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Quiz about Decrypting Cryptics  the Next Stage
Quiz about Decrypting Cryptics  the Next Stage

Decrypting Cryptics - the Next Stage Quiz


This is the second of my quizzes, which explain how to understand cryptic clues. If you haven't already done so, you might want to try 'Decrypting Cryptics - the Basics' first.

A multiple-choice quiz by Lottie1001. Estimated time: 7 mins.
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Author
Lottie1001
Time
7 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
381,057
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
552
Question 1 of 10
1. A common cryptic clue involves an anagram. Words such as 'turns', 'moves', 'changes' or 'becomes' all suggest that one of the words in the clue needs to have its letters re-arranged to find the solution. Try this one:-
Bather turns for gasp of air. (6)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 2 of 10
2. You may need to use more than one of the words in the clue. Looking at the number of letters in the solution will help to determine which letters to use for the anagram. Try this one:-
The puzzle turns in game. (6)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 3 of 10
3. The next two questions are sometimes referred to as 'double definition' clues.
Homonyms are most like the clues in so-called 'easy' puzzles. Homonyms are spelled and sound the same. The cryptic clue should have two parts which both lead to the same word. For example, "Retain the central tower of a castle. (4)" gives the answer "keep", which is both a verb meaning to retain and a noun referring to the central tower of a castle. Now try this one:-
Inability to see a covering for a window. (5)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 4 of 10
4. The clue may involve a juxtaposition of two words to make the answer. Try this one:-
Angry utterances provide puzzles in grids. (10)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 5 of 10
5. An apostrophe indicates a missing letter. For example, "Liftin' a dried grape. (6)" gives the answer "raisin". Another word for 'lifting' is 'raising'; removing the final 'g' leaves 'raisin' which is a dried grape. Now try this one:-
Cravin' for headache relief. (7)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 6 of 10
6. Homographs are spelled the same but sound different. For example, "Show respect to a ribbon tied on a parcel. (3)" gives the answer "bow". To show respect is to 'bow' rhyming with 'cow'; a ribbon tied on a parcel is a 'bow' rhyming with 'low'. Now try this one:-
Coiled injury. (5)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 7 of 10
7. If you see the words 'heard' or 'sounds like' in your clue, you could expect to find a homophone. Homophones are words which sound the same but are spelled differently. For example, "Sounds like a hiding place for money. (4)" gives the answer "cash". A hiding place is a 'cache' which sounds the same as 'cash' - another word for 'money. If you're not sure which of the two words is wanted, look at the number of letters in the answer. Now try this one:-
The jetty sounds like the explanation. (3)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 8 of 10
8. Sometimes homophones can give just a single letter. For instance reference to a cup of tea could indicate the letter 'T'. Try this one:-
Indigenous inhabitant is naive about a cuppa. (6)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 9 of 10
9. A clue may use two or more techniques. Try this one:-
Sea heard threat moving talk. (7)

Answer: (One Word)
Question 10 of 10
10. You may need to assume that words that sound like a letter of the alphabet are homophones. Try this one:-
You queue, reverse mixed oat ration. (5)

Answer: (One Word)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. A common cryptic clue involves an anagram. Words such as 'turns', 'moves', 'changes' or 'becomes' all suggest that one of the words in the clue needs to have its letters re-arranged to find the solution. Try this one:- Bather turns for gasp of air. (6)

Answer: breath

Re-arranging the letters in 'bather' gives 'breath', which is another word for 'gasp of air'.
2. You may need to use more than one of the words in the clue. Looking at the number of letters in the solution will help to determine which letters to use for the anagram. Try this one:- The puzzle turns in game. (6)

Answer: enigma

Re-arranging the six letters in 'in game' leads to the solution, 'enigma', which is another word for 'puzzle'.
3. The next two questions are sometimes referred to as 'double definition' clues. Homonyms are most like the clues in so-called 'easy' puzzles. Homonyms are spelled and sound the same. The cryptic clue should have two parts which both lead to the same word. For example, "Retain the central tower of a castle. (4)" gives the answer "keep", which is both a verb meaning to retain and a noun referring to the central tower of a castle. Now try this one:- Inability to see a covering for a window. (5)

Answer: blind

To be unable to see is to be blind. A 'blind' is also a 'window covering'.
4. The clue may involve a juxtaposition of two words to make the answer. Try this one:- Angry utterances provide puzzles in grids. (10)

Answer: crosswords

'Angry utterances' are 'cross words'. 'Puzzles in grids' are 'crosswords', which is the solution to the clue. If you're having trouble, a thesaurus can often suggest words that you hadn't thought of.
5. An apostrophe indicates a missing letter. For example, "Liftin' a dried grape. (6)" gives the answer "raisin". Another word for 'lifting' is 'raising'; removing the final 'g' leaves 'raisin' which is a dried grape. Now try this one:- Cravin' for headache relief. (7)

Answer: aspirin

Cravin' is short for craving. Another word for 'craving' is 'aspiring'. Taking the final 'g' off 'aspiring' leaves 'aspirin', which is the name of a drug commonly used to treat headaches.
6. Homographs are spelled the same but sound different. For example, "Show respect to a ribbon tied on a parcel. (3)" gives the answer "bow". To show respect is to 'bow' rhyming with 'cow'; a ribbon tied on a parcel is a 'bow' rhyming with 'low'. Now try this one:- Coiled injury. (5)

Answer: wound

Another word for 'coiled' is 'wound' (to rhyme with 'crowned'). An injury is a 'wound' (to rhyme with 'crooned'). This can also sometimes be described as a "double definition", as can many homonym/homograph/homophone clues.
7. If you see the words 'heard' or 'sounds like' in your clue, you could expect to find a homophone. Homophones are words which sound the same but are spelled differently. For example, "Sounds like a hiding place for money. (4)" gives the answer "cash". A hiding place is a 'cache' which sounds the same as 'cash' - another word for 'money. If you're not sure which of the two words is wanted, look at the number of letters in the answer. Now try this one:- The jetty sounds like the explanation. (3)

Answer: key

Another word for 'jetty' is 'quay'. A 'key' is an 'explanation' and sounds like 'quay'. A thesaurus can be very useful, here, too.
8. Sometimes homophones can give just a single letter. For instance reference to a cup of tea could indicate the letter 'T'. Try this one:- Indigenous inhabitant is naive about a cuppa. (6)

Answer: native

The 'cuppa' is 'T'. It is inserted after the 'a' in 'naive' to give 'na-T-ive' or 'native', which is another word for an 'indigenous inhabitant'.
9. A clue may use two or more techniques. Try this one:- Sea heard threat moving talk. (7)

Answer: chatter

'Sea' sounds like 'C'. 'Threat' can be re-arranged to make 'hatter'. Putting the two together gives 'C-hatter' or 'chatter', which is another word for 'talk'.
10. You may need to assume that words that sound like a letter of the alphabet are homophones. Try this one:- You queue, reverse mixed oat ration. (5)

Answer: quota

'You' sounds like 'U'. 'Queue' sounds like 'Q'. They are placed in the opposite order before an anagram of 'oat', giving 'Q-U-ota' or 'quota', which is another word for a 'ration'.
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

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