Cryptic crosswords for beginners

By the Crossword Puzzle Solver team · Published 24 September 2026

Cryptic crosswords look impossible at first. Each clue seems to be a strange sentence rather than a definition. But cryptic clues follow rules, and once you know the rules they become fair, satisfying puzzles. This guide explains how they work, with original example clues for each technique.

The basic shape of a cryptic clue

Almost every cryptic clue has two parts:

• A definition of the answer, like an ordinary crossword clue.
• Wordplay that leads to the same answer in a different way.

The definition is nearly always at the very start or the very end of the clue. The wordplay makes up the rest. The number in brackets is the enumeration: it tells you the length of the answer. (5) means one five-letter word; (3,4) means a three-letter word followed by a four-letter word.

The surface reading, meaning what the clue appears to say as an ordinary sentence, is usually designed to mislead you. The skill is to ignore the surface and split the clue into its parts.

The main types of wordplay

Anagram

Some letters in the clue are rearranged to make the answer. An indicator word tells you this is happening: words like “mixed”, “broken”, “wild”, “novel”, “disturbed” or “in a mess”.

Pay attention to silent disturbance (6)

“Disturbance” signals an anagram of SILENT. The definition is “Pay attention”. The answer is LISTEN. You can check anagrams like this with our anagram solver, but remember that the definition decides between the candidates.

Hidden word

The answer is spelled out inside the clue, running across word boundaries. Indicators include “in”, “some”, “part of”, “held by” and “found in”.

Bird found in slow lane (3)

Look inside “slOW Lane” and you will find OWL. The definition is “Bird”.

Charade

The answer is built from smaller pieces placed one after another, like syllables in a game of charades.

Vehicle and animal companion make a floor covering (6)

“Vehicle” gives CAR and “animal companion” gives PET. Together they make CARPET, which is defined by “floor covering”.

Container

One piece is placed inside another. Indicators include “holding”, “around”, “held by”, “eating” and “in”.

Gaze at sailor held by South and East (5)

“Sailor” is a classic cryptic code for TAR. Put TAR inside S and E (South and East) and you get STARE, which is defined by “Gaze”. Cryptic setters use a small set of these conventional abbreviations: compass points for single letters, TAR or AB for sailor, and so on.

Double definition

The clue is simply two definitions of the same word placed side by side.

Tree’s outer layer, dog’s sound (4)

Both halves lead to BARK. These clues are often short, and they are a good place to begin.

Homophone

The answer sounds like another word. Indicators include “we hear”, “reportedly”, “on the radio” and “it’s said”.

Fruit, a couple, we hear (4)

“A couple” is a PAIR. Spoken aloud it sounds like PEAR, which is defined by “Fruit”.

Reversal

A word is written backwards. Indicators include “returned”, “back”, “going west” (in across clues) and “up” (in down clues).

Pots returned to halt (4)

POTS written backwards is STOP, defined by “halt”.

Deletion

A letter is removed from a word. “Headless” removes the first letter, “endless” the last and “heartless” the middle.

Grain from headless boat (3)

BOAT without its first letter is OAT, which is defined by “Grain”.

A method for your first cryptic puzzle

1. Look for the definition at each end. Test the first word or two, then the last word or two, against the enumeration.
2. Hunt for indicators. Words like “mixed”, “in”, “returned” or “we hear” are signposts to the kind of wordplay.
3. Count letters. If you suspect an anagram, the letters you rearrange must exactly match the answer length.
4. Start with double definitions and hidden words. They are usually the easiest clues to crack.
5. Use the crossings. Cryptic grids leave some squares unchecked, but the checked letters still narrow your options considerably.
6. Read the solutions afterwards. Most newspapers publish explained solutions. Working backwards from an answer is one of the best ways to learn a setter’s habits.

Where to go next

If you are new to crosswords altogether, start with our guide to common clue types and the worked practice set, which includes an introductory anagram and hidden-word clue. When you are ready, our article on American and British crosswords explains how cryptic grids differ from the puzzles most Americans know.