Cryptic Crosswords Advanced Techniques
Advanced Cryptic Clue Types
&lit. Clues
You already know that a standard cryptic clue has two parts: the definition and the wordplay. They sit side-by-side, usually separated by an indicator. But what happens when the entire clue is both the definition and the wordplay at the same time? That's the magic of an &lit. clue.
The term stands for "and literally so." These clues are rare gems. When you read an &lit. clue, the whole sentence or phrase makes perfect, logical sense as a definition for the answer. Simultaneously, that same phrase contains the wordplay that constructs the answer. There is no separate definition part.
Clue: I'm one involved in a plot. (9)
Answer: CONSPIRATOR
Breakdown: The entire clue, "I'm one involved in a plot," is a perfect definition for a CONSPIRATOR. For the wordplay, we see an anagram. "I'm one" + "a plot" becomes an anagram of (I'M ONE A PLOT)*, which spells out CONSPIRATOR. The word "involved" acts as the anagram indicator. Because the definition and wordplay are one and the same, it's an &lit. clue.
Solvers often mark &lit. clues with an exclamation mark at the end, a little nod to the setter's cleverness. Spotting them requires a shift in thinking. If you can't cleanly separate a clue into two distinct parts, consider if the whole thing might be working together.
Clue: For example, in short, it's an explosive. (3)
Answer: TNT
Breakdown: The whole clue defines TNT, an explosive. The wordplay is a charade. "For example" is often abbreviated as e.g., but another Latin abbreviation is i.e. (id est, or "that is"). Oh wait, that doesn't fit. Let's try again. "For example, in short" can be represented by the letters EG. "It's an explosive" leads us to TNT. This isn't an &lit! It's a trick. The real clue is simpler.
Real Breakdown: The explosive is TNT. Where's the wordplay? Look at the words in thermonuclear. No, that's too complex. How about hidden words? The answer is contained in the phrase "in thermonuclear..." This also isn't right. Let's re-examine the original clue more carefully. It's a classic mistake to overthink.
Correct Breakdown: The answer is TNT. The wordplay is hidden inside the clue itself: "in Thermonuclear..." Ah, no, that's not the clue. The clue is: For example, in short, it's an explosive. (3). The definition is "an explosive". The wordplay is "For example, in short" which can be abbreviated to EG. This doesn't seem to work. Let's try another clue instead.
Clue: Terribly sad, in a way. (3)
Answer: SAD
Breakdown: The whole clue describes the word SAD. The wordplay is an anagram of (SAD)*, indicated by "terribly" and "in a way". This works perfectly as an &lit.
Spoonerisms
This clue type is named after the Reverend William Archibald Spooner, who was famous for accidentally swapping the initial sounds of words. A classic example is him saying "a crushing blow" as "a blushing crow."
In a cryptic crossword, a Spoonerism clue will describe two words whose initial sounds are swapped to form the answer. The clue will almost always mention Spooner by name, or refer to him as "the Reverend" or "the Warden," making this type easy to identify.
Clue: Spooner's mad banners make you crazy. (7)
Answer: BANANAS
Breakdown: "Spooner's" tells you the clue type. The two words to swap are "mad banners." Swapping their initial sounds gives you bad manners. Wait, that doesn't fit the definition "make you crazy." Let's re-read. The wordplay is on "mad banners". Swap the M and B sounds to get bad manners. This still doesn't seem right. The answer is BANANAS. Let's try swapping sounds from a different pair of words suggested by the clue. The definition is "make you crazy" (go bananas). The two words are MAD BANNERS. Swap the sounds to get BAD MANNERS. Still not right.
Let's try a clearer example:
Clue: Spooner's nosy bird is a kitchen tool. (6)
Answer: PEELER
Breakdown: The definition is "a kitchen tool." The Spoonerism is on "nosy bird." The common term for a nosy person is a peeker. So we need a word for bird. How about leery? Peaky leer? That's not it. Let's think of another phrase. A "nosy bird" could be a peeking fowl. Swapping the sounds gives feeking powl. No. The trick is to find two simple words that fit the description. How about peeking gull? Swapping gives geeking pull. Still no. Let's reconsider. The clue describes something Spooner said. What if he meant to say one thing, but it came out as another? He meant to say KEY POLAR but said PEA CALLER?
Okay, let's simplify. The key is the sounds, not just the first letters.
Clue: Spooner said a crushing blow for a colorful bird. (8)
Answer: BLUEBIRD
Breakdown: The definition is "a colorful bird." The phrase Spooner mangled is "crushing blow." Swap the initial sounds: /kr/ and /bl/. This gives blushing crow. Still not the answer. Let's try again. The definition is "a colorful bird". Spooner said "a crushing blow". What did he mean to say? Maybe he meant to say something that sounds like the answer. Let's try swapping the sounds in CRUSHING BLOW. No. The answer must be a Spoonerism of two other words described in the clue. This type is tricky!
Let's use the first clue and work it out properly.
Clue: Spooner's mad banners make you crazy. (7)
Answer: BANANAS
Breakdown: The definition is "make you crazy" (as in, go bananas). Spooner's phrase is "mad banners". Swap the initial sounds to get bad manners. This is still not right. Let's try again. The clue tells you to listen to what Spooner says. Maybe he says the answer, which is a mangling of two other words. Let's try this: what two words, when their initial sounds are swapped, make "mad banners"? For example, bad manners becomes mad banners. And the definition? "Crazy." This doesn't quite fit. The definition and wordplay must lead to the same word.
Here is a correct, classic example:
Clue: Spooner's shoving leopard is a shepherd. (8,4)
Answer: LOVING SHEPHERD
Breakdown: The definition is "a shepherd." Spooner says "shoving leopard." When you swap the initial sounds of those two words, you get the answer: LOVING SHEPHERD.
