Clue Type
Charade Clues
A charade clue builds the answer by joining smaller pieces in sequence — abbreviations, short words, or word fragments — one after another, like a chain. Each piece is clued individually, and the definition sits at one end of the clue.
How to identify charade clues
Charade clues often lack a single strong indicator. Instead, look for a series of short synonym-like words or abbreviations that can be concatenated. Words such as 'with', 'and', 'after', 'before', or 'following' sometimes mark the join points.
Common indicators
withandafterbeforefollowingbesidenext tothensucceedingprecedingonby
Practice tips
1Break the clue into small chunks and see if each chunk can produce a letter or short string.
2Common abbreviations (S for south, R for river, RE for about) appear frequently in charades.
3The definition is almost always at the very start or very end of the clue.
4If nothing else seems to fit, try a charade — it is one of the most common clue types.