Times Cryptic 29568 — Prize Puzzle
🏆 Prize Puzzle — hints without spoilers.
Stuck on a clue? Every clue below has step-by-step hints, the wordplay structure, and a convention lookup — work out the definition, the technique, and the indicator words yourself, without seeing the answer. Full solutions and wordplay appear here once the competition closes on .
Across
1A — Purveyor of indulgences settled in Tudor widow’s embrace (8)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'Purveyor of indulgences'The definition is the first three words — a medieval seller of church pardons.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'embrace''embrace' tells you one piece wraps around another.
-
Operation
'embrace' signals a container operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'settled Tudor widow’s'
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'settled'The 'settled' word goes inside.
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Tudor widow’s'The Tudor widow's surname forms the shell.
6A — Julius Caesar — reluctant dish washer? (1-5)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'dish washer?'The definition is the last two words — a cleaning cloth, with the '?' winking at the surface story.
-
Wordplay
Wordplay: CharadeNo indicator words here — the parts just join end to end. That's a charade.
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Julius'Julius gives his initial.
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Caesar'Caesar gives his.
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'reluctant'Then the word for unwilling.
9A — Something in meadow one might trip on? (5,8)
-
Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.No wordplay to split — the whole clue is one playful description. Two senses of 'trip' are in play.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: ''No indicator words — a cryptic definition has no wordplay split, just a playful read of the whole clue.
-
Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definitionThe whole clue acts as one playful definition, no wordplay parts to break out.
10A — No tea for army clergy in open country (6)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'open country'The definition is the last two words — wide flat expanses.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'No tea''No tea' tells you to cut a word for tea from the front — think of the three-letter slang for a cuppa.
-
Operation
'No tea' signals a deletion operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'army clergy'
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'army clergy'Start from the word for army clergy.
11A — Edmund died with a ruptured appendix (8)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'appendix'The definition is the last word — an addition at the end of a document.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'ruptured''ruptured' is the signal that letters are jumbled.
-
Operation
'ruptured' signals a anagram operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'Edmund died a'
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'died''died' adds a D.
13A — Possible advice for dilatory chess player? (3,1,4,2)
-
Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.No wordplay to split — the whole clue is one playful description. 'move' has a chess sense and an everyday sense.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: ''No indicator words — a cryptic definition has no wordplay split, just a playful read of the whole clue.
-
Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definitionThe whole clue acts as one playful definition, no wordplay parts to break out.
15A — What used to make people blue without a lot of fuss? (4)
-
Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.No wordplay to split — the whole clue is one playful description. The ancient Britons literally turned blue using the herb (Isatis tinctoria) of the mustard family formerly grown
-
Indicator
Indicator found: ''No indicator words — a cryptic definition has no wordplay split, just a playful read of the whole clue.
-
Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definitionThe whole clue acts as one playful definition, no wordplay parts to break out.
16A — Julie’s content consuming gram in fruit (4)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'fruit'The definition is the last word — a citrus.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'consuming''consuming' tells you one piece swallows another.
-
Operation
'consuming' signals a container operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'Julie’s gram'
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'content''content' means take the inside letters — strip the ends off the name.
-
Operation
'content' signals a letter_selection operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'Julie’s'
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'gram'The gram letter goes inside.
18A — 14lb chicken Gabrielle gutted for rock group (10)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'rock group'The definition is the last two words — read 'rock group' as a literal cluster of standing stones.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'gutted''gutted' tells you to keep only the outer letters of the word before it.
-
Operation
'gutted' signals a letter_selection operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'Gabrielle'
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: '14lb'The 14lb weight opens the answer.
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'chicken'Then the female bird.
21A — Subversive attempts holding Henry with new suspect (8)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'Subversive attempts'The definition is the first two words — violent attempts to seize power. A secretly plotted and suddenly executed attempt to overthrow a government
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'new''new' is the signal to rearrange letters.
-
Operation
'new' signals a anagram operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'Henry suspect'
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Henry'Henry adds an H.
22A — Opening in harbour exposed wall (6)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'Opening'The definition is the first word — a doorway or gateway.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'exposed''exposed' tells you to strip the outer letters and keep what's inside.
-
Operation
'exposed' signals a letter_selection operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'wall'
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'harbour'The harbour word opens the answer.
23A — Busy arresting King: US novelist heard in college (6,7)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'college'The definition is the last word — a famous Oxbridge institution.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'arresting''arresting' tells you one piece wraps around another.
