Sample Cryptic Clues
Now that you understand how to solve cryptic clues, you're ready to tackle a few yourself. Try the ones below. They're listed according to element type. See how many you can figure out before you look at the answers.
- Anagrams
- Elf upset priest (6)
- Beast in Manila going wild (6)
- Finds a closet messed up (7)
- Charades
- Each boy is human (6)
- Hotel had a meal for native (6)
- Derek gets approval to survey part of library (8)
- Containers
- Lear is holding the shoe material (7)
- Prisoner holds painting box (6)
- New Mexico city vault contains insect (5,2)
- Deletions
- Depart, after the first, for edge of roof (4)
- Vanilla extract has zip (3)
- Sheriffs' groups have not finished (6)
- Double definition
- Here is a gift (7)
- Break from school depression (6)
- Quick diet (4)
- Hidden answers
- In dream, Eric attacked the U.S. (7)
- Italian city tucked into grove nicely (6)
- Paler cashiers, for the most part (6)
- Homophones
- Elevate beams noisily (5)
- French coins for hot dogs, I hear (6)
- Heard outlawed music group (4)
- Reversals
- Therefore, monster returned (4)
- Wildebeests made some music up (4)
- Returning students make a mistake (4,2)
- &Lit
- Terribly angered! (7)
- Author perhaps penned the foremost of essays! (7)
How many did you get? Check out the answers to see if you were right.