Cryptic definition clues
The whole clue is a single, misleading definition, often a pun.
A cryptic definition has no wordplay to unpick. The whole clue describes the answer, but in a way designed to send you down the wrong path. A question mark at the end is a common hint that something playful is going on.
Example
Flower of London? (6)
THAMES: Read 'flower' as 'something that flows'. The river that flows through London is the THAMES.
Common indicators
See indicators for every clue type
Solving tips
- Ask what each word could mean if it were a different part of speech, or pronounced differently.