goes up to
show he will be in
agreement (7)
25 Some agree Ruth is a
feminist (5)
1 Show around
Venice (6)
14 Instrument – pub 2
has no larger
contraption (6,5) 3
18 Show I acted in
confusingly (8)
5
20 Agile mole grabs
otter’s tail (4)
3
8
1 Wise Premium
Bond
selector (5)
4Instinctive
response of
engineer when
receiving
cable (6)
2
Not entirely bad, I’m in
a strange country (7)
Not even Estonian
mountain (4)
Trade fair certain
to result in media
cover (8)
6 Carly developed
man‑made fibre (5)
7 Texan ad usually
includes poetic
location (6)
13 Our Clara became
wise and prophetic (8)
16 Starter of beef with
spice produced
muscle (6)
17 Sea creature partly
annoys terrapin (6)
19 One article in boring
journal (5)
21 Automatic gun’s turned
on this deer (4)
Cryptic CROSSWORDS
SOLUTIONS
Page 3
ACROSS: 1 STENCIL (clients) 6 LIVESTOCK (solve tick) 7 ACRE
(race) 8 SIDE (dies) 9 MASCULINE
(calumnies) 11 ODORANT (tornado).
DOWN: 2 THERE (three) 3 NIT (tin) 4 INCIDENT (ten in CID) 5 PILCHARD
(chip lard) 8 SALON (loans) 10 CAR
(RAC).
Page 4
ACROSS: 5 A ROMAntic 6 sOAKing 7 aLIEn 8 shinTO TEMple 9 broOCH
REmains 11 panaMA Prominent 13 dAIRymaid 14 parIS SUE’s.
DOWN: 1 norMALLy 2 phoTO GET
HERons 3 soFA STain 4 kipling’S KIM 6 shOP TIM IS Trying 9 OR A Lip 10 thE
VILe 12 unPLEAsant.
Page 5
ACROSS: 5 SPEARMINT (traps me
in) 7 hAD OPTion 8 sanTORini 9 dRY
Environment 10 MORAL (molar) 12 BRILLIANT (brain till).
DOWN: 1 indiA’S I Assume 2 egypT OR
Turkey (reading backwards) 3 LISTERIA
(is it real) 4 STAR (arts) 6 ESOTERIC
(coteries) 9 RUBY (bury) 10 aniMAL
Trainer 11 christie’S TO Let (reading
backwards).
Page 8
ACROSS: 1 TANKARD: combat vehicle
= TANK + a road = A RD 5 RASH:
rook = R (in chess) + tree = ASH 8
ASTOUND: anagram of to Sudan 9
CHOIR: homophone of sheets (quire)
10 AREA: fAR EAst 11 WRECKAGE:
clubs = C (in cards), inside, anagram of
rag week 13 LEATHER: anagram of the
real 19 CARELESS: without a vehicle
= CARLESS, around, start of Easter
= E 21 NOON: either way it reads the
same 22 ADD UP: hAD DUPlicated 23
OBELISK: IS, inside, anagram of bloke
24 FETE: caFETEria 25 NEPTUNE:
reverse writer = NEP (pen) + melody
= TUNE.
DOWN: 2 ASSERT: homophone of a
cert 3 KNOW-ALL: king = K + without
security barrier = NO WALL 4 RENEW:
Allo Allo character = RENE + wife =
W 5 RECYCLE: soldiers = RE (Royal
Engineers) + bike = CYCLE 6 SLOGAN:
hard work = SLOG + AN 7 GREEN:
(double definition) colour and envious 12 RATES: (double definition) assesses
and local authority taxes 14 ECLIPSE:
(double definition) outshine and solar
event 15 RINGLET: jewellery = RING
+ allowed = LET 16 SCRAP: (double
definition) fragment and brawl 17
BRIDLE: brother = BR + anagram of
lied 18 LOOSEN: toilets = LOOS +
directions = EN (east, north) 20 SABRE:
anagram of bears.
Page 10
ACROSS: 1 ERNIE: (double definition)
Ernie Wise and Premium Bond machine
4 REFLEX: engineer = RE + cable =
FLEX 9 IMMENSE: anagram of mines,
around ME 10 PECAN: exercise =
PE, is able to = CAN 11 CUBA: young
scout = CUB + A 12 FIRST AID:
homophone of tree remained (fir stayed)
14 BARREL ORGAN: pub = BAR +
anagram of no larger 18 INDICATE:
anagram of I acted in 20 SPRY: mole
= SPY with otter’s tail (last letter) = R
inside 22 EMAIL: anagram of a mile 23
OUTPOST: letters = POST, going away
= OUT(-going) 24 SAYERS: (double
definition) speakers and Dorothy L
Sayers 25 GREER: aGREE Ruth.
DOWN: 1 EVINCE: anagram of Venice
2 NAMIBIA: not entirely bad = BA(d),
with anagram of I’m in a 3 ETNA: not
even (therefore odd) letters of Estonian
5 EXPOSURE: trade fair = EXPO +
certain = SURE 6 LYCRA: anagram of
Carly 7 XANADU: teXAN AD Usually 8
LEGISLATION: anagram of stealing oil
13 ORACULAR: anagram of our Clara
15 APPROVE: reverse father = AP (pa)
+ show = PROVE 16 BICEPS: starter
of beef = B + anagram of spice 17
OYSTER: annOYS TERrapin 19 DIARY:
one = I + article = A, in, boring = DRY 21
STAG: reverse automatic gun’s (gat’s).
11