A dictionary of words and phrases often encountered in cryptic crossword clues - words that may mean something more,or something other, than is indicated by their surface meaning.
SABBATH
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
- Sample clues:
- Aircraft for Black Sabbath (4)
- Toil - that's what lumberjacks do on the Sabbath (4)
SAD
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SADLY
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SAFETY FIRST
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SAID
1. Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator forORAL.
- Sample clue:
- Soothing stuff said to be found in royal residence (8)
2. The word said or phrases such as so it's said may behom*ophone indicators.
- Sample clue:
- An opening, so it's said, for love (5)
SAILOR
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersAB or TAR or JACK or SALT.
- Sample clues:
- Sailor a foot nearer the stern (5)
- Sailor's coat that is found on road (6)
- A sailor coming back for a book of maps (5)
SAILORS
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersTARS or RN.
- Sample clues:
- Sailors going round northern mountain lakes (5)
- Please German sailors with bird (7)
SAINT
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS or the letters ST.
SAINTS
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersSS.
SALESMAN
Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersREP.
SAPPERS
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersRE (Royal Engineers).
SATURDAY
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SAUDI ARABIA
Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersSA.
(See International Vehicle Registrations).
SAVE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersBAR.
SAY
1. Possibly a hom*ophone indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Run away from pudding, say (6)
2. Possibly a bits and pieces indicator indicating the lettersEG, or AVER, STATE, UTTER, EXPRESS, etc.
- Sample clues:
- Twins, say, coming back by car (6)
- Maniacs, say, going in opposite directions (7)
SCATTER
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SCATTERED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SCOTSMAN
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersIAN or MAC or MON.
SCRATCH THE HEAD
Possibly a subtraction indicatorsignifying the removal of an initial letter.
SCRIPTURE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersNT (New Testament) or OT (Old Testamentor RE (Religious Education) or RI (Religious Instruction).
SECOND
1. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
2. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating thesecond letter of a word, e.g.the second of June giving U.
SECOND CLASS
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterB.
- Sample clue:
- Second-class bird dog (6)
SECOND PERSON
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersYOU or YE or THEE or THOU or EVE.
SECONDS
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SECONDS OUT
1. Possibly a subtraction indicatorsignifying the omission of the letter S from a word.
2. Possibly a subtraction indicatorsignifying the omission of alternate letters from a word.
SECOND THOUGHTS
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersPS.
- Sample clue:
- Pipemen having second thoughts about wood? (8)
SECRETING
Possibly a hidden word indicator.
SEE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterV or the letters LO or ELY.
SELECTION
Possibly a hidden word indicator.
SELF-STARTER
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SENIOR CITIZEN
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersOAP.
SENIOR SERVICE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersRN (Royal Navy).
SENT BACK
Possibly a reversal indicator.
SENT UP
Possibly a reversal indicator (in a Down clue).
SEPARATING
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
SEPTEMBER
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SERVICE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersMASS.
SET OFF
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SET OUT
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SEX APPEAL
Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersSA.
SHAKE
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SHAKEN
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SHAKESPEARE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersBARD or WILL.
SHAKING
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SHAKY
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SHAMBLES
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SHELLED
Possibly a subtraction indicatorsignifying the removal of first and last letters.
SHELTER
1. Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
2. Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersLEE.
SHELTERED
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
SHELTERING
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
SHELTERS
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
SHIFT
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SHIFTED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SHIFTING
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SHILLING
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SHIP
Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersSS.
SHIRT
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterT.
SHOT
1. Possibly an anagram indicator.
2. Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersGO, TRY, etc.
SHOWING
Possibly a hidden word indicator.
SHOWN UP
Possibly a reversal indicator (in a Down clue).
SIDE
1. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersL or R or WING or TEAM or XI.
SIDES SPLITTING
Possibly a subtraction indicatorsignifying the removal of first and last letters.
SIERRA
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
(See NATO Phonetic Alphabet).
- Sample clue:
- Gallery next to Sierra Nevada, for example (5)
SIGN
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterV.
SIGN OF THE TIMES
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterX.
SILLY
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Calm down, silly sausage! (7)
SILVER
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersAG.
(See Symbols for Chemical Elements).
- Sample clues:
- We must accept silver as payment (4)
- People going to Silver Lake to find animal collection (9)
SINGULAR
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SISTER
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersSIS or NUN.
SIX
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersVI.
SKILL
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersstrong>ART.
SKINHEAD
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SLOPPY
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SMALL
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SMALL CHANGE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterP.
SMASH
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SMASHED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SMASHING
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SMUGGLING
Possibly a hidden word indicator.
SNARLED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterU.
SOCIETY
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SODIUM
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersNA.
(See Symbols for Chemical Elements).
