Clue Type
Container Clues
A container clue places one set of letters inside another to form the answer. One component is the 'outer' word and the other is 'inserted' into it. The clue includes an indicator that signals containment.
How to identify container clues
Look for words that suggest something being placed inside or around something else. The indicator tells you which part goes inside and which part wraps around.
Common indicators
aroundaboutoutsidecontainingholdingembracingswallowingsurroundinggrippingclutchingboxingwithininsideinenteringfilling
Practice tips
1Identify the two components first, then determine which one goes inside the other.
2The indicator direction matters — 'X in Y' is different from 'X around Y'.
3Write both parts out and physically insert one into the other to check.
4Sometimes one component is a single letter or abbreviation.