Daily Puzzle Breakdowns
Each Minute Cryptic clue uses a specific wordplay technique. Our daily breakdowns identify the clue type, walk through the solving logic step by step, and explain how definition, indicator, and fodder work together to produce the answer.
“Roused by a worker striking - rights won at last!”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'Roused', and our answer will be another word for that." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Loyal members organised in order to form a union?”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'a union?', and our answer will be a union of sorts." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Very well done, but occupied by texting right now…”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'Very well done', and our answer will be a word that can also mean 'very well done', in certain contexts." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Recalibration reveals the scale of the cosmos?”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'the scale of the cosmos?', and our answer will be some kind of cosmic scale..." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Screaming half the weekend for ice cream”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'ice cream', and our answer will be a kind of ice cream treat!" points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Assemble Avengers to Stark monument?”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'Stark monument?', and our answer will be a kind of stark monument." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Boat's life-ring goes overboard after orca swings flipper?”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'flipper?' and our answer will be another word for that." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Grow closer to Hannah, with time shared between 8 and 10?”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'Grow', and our answer will be another word for that." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Managed to return dog to shelter… never played with”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'Managed', and our answer will be another word for that." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Mike's neighbours secure a place in Charlie's neighbours' flat”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'flat', and our answer will be another word for that." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Swimming group’s pool cleared of pee after second such evacuation?”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'Swimming group', and our answer will be a word for a group of swimmers." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Odd, even, odd, even… never-ending game”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'game', and our answer will be a kind of game." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Midrange van crashed into circular intersection?”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'circular intersection?', and the question mark is priming us to think a little more laterally than we normally might. Our answer will be a kind of circular intersection." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Praise the Trinity at the end of spiritual retreats with the Right Reverend”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'Praise', and our answer will be another word for that." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Caught up in plot, he’ll overreact!”
Identify the definition: "This clue is an &lit, meaning the whole clue is the definition and the whole clue is the wordplay. So, here, our answer is someone caught up in a plot who overreacts." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Fussy spouse leaves United States to get bread in Mexico?”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'bread in Mexico?' and, with the question mark flagging some slight stretch, our answer will be another word for bread in Mexico." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Becoming aware of what toothpaste on a cake is?”
Identify the definition: "This clue is a double definition - two definitions to the same answer and no wordplay. One of the definitions is 'what toothpaste on a cake is?', and pay attention to the question mark - this is a punny definition. Find a word or phrase that matches 'what toothpaste on a cake is', while also matching with the other definition." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Place 1st of everyone at the end of "Ugly-Stupid Contest"”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'Contest', and our answer will be another word for that." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Westbound lanes clogged by car show regulars every summer, perhaps”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'every summer, perhaps', and our answer will be a category of which 'every summer' is an example" points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown“Admission of “Long time, no see”, you overheard (5)”
Identify the definition: "Our definition here is 'Admission', and our answer will be another word for that." points to the meaning of the answer.
Read breakdown