Container and contents clues

One part of the answer goes inside another.

A container clue puts one piece of wordplay inside another. The indicator tells you which way round: 'holding', 'keeping' and 'around' mean the first piece wraps the second; 'in', 'inside' and 'entering' mean the first piece goes into the second.

These clues often combine with abbreviations, so keep the common ones in mind: CE for Church of England, RA for artist, ST for saint or street.

Example

Church of England takes in rodent, making a box (5)

CRATE: CE (Church of England) 'takes in' RAT (rodent): C(RAT)E = CRATE, defined by 'box'.

Common indicators

in
inside
within
entering
held by
kept by
holding
keeping
about
around
outside
embracing
swallowing
eating
grasping
taking in
boxing
framing
admitting

See indicators for every clue type

Solving tips

When you see 'about', check whether it means 'around' (container) or 'C'/'RE' (an abbreviation).

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