Stuck on a clue?
Type in the clue and we'll help you crack it, as gently or as bluntly as you like.
Hints first, answers last
Most clue solvers just hand you the answer, which spoils the fun. Cryptic Boost works the way a friend who's good at crosswords would: it tells you what kind of clue you're looking at, points out the definition, and nudges you towards the wordplay. You decide how much to see. When you're ready, tap the squares to reveal one letter at a time.
Every hint teaches you something about how setters think, so you'll need fewer of them as you go. If you're new to cryptics, start with our beginner's guide to solving cryptic crosswords.
The clue types you'll meet most
- Anagram
The letters of some words in the clue are rearranged to make the answer.
- Charade
The answer is built from pieces placed one after another, like building blocks.
- Container and contents
One part of the answer goes inside another.
- Hidden word
The answer is written out in full inside the clue, spanning one or more words.
- Homophone
The answer sounds like another word or phrase in the clue.
- Double definition
Two different meanings of the same word sit side by side.
Questions solvers ask
What is a cryptic crossword?
A crossword where every clue is a small puzzle. Each clue normally has two parts: a straight definition of the answer, and wordplay that leads you to the same answer another way.
Where is the definition in a cryptic clue?
Almost always at the very start or the very end of the clue. Finding it is the single most useful step, because what's left over is the wordplay.
What do the numbers in brackets mean?
That's the enumeration: the length of each word in the answer. (5) is one five-letter word, (4,3) is two words, and (5-4) is a hyphenated answer.