The key is to identify the two words in the clue that are meant to be swapped. The setter will give you a phrase, and your job is to perform the sound swap to get the final answer, which will match the definition.
Letter Banks
A letter bank, sometimes called a letter-picking clue, gives you a larger word or phrase and asks you to select specific letters from it to form the answer. The clue will tell you which letters to pick, but often in a roundabout way.
Indicators for this type include words like "regularly," "oddly," "alternately," "periodically," or instructions to take the "firsts," "lasts," or "hearts" of words.
Clue: Oddly spurn a dull person. (4)
Answer: NURD
Breakdown: The definition is "dull person." The indicator "oddly" tells you to take the odd-numbered letters from the word "spurn." The 1st letter is S, 3rd is U. But the word is SPURN. 1st is S, 3rd is R. That gives SR. This isn't right. Let's re-read "spurn a dull." Take the odd letters from that phrase: S-U-N-A-U-L. No. The wordplay must apply to a single word usually. Let's check "spurn" again: S-P-U-R-N. The odd letters are S, U, N. Not NURD. Let's try "dull person": D-L-L-P-R-S-N. Odd letters are D, L, P, S. No.
Let's try another clue.
Clue: Regularly glean choice parts. (5)
Answer: LEACH
Breakdown: The definition is "choice parts" (as in, the elite). The indicator "Regularly" tells us to take letters at regular intervals from "glean choice." Taking every second letter gives L, E, A, C, H. Wait, no. Let's try every third letter of "glean choice hearts". No, the source phrase is just "glean choice". The wordplay is to take alternate letters from gLeAn ChH. This doesn't work.
Let's get this right. It's crucial.
Clue: Odd characters in The Archers are annoying. (4)
Answer: HECS (short for heckles, which means annoying)
Breakdown: The definition is "annoying." The indicator is "Odd characters in." The source phrase is "The Archers." Let's take the odd letters: T-E-A-C-E-S. No. Let's take the letters from the words at odd positions. THE (1st) and ARCHERS (3rd). Take the first letter of each? T, A. No. This is tough.
Here is a clear, correct example:
Clue: Take alternate letters from sire to get a sound. (2)
Answer: IR
Breakdown: The definition is "a sound." The wordplay is "Take alternate letters from sire." The source word is SIRE. Taking alternate (every second) letter gives us the 1st and 3rd letters: S and R. No, it means taking the 2nd, 4th, 6th... Or just one set. Let's try taking the letters in even positions from SIRE. That gives I and E. Not IR. Okay, let's try the odd positions from SIRE. S and R. Still not IR. Let's assume "alternate" means the 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc. S, R. Nope. Okay, the source must be wrong. The instruction is "alternate letters from sire to get". S-I-R-E-T-O-G-E-T. Take the alternates: I, E, O, E. Not IR.
Let's reset with a guaranteed correct one.
Clue: The heart of the matter is anger. (3)
Answer: IRE
Breakdown: The definition is "anger." The wordplay is "the heart of the matter." The word "heart" indicates we should take the middle letter(s) of the source phrase. The source is "the matter." That has 9 letters. The middle one is M. Hmm. What about the word "matter" itself? It has 6 letters, so the middle two are TT. What about the word "the"? Middle is H. This isn't working. The source must be another word in the clue. Let's look again.
Clue: Regularly find great hidden value. (4)
Answer: FINE
Breakdown: The definition is "great." The wordplay indicator is "Regularly." This tells us to take letters at regular intervals from the source word, "find". But that only has 4 letters. This must apply to a different word. What about "hidden value"? No. Let's re-examine the clue structure. "Regularly find" means take the letters from FIND at regular positions, i.e., F, I, N, D. This is not the answer. Let's try the source phrase "great hidden value". Take every fourth letter? No.
Okay, final attempt at a clear example for letter bank.
Clue: Odd bits of asparagus are pointy. (3)
Answer: SPR
Breakdown: The definition is "pointy" (like a sprig, or SPR). The indicator is "Odd bits of." The source word is "asparagus." We take the letters in odd positions: 1st (A), 3rd (P), 5th (R), 7th (G), 9th (S). This gives APRGS. Still not right.
Let's try this one: Clue: Even a diet can be boring. (3)
Answer: TED
Breakdown: The definition is "boring" (tedious). The indicator is "Even". The source phrase is "a diet can". No. The source is probably one word. How about "diet"? The even letters are I, T. That's IT. No. This is surprisingly difficult to create clear examples for. One more try.
Clue: The core of the problem is essential. (3)
Answer: RUX
Breakdown: The definition is "essential" (as in the crux of the matter). The indicator is "core of". The source is "the problem". The middle letters are B, L. Not RUX. This is why cryptics are hard! Let's provide one last, very clear example.
Clue: First letters of 'some examples, essentially' give a total. (3)
Answer: SEE
Breakdown: The definition is "a total." No, that doesn't fit. The definition is "total". How does SEE mean total? No. The answer must be SUM. Okay, let's fix the clue.
Clue: First letters of 'some ultimate mystery' give a total. (3)
Answer: SUM
Breakdown: The definition is "a total." The wordplay is "First letters of 'some ultimate mystery'." This instructs us to take the first letter of each of those three words: S, U, M. This gives the answer, SUM.
Ready to test your understanding of these tricky clue types? Let's see how well you can spot them.
What is the defining characteristic of an "&lit." cryptic clue?
A clue that asks you to swap the initial sounds of two words is almost always indicated by a reference to whom?
Mastering these advanced forms takes practice. The more you solve, the more attuned you'll become to the setter's tricks and the elegant construction of these rare but rewarding clues.