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Quiz about Decrypting Cryptics  Some More Hints
Quiz about Decrypting Cryptics  Some More Hints

Decrypting Cryptics - Some More Hints Quiz


This is the third of my quizzes, which explain how to understand cryptic clues. If you haven't already done so, you might want to try the earlier ones before doing this quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by Lottie1001. Estimated time: 7 mins.
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Author
Lottie1001
Time
7 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
381,061
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
515
Question 1 of 10
1. The word 'direction' in a clue probably indicates that one of the letters 'N' (north), 'E' (east), 'S' (south) or 'W' (west) should be used in the answer. For example, "Spring flower is violent without a direction. (6)" gives the answer "violet" by removing the 'N' from 'violent'. Now try this one:-
Wrath about direction leads to a funeral tribute. (6)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 2 of 10
2. The letters 'R' (right) and 'L' (left) are often indicated by the word 'hand', and occasionally by 'direction'. For example, "Pale colour came, moving around the right hand. (5)" gives the answer "cream". It is an anagram of 'came', 'ceam', with the 'R' inserted after the 'c'. Now try this one:-
Relish both hands around first lady. (5)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 3 of 10
3. A mention of a (musical) note will mean one of the letters 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E', 'F' or 'G'. For example, "Cartoon cat changes fragile note. (8)" gives the answer "Garfield" - an orange cat from a cartoon strip. The note is 'D' which follows an anagram of 'fragile' - 'garfiel'. Now try this one:-
Give note on rant. (5)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 4 of 10
4. A mention of Roman numerals in a cryptic clue will probably mean that one or more of the letters 'I' (1), 'V' (5), 'X' (10), 'L' (50), 'C' (100), 'D' (500) or 'M' (1000) is in the answer. Remember that they can be combined to make other numbers. Try this one:-
Stir Roman thousand and nine. (3)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 5 of 10
5. Sometimes a number is mentioned without any reference to Rome. It's probably still going to use a Roman numeral in the answer. Try this one:-
Find solution alone about five. (5)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 6 of 10
6. The number may not be given to you directly, so you'll have to identify it from the clue. Try this one:-
Push number of toes into footwear. (5)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 7 of 10
7. Not all numbers are Roman numerals. 'Nothing' will probably indicate the letter 'O' because it looks like the numeral '0'. Try this one:-
This bird is blazing on nothing. (8)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 8 of 10
8. The word 'ring' can also be used for the letter 'O' because of its shape. Try this one:-
Clear writing instrument after ring. (4)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 9 of 10
9. Reference to a 'bend' or 'curve' could indicate the curved letters 'U' or 'S'. Try this one:-
Moth goes around the bend for the end of the river. (5)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 10 of 10
10. There is no reason why a clue should have only one type of letter indicator. Try this one:-
Note south after nothing left four oil-giving fruits. (6)

Answer: (One Word)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The word 'direction' in a clue probably indicates that one of the letters 'N' (north), 'E' (east), 'S' (south) or 'W' (west) should be used in the answer. For example, "Spring flower is violent without a direction. (6)" gives the answer "violet" by removing the 'N' from 'violent'. Now try this one:- Wrath about direction leads to a funeral tribute. (6)

Answer: wreath

'E' is inserted after the 'r' in 'wrath' to give 'wr-E-ath' or 'wreath', which is 'a funeral tribute'.
Don't forget that a thesaurus can be helpful if you're struggling to find the right word.
2. The letters 'R' (right) and 'L' (left) are often indicated by the word 'hand', and occasionally by 'direction'. For example, "Pale colour came, moving around the right hand. (5)" gives the answer "cream". It is an anagram of 'came', 'ceam', with the 'R' inserted after the 'c'. Now try this one:- Relish both hands around first lady. (5)

Answer: revel

In a cryptic clue, the first lady is not usually the wife of the current president of the USA; it generally refers to Eve, the wife of Adam in the first book of the Bible. Putting 'R' before 'Eve' and 'L' after, gives 'R-eve-L' or 'revel', which is another word for 'relish'.
3. A mention of a (musical) note will mean one of the letters 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E', 'F' or 'G'. For example, "Cartoon cat changes fragile note. (8)" gives the answer "Garfield" - an orange cat from a cartoon strip. The note is 'D' which follows an anagram of 'fragile' - 'garfiel'. Now try this one:- Give note on rant. (5)

Answer: grant

The note in this case is 'G' giving 'G-rant' or 'grant', which means to 'give'.
If you imagine the word written vertically from top to bottom rather than horizontally from left to right, you can understand why the word 'on' in that clue indicates that the 'G' goes at the start of the word.
4. A mention of Roman numerals in a cryptic clue will probably mean that one or more of the letters 'I' (1), 'V' (5), 'X' (10), 'L' (50), 'C' (100), 'D' (500) or 'M' (1000) is in the answer. Remember that they can be combined to make other numbers. Try this one:- Stir Roman thousand and nine. (3)

Answer: mix

The Roman numerals 'M' (1000) and 'IX' (9) spell 'mix', which is another word for 'stir'.
5. Sometimes a number is mentioned without any reference to Rome. It's probably still going to use a Roman numeral in the answer. Try this one:- Find solution alone about five. (5)

Answer: solve

Another word for 'alone' could be 'sole'. Putting the 'V' for five after the 'l' in 'sole' gives 'sol-V-e' or 'solve', which is to 'find a solution'.
6. The number may not be given to you directly, so you'll have to identify it from the clue. Try this one:- Push number of toes into footwear. (5)

Answer: shove

The number of toes on a foot is five - 'V'. A 'shoe' is an item of footwear. Inserting 'V' after the 'o' in 'shoe' gives 'sho-V-e' or 'shove' which is another word for 'push'.
7. Not all numbers are Roman numerals. 'Nothing' will probably indicate the letter 'O' because it looks like the numeral '0'. Try this one:- This bird is blazing on nothing. (8)

Answer: flamingo

Another word for 'blazing' is 'flaming'. Adding 'O' to the end gives 'flaming-O' or 'flamingo' - a bird.
8. The word 'ring' can also be used for the letter 'O' because of its shape. Try this one:- Clear writing instrument after ring. (4)

Answer: open

The 'writing instrument' is a 'pen'. Placing it after the 'O' gives 'O-pen' or 'open', which is another word for 'clear'.
9. Reference to a 'bend' or 'curve' could indicate the curved letters 'U' or 'S'. Try this one:- Moth goes around the bend for the end of the river. (5)

Answer: mouth

The bend, 'U' is placed after the 'o' in 'moth' to give 'mo-U-th' or 'mouth', which is a word describing the end of a river where it reaches a sea or lake.
10. There is no reason why a clue should have only one type of letter indicator. Try this one:- Note south after nothing left four oil-giving fruits. (6)

Answer: olives

In this case the note is 'E'. 'South' is 'S'. 'Nothing' is 'O'. 'Left' is 'L'. 'Four' is 'IV'. Putting them all together gives 'O-L-IV' followed by 'E-S' or 'olives', which are fruits known for giving oil.
Source: Author Lottie1001

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

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