Skip to Content

What crossword clues mean?

Crossword puzzles are a popular pastime enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. At their core, crosswords rely on cleverly worded clues to lead solvers to the correct responses. But what exactly do these cryptic crossword clues mean, and how are they constructed? Read on to find out.

The Anatomy of a Crossword Clue

Crossword clues contain several key components that work together to point solvers towards the answer:

  • The definition – This is the part of the clue that synopsizes what the answer is.
  • Wordplay – This refers to word tricks like anagrams, reversals, homophones, etc. that hint at the answer.
  • Directional information – Clues indicate where in the grid the answer belongs (Across or Down).
  • Length of the answer – The number of boxes gives the length of the required answer.

By understanding each of these elements, solvers can systematically unpack the clue and deduce the answer. Let’s break down some example clues to see these components in action.

Definition

The definition provides a straightforward summation of what the answer is. For example:

Clue: Colorful mounted cowboys (5)

Definition: Colorful mounted cowboys

Here the definition clearly tells us we’re looking for a 5-letter word meaning “colorful mounted cowboys.”

Wordplay

Wordplay refers to tricky ways the clue hints at the answer using word games and devices like:

  • Anagrams – Scrambling letters of a word
  • Reversals – Spelling a word backwards
  • Homophones – Words that sound alike
  • Puns – Humorous wordplay

For example:

Clue: Crazy greeting (5)

Wordplay: Anagram of “crazy”

Knowing this clue relies on an anagram wordplay helps uncover the answer “Hello.”

Directional Information

Crossword grids have numbered rows (Across) and columns (Down). Directional information in a clue specifies where to place the answer:

Clue: Largest continent (5, Down)

Direction: Down

This tells the solver the 5-letter answer belongs vertically in the grid.

Length of Answer

The number of boxes in the grid reveals how many letters the answer contains. This crucial detail coupled with the other clue components narrows down the possibilities. For example:

Clue: Prime color (3)

Length: 3 letters

We know we’re looking for a common 3-letter word that means “primary color.” That points to the answer “RED.”

Types of Crossword Clues

While all crossword clues contain the basic elements above, they can be categorized into different types based on their style and construction:

Straight Clues

These are straightforward clues that clearly define the answer without wordplay tricks.

Example: Common domesticated house pet (3)
Answer: Cat

Cryptic Clues

Cryptic clues involve challenging wordplay like anagrams, homophones, reversals, double definitions, and more. These are the most complex crossword clues.

Example: Crazy choral performance (5)
Answer: Opera (anagram of “crazy”)

Fill-In-The-Blank Clues

These clues leave a blank underscored space for a key word or phrase in the answer.

Example: ______ Skywalker of Star Wars (5)
Answer: Luke

Category Clues

These specify a category, profession, or type of thing the answer belongs to.

Example: 1970s hard rock band with hits like “Free Bird” (8)
Answer: Lynyrd Skynyrd

Rhyming Clues

These clues rhyme with the answer word.

Example: Make a mistake (6)


Answer: Erroneous

Puns or Wordplay Clues

These clues make humorous plays on words or phrases.

Example: Small hooting bird (3)
Answer: Owl (homophone of “owl”)

Prefix/Suffix Clues

These clues hint that you add a prefix or suffix to an existing word to form the answer.

Example: Not down (5)
Answer: Arise (add “a-” prefix to “rise”)

Helpful Strategies for Solving Crossword Clues

With an understanding of clue anatomy and types under your belt, here are some useful strategies to crack those tricky clues:

  • Read carefully – Crossword creators choose their words very deliberately. Analyze every word and punctuation mark.
  • Separate definition from wordplay – Identify which part synopsizes the answer vs. hints at it playfully.
  • Consider clue types – Think about categories, rhymes, anagrams etc. that might apply.
  • Use already answered clues – Filled-in answers can provide letter hints for intersecting words.
  • Make word lists – Brainstorm words that fit the definition and length.
  • Double-check tricky clues – Cryptic clues especially require careful re-reading.

With practice and patience, solvers can learn to crack the code of crossword clue wordplay. That “aha” moment when the answer clicks is what makes crosswords so satisfying to complete!

The Art of Writing Cryptic Crossword Clues

Creating clever cryptic crossword clues is an art form cultivated by expert constructors. Here’s a look behind the scenes at how they masterfully mislead and hint:

Hiding the Definition

Clever clue writers conceal the definition within the wordplay rather than stating it obviously. For example:

Clue: Crazy choral performance (5)

The definition “performance” is slyly embedded in the anagram wordplay.

Picking Misleading Words

Tricky phrasing and unusual word choices send solvers down the wrong path. For example:

Clue: Blue green morass (5)

“Morass” suggests a wet swamp, but the answer is SEA (“Blue green”).

Hiding Wordplay Devices

Expert cluers seamlessly work anagrams, reversals, homophones etc. into the clue without obviously signaling what’s going on. For example:

Clue: Rodent regularly arriving on time (6)

There’s no overt hint this is a reversal clue for “early” spelled backwards.

Using Complex Wordplay

Advanced clues combine multiple forms of wordplay in elegant misdirection. For instance:

Clue: Pie topping mixed up strangely inside dessert (9)

This clue has an anagram, red herring, and a double definition for “meringue.”

Writing such complex clues requires immense talent and creativity. The best cluers constantly keep solvers guessing and engaged.

Common Crossword Abbreviations

Crossword puzzles frequently contain abbreviations. Here are some commonly seen shortened forms:

Abbreviation Meaning
A.D. Anno Domini – the Christian calendar era
B.C. Before Christ – before the year 1 A.D.
a.k.a. Also known as
ASAP As soon as possible
etc. Et cetera – and so forth
e.g. Exempli gratia – for example
no. Number
lb. Pound
yr. Year

Being familiar with these shortened forms gives solvers an edge in deciphering clues efficiently.

Crossword Clue Abbreviations

Besides content abbreviations, crosswords also use shortened forms in the clues themselves conveying specific instruction for the answer, like:

Abbreviation Meaning
anag. Anagram – letters are scrambled
rev. Reversal – spelled backwards
lit. Literal – taken as is
hom. Homophone – sounds the same
var. Variation – slightly altered form
abbr. Abbreviation – shortened form
masc. Masculine – male version
fem. Feminine – female version

These abbreviations explicitly tell solvers how the answer is derived, making the clues less opaque.

Crossword Clue Synonyms

Crossword creators love to use tricky synonyms and word variations that point to common answers. Here are some examples of different clue phrasings that indicate the same response:

Synonyms Answer
Long story, tale, narrative Novel
Examine carefully, scrutinize, peruse Study
Gossip, chatter, prattle Babble
Big cat, lion, jungle cat Tiger
Assist, accommodate, help Aid

Recognizing when different wording hints at the same solution allows solvers to make connections between clues.

Conclusion

In summary, crossword clues are ingeniously designed linguistic puzzles. The definition summarizes the answer, while wordplay and clue types provide hints to decode it. Strategies like analyzing word choices carefully, separating definition from misdirection, and leveraging previously answered clues can help reveal the solutions. Cryptic crosswords elevate clue-writing to an advanced art by combining forms of wordplay elegantly. While tricky, keeping clue anatomy, abbreviations, and synonyms in mind arms solvers with the tools to unravel even the most complex clues.