Cryptic Crossword Clues Explained Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. At home, well-known; else notorious.

Answer: infamous

'At home' = 'in' and 'well-known' is 'famous'
so 'well-known at home' = 'in-famous'
which means 'notorious'.

This type of clue substitutes other words for parts of the answer (similar to a rebus), and also defines the required word.

2. Points at one on feeling something.

Answer: sensation

'S', 'E', 'N' and 'S' are all points of the compass, followed by 'at', 'I' (for 1) and 'on' to give the 'sensation' of 'feeling something.'

Cryptic clues often use words like 'points' to refer to something that might not be immediately obvious to the novice solver. In this case it is 'points of the compass' or N (north), S (south), E (east) and W (west), though the last is not used here.

3. Cut, but stick together.

Answer: cleave

This simple kind of clue consists of two definitions for the same word - easy when you've worked out that it's that kind of clue. I've always been amazed that the word 'cleave' can have two exactly opposite meanings!

Though it is the case here, it is not always necessary for the double definition to lead to a word with opposite meanings.

4. Adding nothing (three times) makes this a thousand times larger in the UK than in America.

Answer: billion

Adding three 0's to an American billion (1,000,000,000) gives a British billion (1,000,000,000,000) which is a thousand times larger.
Other numbers are different too: an American trillion has 12 0's whereas a British one has 18; a US quadrillion has 15 0's and a British one 24.

5. Iron this flower with great force.

Answer: pressure

To 'iron' a garment is to 'press' it. The 'flower' or 'flow-er' is the river Ure, in Yorkshire. (That's my least favourite kind of clue - I always miss it! The other word often used to disguise a river is 'banker' - i.e. something with banks.) 'Great force' is the answer, 'pressure'.

'Flower' and 'banker' are more examples of words often used in cryptic clues that can stump novice solvers.

6. Depression? Dance in Paris, initially.

Answer: Dip

A 'depression' is a 'dip'. Initially instructs one to use the first letters of the preceding words: D(ance) I(n) P(aris) = Dip

7. It's a myth the people had regulation, we hear.

Answer: folklore

'A myth' might be folklore. 'The people' are 'folk'. The words 'we hear' are used to indicate we're looking for a word which sounds like the answer. 'Regulation' is 'law' so the word which sounds like it is 'lore'.

It can be useful to remember that cryptics often require a British accent for this kind of clue!

8. Ian eaten by Mr Sullivan returning suddenly finds he's a girl!

Answer: Diane

The letters of the word 'Ian' appear inside 'Mr Sullivan's' name written backwards ('returning'). 'Mr Sullivan' is 'Ed', giving the answer 'D-IAN-E'. Look for instructions within the clue to tell you how to make the answer, like the words 'eaten' and 'returning'. No part of a crossword clue is redundant information.

9. Suffix errors will creep in, if he doesn't sort them out.

Answer: fixer

"Suf(FIX ER)rors..."

The word 'fixer' appears at the end of 'suffix' and the beginning of 'errors'. The words 'creep in' are an indication that it might be this kind of clue. The 'fixer' is the one who should 'sort them out'.

10. Kin thing.

Answer: muddled thinking

A real stinker! The clue is the letters of 'thinking' muddled up. It's an homage to the great classic clue: GEG (nine letters, three letters) = 'Scrambled egg'.

Source: Author spanishliz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Fifiona81 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

These are clues similar to the kind that appear in English cryptic crossword puzzles with a variety of possible tricks. The only thing that makes them harder is that you won't be able to get any of the letters from other clues!
This is a renovated/adopted version of an old quiz by author rosc

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

Cryptic Crossword Clues Explained Quiz

These are clues similar to the kind that appear in English cryptic crossword puzzles with a variety of possible tricks. The only thing that makes them harder is that you won't be able to get any of the letters from other clues! This is a renovated/adopted version of an old quiz by author rosc

These are clues similar to the kind that appear in English cryptic crossword puzzles with a variety of possible tricks. The only thing that makes them harder is that you won't be able to get any of the letters from other clues!
This is a renovated/adopted version of an old quiz by author rosc