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Quiz about Decrypting Cryptics the Basics

Decrypting Cryptics - the Basics Quiz

Cryptic clues can sound very strange when first read, but they usually have a number of hints to help you decipher them. This quiz should help you to understand some of the basic clues.

A multiple-choice quiz by Lottie1001. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
Lottie1001

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
380,926

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
683

Last 3 plays: psnz (10/10), piperjim1 (10/10), turtle52 (10/10).

Question 1 of 10

1. Maybe the easiest cryptic clues contain hidden words. Look for words such as 'contains', 'covers', 'hides' or 'inside'. They often tell you that the answer is right in front of you - you just need to look in the right place. Part of the clue will be a synonym for the answer. Try this one:-
Chintz covers a clue. (4)

Answer: (One Word)

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Sometimes the hidden word isn't contained in a single word, but may spread across two or more words. You may need to ignore any punctuation marks between the words. Try this one:-
In the crypt, I can find this type of clue. (7)

Answer: (One Word)

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. It becomes a little more interesting when the word is hidden backwards in the clue. Words like 'returns', 'inverts' or 'goes back' suggest that. Try this one:-
Inverted pit gives a hint. (3)

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 4 of 10

4. A clue may use two or more techniques. Try this one:-
Grab utensil back to hold this brass instrument. (4)

Answer: (One Word)

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. A similar type of clue to the hidden words involves using the initial letters of some of the words in the clue to find the solution. Words such as 'starting', 'begins' or 'originally' suggest looking for the answer that way. Try this one:-
This puzzle is starting, quite unusually, in Zanzibar. (4)

Answer: (One Word)

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In a similar vein, sometimes the clue wants you to use the last letters of the given words. 'Lastly', 'finally' or 'at the end' all suggest that sort of clue. Try this one:-
It's a problem, at last, for I would find all those. (6)

Answer: (One Word)

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Another similar type of clue involves using alternate letters from the given word or words. 'Every other' or 'alternate' suggest that. Try this one:-
Every other cold user gives a hint. (4)

Answer: (One Word)

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. The alternate letters may not start with the first letter. Use the number of letters in the answer to help you work out where to start. Try this one:-
Alternately, it sets its puzzle. (4)

Answer: (One Word)

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Cryptic clues often use words within words. Words such as 'hold', 'contain', 'inside' or 'around' could indicate that sort of clue. Try this one:-
Seas hold son for times of the year. (7)

Answer: (One Word)

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Sometimes one, or more, of the words to be combined isn't given directly - you have to find alternative words for those in the clue to make the required answers. Try this one:-
Considering object containing writing fluid. (8)

Answer: (One Word)

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 19 2024 : psnz: 10/10
Mar 21 2024 : piperjim1: 10/10
Feb 26 2024 : turtle52: 10/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: hint

'Covers' leads you to look for a hidden word, and, since it is the 'chintz' doing the covering, you look there for the answer. The solution is 'hint', which could be another word for 'clue'.

Answer: cryptic

The words 'In the' suggest the hidden word. Using the number of letters in the answer helps to find the solution, 'cryptic' which describes a type of clue.

3. It becomes a little more interesting when the word is hidden backwards in the clue. Words like 'returns', 'inverts' or 'goes back' suggest that. Try this one:- Inverted pit gives a hint. (3)

Answer: tip

In this case the clue tells you to invert, or read backwards, the word 'pit'. The solution, 'tip', is another word for 'hint'.

4. A clue may use two or more techniques. Try this one:- Grab utensil back to hold this brass instrument. (4)

Answer: tuba

The word 'hold' indicates a hidden word, and the word 'back' indicates that it is reversed. The answer is a 'brass instrument'. Looking at the words 'Grab utensil', you can see that the last two letters of 'grab' and the first two of 'utensil' give 'ab-ut', which, when reversed is 'tuba' - the brass instrument.

5. A similar type of clue to the hidden words involves using the initial letters of some of the words in the clue to find the solution. Words such as 'starting', 'begins' or 'originally' suggest looking for the answer that way. Try this one:- This puzzle is starting, quite unusually, in Zanzibar. (4)

Answer: quiz

There are four letters in the answer, and four words after the word 'starting'; looking at the initial letters of those four words leads you to the solution, 'quiz' which is another word for a puzzle.

6. In a similar vein, sometimes the clue wants you to use the last letters of the given words. 'Lastly', 'finally' or 'at the end' all suggest that sort of clue. Try this one:- It's a problem, at last, for I would find all those. (6)

Answer: riddle

The last letters of the six words after 'at last' give the solution 'riddle', which is another word for a problem.

7. Another similar type of clue involves using alternate letters from the given word or words. 'Every other' or 'alternate' suggest that. Try this one:- Every other cold user gives a hint. (4)

Answer: clue

Taking the first, third, fifth and seventh letters from 'cold user' gives the four letters to make the solution, 'clue', which is another word for 'hint'.

8. The alternate letters may not start with the first letter. Use the number of letters in the answer to help you work out where to start. Try this one:- Alternately, it sets its puzzle. (4)

Answer: test

Since there are only four letters in the answer, and nine letters in your group of words, try taking the second, fourth, sixth and eighth letters to find the solution. This leads to 'test', another word for 'puzzle'.

9. Cryptic clues often use words within words. Words such as 'hold', 'contain', 'inside' or 'around' could indicate that sort of clue. Try this one:- Seas hold son for times of the year. (7)

Answer: seasons

The word 'son' is inserted into 'seas' after the 'a' to give 'sea-son-s' or 'seasons' which are different times of a year.

Answer: thinking

An object is a thing. Writing fluid is ink. 'Ink' is inserted after the 'h' in 'thing' to give 'th-ink-ing' or 'thinking' - another word for 'considering'.

Source: Author Lottie1001

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor spanishliz before going online.
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Related Quizzes

This quiz is part of series Decrypting Cryptics:

A series of quizzes which help to explain some of the basic cryptic clues found in crosswords and elsewhere.

  1. Decrypting Cryptics - the Basics Average
  2. Decrypting Cryptics - the Next Stage Average
  3. Decrypting Cryptics - Some More Hints Average
  4. Decrypting Cryptics - Further Hints Average
  5. Decrypting Cryptics - Final Clues Average

Referenced Topics

Brain Teasers Word Play Vocabulary Hidden Words Words Within Words Cryptics Initials Riddles

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