Cryptic Crosswords – A Friendly Introduction

Welcome to the playful, slightly rebellious world of cryptic crosswords! If you’ve ever looked at a cryptic clue and felt baffled, don’t worry – you’re in good company.

Cryptic crosswords are puzzles with a secret handshake: once you learn a few moves, they’re incredibly satisfying.

Two halves make a whole

A standard cryptic clue has two parts: a definition and some wordplay.

• The definition gives you the answer’s meaning;
• The wordplay tells you how to build it.

The definition is always at the beginning or end of the clue. Understanding this simple structure is the key to unlocking cryptic puzzles.

Lets go through an example.

“Former lover can court no more (7)”

The definition could be “no more” or “former lover” – these both suggest the answer is something that no longer exists.

There is no way to know for sure which it will be, you just get a sense overtime with trial and error.

The wordplay breaks down the answer as EX (former lover) + TIN (can) + CT (court) to make EXTINCT, which matches the definition.

Once you see how the parts fit, the answer feels delightfully obvious. Sometimes the definition is a single word; sometimes it’s a longer phrase. In “Bird seen in the museum (3)”, the definition is “bird”, and the wordplay is hidden in THE MUSEUM (THEMUSEUM contains EMU). Recognising that the answer could be tucked within the clue itself is part of the fun.

Reading backwards and spotting indicators

One simple trick is to read a clue backwards. In many clues, the definition sits at the start or end. Try reading the last word or phrase first: does it sound like a potential answer? Then check if the other part contains wordplay that fits. Another crucial habit is noticing indicators – words that signal a particular type of wordplay. Words like “struggle”, “scrambled” or “mixed” indicate an anagram; “inside”, “within”, “some of” signal a hidden word; “heard”, “we’re told” suggest a homophone. You’ll find more about these devices in later posts.

There’s no such thing as cheating

One of the most liberating tips from Guardian crossword writer Alan Connor is that there’s “no such thing as cheating”. Use a dictionary, a thesaurus, a crossword solver’s blog, or even the puzzle’s reveal feature. Cryptic crosswords are about enjoyment, not test scores. Calling a friend or family member for help can make solving more social and fun.

Tips for beginners

• Solve the obvious ones first. Look for clues that clearly signal an anagram or hidden word. Filling these gives you crossing letters for tougher clues.
• Use crossing letters. Crossing letters reduce the possibilities. Even if you don’t know the answer, you can often guess it once you have a few letters in place.
• Check word lengths. The number of letters in the answer is shown at the end of the clue (e.g., (7), (3,5)). This narrows down possibilities.
• Don’t get misled by the surface reading. Clues are written to create a story on the surface, but the wordplay often ignores that story entirely. Setters love to disguise definitions and lead you astray.

Still confused?

At dailycryptic.co, we’re all about helping beginners learn cryptic crosswords through playful practice. Our interactive puzzles provide hints that reveal definitions and wordplay step by step, mini-games that teach clue types, and curated collections grouped by difficulty. Give our free daily puzzle a try – you might be surprised how quickly things click!