- Sample clue:
- Girl taking sodium backwards and forwards (4)
SOFT
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterP (piano, as in a music score).
SOME
Possibly a hidden word indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Some teachers get hurt (4)
- Some academic once denied a grant (7)
SOMEHOW
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SOMEWHAT
Possibly a hidden word indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Perhaps a teddy bear, somewhat fed up? (5)
- Small owl, young, somewhat humble (5)
SON
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SO TO SPEAK
Possibly a hom*ophone indicator.
SOUND
Possibly a hom*ophone indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Employ sound sheep (3)
- Cat with sound connections (4)
- Suitable sound for ceremony (4)
SOUNDED
Possibly a hom*ophone indicator.
- Sample clues:
- A country sounded musical (6)
- A shopkeeper sounded more offensive (7)
SOUNDING
Possibly a hom*ophone indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Regretted sounding coarse (4)
- Sounding like a simple Moslem leader (5)
- Be like Norman William, sounding like a nut (7)
SOUNDS
Possibly a hom*ophone indicator.
- Sample clues:
- A poem sounds due (3)
- This set of rooms sounds charming (5)
- Old puzzle - it sounds delightful (9)
SOUTH
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SOUTH AFRICA
Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersSA.
SOUTHERN
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SO WE HEAR
Possibly a hom*ophone indicator.
SPADES
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SPAIN
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterE.
(See International Vehicle Registrations).
SPANISH GENTLEMAN
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersDON.
SPANNER
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersBRIDGE.
- Sample clue:
- Shortened spanner held by a duke (8)
SPASM
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersTIC.
SPEAKER'S
Possibly a hom*ophone indicator.
SPIES
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersCIA.
SPILL
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SPILLED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SPIN
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SPINNING
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SPLITTING
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
SPOIL
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SPOILT
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SPOKEN
Possibly a hom*ophone indicator.
SPOT MARKER
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterX.
SPREAD
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SPUN
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SPYMASTER
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterM.
SQUARE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterT or the letters QUAD.
STAGGERED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
STAGGERING
Possibly an anagram indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Name of woman staggering in the bar (6)
STANDARD
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersPAR.
STAND-IN
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersSUB.
START
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the initial letterof a word.
STARTED
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the initial letterof a word.
STARTING
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the initial letterof a word.
STARTING PRICE
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterP or the letters SP.
START OFF
Possibly a subtraction indicatorsignifying the removal of an initial letter.
STARTS
1. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the initial letterof a word.
- Sample clue:
- Happy girl starts before boy (4)
2. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the initial lettersof two or more consecutive words.
- Sample clues:
- Animal starts to play in garden (3)
- Israeli city helping Arabs in fits and starts (5)
3. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the first few lettersof a word or phrase.
- Sample clue:
- Scent starts a romantic affair (5)
START TO GO
Possibly a subtraction indicatorsignifying the removal of an initial letter.
STEW
Possibly an anagram indicator.
STOP-START
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
STORM
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersRAGE.
STRANGE
Possibly an anagram indicator.
STRANGELY
Possibly an anagram indicator.
STRAY
1. Possibly an anagram indicator.
2. Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersERR.
STREET
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersST.
STRIKE THE HEAD
Possibly a subtraction indicatorsignifying the removal of an initial letter.
STRING
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterG.
STUFFING
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
SUBDUED
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterP (as in music notation).
SUBSTITUTE
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SUBSTITUTED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SULPHUR
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
(See Symbols for Chemical Elements).
- Sample clues:
- Sulphur taken by a young man as healthy food? (5)
- Be contemptuous of sulphur put on cereal (5)
SUM
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersADD.
SUN
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS or the letters SOL.
SUNDAY
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
SUPERIOR
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterU.
SUPPORTER
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersBRA or FAN.
SURPRISING
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SURPRISINGLY
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SURROUND
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
SURROUNDED
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
SURROUNDING
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
SURROUNDS
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
SUSPECT
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SWALLOW
1. Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
2. Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersEAT, DOWN, etc.
SWALLOWED
1. Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
- Sample clue:
- A bird has swallowed her cigar (7)
2. Possibly a hidden word indicator.
- Sample clues:
- Rum swallowed by good drinkers (3)
- Fruit swallowed by some Londoners (5)
SWALLOWING
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
- Sample clue:
- Fish swallowing end of angler's line (4)
SWALLOWS
Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.
SWAN
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the lettersCOB or PEN.
SWEDEN
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterS.
(See International Vehicle Registrations).
SWEETHEART
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterE.
SWIMMER
May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letterFISH or a particular type of fish such as EEL, RAY, etc.
(For more type of fish, see Lists of Fish).
SWIMMING
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SWIRL
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SWIRLING
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SWITCH
Possibly an anagram indicator.
SWITCHED
Possibly an anagram indicator.
Errors or omissions? Please let us know
