Definition
Most cryptic clues include a straight definition either at the start or the end. Identifying that anchor narrows the answer space immediately.
Learning guide
How to solve a Minute Cryptic clue
Minute Cryptic clues are short, but they still use the same core logic as longer cryptic crosswords. The fastest way to improve is to stop treating each clue as a mystery sentence and start looking for the repeated building blocks that setters use every day.
This guide explains the recurring clue parts you will see across the site's daily answer pages and archive entries. Once you can spot the definition, the indicator, and the fodder, many clues become far more manageable.
Indicator
Indicator words tell you what kind of wordplay is happening. They may suggest mixing letters, hiding an answer, reversing letters, or combining fragments.
Fodder
The fodder is the material the setter wants you to manipulate. It may be a word, several words, or a short phrase inside the clue.
Anagram
An anagram clue gives you a set of letters plus an indicator such as mixed, broken, wild, or confused. Reordering the letters produces the answer.
Reversal
A reversal clue asks you to read letters backwards. Common indicators include back, returned, rising, or reversed, depending on the clue format.
Workflow
A simple solving workflow
1. Read the clue normally first. The surface reading is meant to sound natural, so your first pass is mostly for context.
2. Search the edges for a definition. In many clues the definition sits at the beginning or end. If one end looks like a plain synonym, keep it in mind.
3. Look for indicator language. Words such as mixed, hidden, around, back, or inside often tell you which operation to apply.
4. Identify the fodder. Once you know the likely operation, ask which nearby letters or words are meant to be rearranged, contained, reversed, or extracted.
5. Confirm with enumeration. The answer length is a strong filter. A promising answer that does not fit the letter count is probably wrong.
Clue types explained
Every cryptic clue uses one of these wordplay techniques. Tap a card to read the full guide with indicators, worked examples, and practice tips.
Anagram
Rearrange the fodder letters to form the answer.
Learn moreCharade
Join smaller pieces in sequence to build the answer.
Learn moreContainer
Place one set of letters inside another.
Learn moreReversal
Read letters backwards to find the answer.
Learn moreHidden Word
The answer is hiding inside the clue text.
Learn moreDouble Definition
Two definitions, one answer, no wordplay.
Learn moreDeletion
Remove letters from a word to get the answer.
Learn moreHomophone
A word that sounds like the answer when spoken.
Learn moreCryptic Definition
The whole clue is a misleading definition.
Learn moreGuide
How this site helps you learn
On daily and archive detail pages, hints are separated into staged reveals so you can stop after a small nudge or continue all the way to the answer if needed.
That structure is useful because it mirrors how cryptic solvers think. First you find the likely definition, then the wordplay instruction, then the fodder that produces the answer.
Repeating that process across many archived clues is one of the best ways to improve your solving speed.