If you're looking to really test your grey matter, try these cryptic crosswords!
Cryptic crossword clues (usually) don't literally refer to the answer. The clues are instead puzzles to solve, using wordplay, anagrams, double meanings, and a host of other techniques to encode the answer word.
Here's an example from the first puzzle:
Clue: "In the havoc, a downtrodden fruit (7)"
■ The word "in" is used here to mean that the answer is found as a string of letters within part of the clue, e.g., in "the havoc, a downtrodden fruit".
Cryptic crossword clues (usually) don't literally refer to the answer. The clues are instead puzzles to solve, using wordplay, anagrams, double meanings, and a host of other techniques to encode the answer word.
Here's an example from the first puzzle:
Clue: "In the havoc, a downtrodden fruit (7)"
■ The word "in" is used here to mean that the answer is found as a string of letters within part of the clue, e.g., in "the havoc, a downtrodden fruit".
■ The final word ("fruit") is descriptive of the answer. (There will sometimes be a comma separating parts of a clue as descriptions of the whole, but not always.)
■ So, taking the letters:
THEHAVOCADOWNTRODDEN
reveals a fruit:
THEH AVOCADO WNTRODDEN
... thus the answer is "Avocado".
If you're stuck on a puzzle you can use coins to purchase hints:
a/A icon - toggle between a cryptic and non-cryptic clue for this word.
Star icon - removes letters not used in the answer from the mini keyboard for this clue.
"?" icon - automatically enters the correct letter in the currently selected square.
THEHAVOCADOWNTRODDEN
reveals a fruit:
THEH AVOCADO WNTRODDEN
... thus the answer is "Avocado".
If you're stuck on a puzzle you can use coins to purchase hints:
a/A icon - toggle between a cryptic and non-cryptic clue for this word.
Star icon - removes letters not used in the answer from the mini keyboard for this clue.
"?" icon - automatically enters the correct letter in the currently selected square.