1. CRYPTIC CLUES
Remember our example?
Anatomy of a cryptic clue :
eg. Free India votes for changes. (10)
Free India votes for changes. (10)
INDICATOR FODDER CONNECTOR DEFINITION ENUMERATION
Anybody Can Wrestle With Words : Cryptic Clues
Literati, IIT-Bombay | 2014 WORDPLAY
2. Good that you recall. Having already talked about clues
that involve Anagrams, we’ll look at two new types of
clues today.
• Telescopic clue
• Charade clue
Anybody Can Wrestle With Words : Cryptic Clues
Literati, IIT-Bombay | 2014
3. • Telescopic clue
eg. Language found in North India (5)
Answer : HINDI (“NortH INDIa”)
Definition : “Language”
Indicator : “found in”
(You can find a list of common telescopic indicators here)
Fodder : “North India”
As we can see, the answer is hidden between two words. In a typical
telescopic clue, the answer may be hidden within two or more words.
Anybody Can Wrestle With Words : Cryptic Clues
Literati, IIT-Bombay | 2014
4. Here’s a practice set :
• A tool used for hammering found in Indian villages (5)
• Princess in Indian attire (5)
•Want letters from Sachin Tendulkar? (6)
• Cure some of the allergies (4)
• Metal found in West Indies (3)
• Hidden message sent to wise men (5)
•Warm, inexpensive houses owned by me (4)
• Scolds Prachi Desai secretly (6)
• Manchester United has to hurry (3)
• Localities in Ghatkopar East (5)
Answers follow.
Anybody Can Wrestle With Words : Cryptic Clues
Literati, IIT-Bombay | 2014
5. Answers
• ANVIL – IndiAN VILlages
• DIANA – InDIAN Attire
• INTEND – SachIN TENDulkar
• HEAL – tHE ALlergies
• TIN –WesT INdies
• SAGES – mesSAGE Sent
• MINE – warM INExpensive
• CHIDES – PraCHI DESai
• RUN – ManchesteR UNited
• AREAS – GhatkopAR EASt
Anybody Can Wrestle With Words : Cryptic Clues
Literati, IIT-Bombay | 2014
6. • Charade clue
eg. Mercy for average criminal (6)
Answer : PARDON = PAR + DON
Definition : “Mercy”
Connector : “for”
Indicator : <none>
(Not needed in a charade clue)
Fodder : “average criminal”
As we see, ‘average’ gives PAR and ‘criminal’ gives DON, and we
simply combine the two to get our answer. In a typical charade clue,
different words/phrases in the clue give different parts of the
answer, and combining all of them gives us the answer itself.
Anybody Can Wrestle With Words : Cryptic Clues
Literati, IIT-Bombay | 2014
7. Here’s a practice set :
• Dangerously obese friend (7)
• Merciful and in favour of donating (9)
• Demonstration for an exam (7)
• Continue to bully (4)
• Dad’s attempt to make a dessert (6)
• Lean ruler meditating (8)
• Place of work away from frozen water (6)
• Deficiency for brief period of time (8)
• Brings back remnant natural resources (8)
• One of us became old and ruled (7)
Answers follow.
Anybody Can Wrestle With Words : Cryptic Clues
Literati, IIT-Bombay | 2014
8. Answers
• FATALLY – FAT (obese) + ALLY (friend)
• FORGIVING - FOR (in favour of) + GIVING (donating)
• PROTEST – PRO (for) + TEST (an exam)
• GOON – GO ON (continue)
• PASTRY – PA’S (Dad’s) + TRY (attempt)
• THINKING – THIN (lean) + KING (ruler)
• OFFICE – OFF (away from) + ICE (frozen water)
• SHORTAGE – SHORT (brief) + AGE (period of time)
• RESTORES – REST (remnant) + ORES (natural resources)
• MANAGED – MAN (one of us) + AGED (became old)
Anybody Can Wrestle With Words : Cryptic Clues
Literati, IIT-Bombay | 2014
9. More types of wordplay coming up!
Hope you enjoyed this one.
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www.facebook.com/groups/iitbwordgamesclub.
Anybody Can Wrestle With Words : Cryptic Clues
Literati, IIT-Bombay | 2014