How to solve Minute Cryptic
A cryptic clue looks like a strange sentence, but it follows a small set of rules. Once you know them, the daily Minute Cryptic gets a lot easier. This guide covers the basics.
Every clue has two halves
Each clue has a definition and some wordplay. The definition is an ordinary meaning of the answer, and it is always at the very start or the very end of the clue. The wordplay is everything else, and it gives you a second route to the same answer.
The number in brackets is the enumeration. (9) means a single nine-letter word. (4, 8) means two words of four and eight letters.
The three parts to look for
- Definition: a word or phrase at one end of the clue that means the answer.
- Indicator: a word that tells you what kind of wordplay to use, such as "mixed" for an anagram.
- Fodder: the letters or words the indicator acts on.
A good habit is to cover one end of the clue, ask whether the other end could be a definition, then look for an indicator in what's left.
The common clue types
Hidden word
The answer is sitting inside the clue, spelled out in a row across one or more words. Ignore the spaces and punctuation and look for it.
Indicator words: Words like "in", "within", "some", "part of" or "hiding".
Anagram
Some of the letters in the clue need to be rearranged to spell the answer.
Indicator words: Words that suggest change or disorder, like "mixed", "broken", "wild", "recklessly" or "new".
Homophone
Part of the answer sounds like a word in the clue, even though it is spelled differently.
Indicator words: Words about hearing or speaking, like "said", "heard", "on the radio" or "we hear".
Container
One piece of the answer goes inside another piece.
Indicator words: Words like "holding", "around", "boxes", "inside", "about" or "eating".
Reversal
A word or string of letters is read backwards to form part of the answer.
Indicator words: Words like "back", "returned", "up" (in a down clue) or "retiring".
Deletion
Letters are taken away from a word to leave part of the answer.
Indicator words: Words like "without", "losing", "headless", "endless" or "dropping".
First letters
The first letters of several words in the clue spell out part of the answer.
Indicator words: Words like "first of", "starts", "leaders" or "heads".
Last letters
The last letters of several words in the clue spell out part of the answer.
Indicator words: Words like "last of", "ends", "finally" or "tails".
Alternate letters
Every other letter of a stretch of the clue spells out part of the answer.
Indicator words: Words like "regularly", "oddly", "evenly" or "every other".
Letter selection
Only some of the letters of a word in the clue are used.
Indicator words: Words like "partly", "half", "a bit of" or "some of".
Charade
The answer is built by joining smaller pieces together, one after another.
Indicator words: Often no indicator at all, or linking words like "with", "and", "after" or "next to".
Double definition
The clue gives two separate definitions of the same answer.
Indicator words: No indicator. The clue is simply two definitions side by side.
Tips that help
- Read the clue for its surface meaning, then ignore it. The surface is meant to mislead you.
- Punctuation can usually be ignored. It's there to make the sentence read smoothly.
- If a clue mentions a number, letter or Roman numeral, it may stand for a single letter or two.
- Count the letters in the fodder. If it matches the enumeration exactly, an anagram or hidden word is likely.
- When you think you have it, check the answer against both the definition and the wordplay.
Common questions
How long should a Minute Cryptic take?
The puzzle is built to be solved in about a minute, but most people take longer while they learn the clue types. Using a hint or two is normal.
Is the definition always at the start or end?
Yes. In a standard cryptic clue the definition sits at one end of the clue, never in the middle. That rule alone cuts down your options a lot.
What is fodder in a cryptic clue?
Fodder is the raw material the wordplay works on: the letters or words you rearrange, hide, reverse or combine to build the answer.