-
Operation
'arresting' signals a container operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'Busy King:'
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'heard''heard' tells you a name is taken by its sound, not its spelling.
-
Operation
'heard' signals a homophone operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'novelist'
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Busy'The police-slang word forms the shell.
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'King:'The king's single letter goes inside.
25A — Labour politician perhaps in story broken by English paper (6)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'Labour politician perhaps'The definition is the first three words — 'perhaps' flags it as a for-instance.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'broken''broken' is the signal to rearrange the letters.
-
Operation
'broken' signals a anagram operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'story English paper'
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'story'The word for a fib supplies three letters.
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'English'English adds an E.
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'paper'The financial paper adds its two initials.
26A — Brash individual somehow means to pen classical number (5,3)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'Brash individual'The definition is the first two words — a stereotype of a flashy, materialistic sort.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'somehow''somehow' is the signal to rearrange letters.
-
Operation
'somehow' signals a anagram operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'means classical number'
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'classical number'Latin for six adds three more letters.
Down
2D — He wrote two articles with 50 in abundant supply (1,1,5)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'He wrote'The definition is the first two words — an author.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'in''in' tells you one piece is tucked inside another.
-
Operation
'in' signals a container operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: '50 abundant supply'
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'two articles'Two articles open the answer.
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: '50'The Roman fifty drops inside.
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'abundant supply'The word for an abundant source is the shell.
3D — VIPs understand stars supporting fool (11)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'VIPs'The definition is the first word — important people.
-
Wordplay
Wordplay: CharadeNo indicator words here — the parts just join end to end. That's a charade.
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'understand'Understanding comes first.
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'stars'The zodiac sign brings up the rear.
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'fool'Then the fool.
4D — Recalled Charlie wearing coat and trousers (5)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'trousers'The definition is the last word — read it as a verb meaning to pocket or steal.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'Recalled'In a down clue, 'Recalled' tells you to read the letters upwards.
-
Operation
'Recalled' signals a reversal operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'Charlie coat'
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'wearing''wearing' tells you the coat wraps around something.
-
Operation
'wearing' signals a container operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'Charlie coat'
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Charlie'The radio C goes inside.
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'coat'The coat forms the shell.
5D — Debauchee gorging on roguish man’s dish (7)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'man’s'The definition is the last word — something served at table.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'gorging on''gorging on' tells you one piece swallows another.
-
Operation
'gorging on' signals a container operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'Debauchee roguish'
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Debauchee'A _ _ _ _ (originally from French) is a man who leads an loose, immoral life, devoted to sensual pleasures
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'roguish'The roguish fellow goes inside.
6D — Name twice claimed by unidentified male poet (4,5)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'poet'
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'twice'
-
Operation
'twice' signals a repetition operation
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'claimed by'
-
Operation
'claimed by' signals a container operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'Name unidentified male'
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Name'
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'unidentified male'"Unidentified male" is a direct definition of "JOHN DOE," making it a perfectly valid synonym in a cryptic crossword context.
7D — Asian destination not good for climbing (3)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'Asian'The definition is the first word — of a people from South-East Asia.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'not''not' tells you to drop the letter that stands for good.
-
Operation
'not' signals a deletion operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'destination good'
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'climbing'In a down clue, 'climbing' tells you to read the letters upwards.
-
Operation
'climbing' signals a reversal operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'destination'
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'destination'Start from the word for a destination.
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'good'
8D — Fried food, possibly upmarket, lacking in potassium (7)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'Fried food,'The definition is the first two words — a battered, deep-fried dish.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'possibly''possibly' is the nudge to rearrange letters.
-
Operation
'possibly' signals a anagram operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'upmarket,'
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'lacking in potassium''lacking ... potassium' tells you to drop chemistry's symbol for potassium.
-
Operation
'lacking in potassium' signals a deletion operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'upmarket,'
12D — Is indebted to sport charges? Nothing about that in 2 book (3,2,3,3)
-
Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.The phrase is a book by the author at 2 down — read the whole clue as pointing to that title.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: ''No indicator words — a cryptic definition has no wordplay split, just a playful read of the whole clue.
-
Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definitionThe whole clue acts as one playful definition, no wordplay parts to break out.
14D — Supply has to operate outside old building (4,5)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'building'The definition is the last word — a usually conical kiln used for drying hops, malt, or tobacco
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'Supply''Supply' read as 'in a supple way' is the signal to rearrange letters.
-
Operation
'Supply' signals a anagram operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'has to operate old'
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'operate''operate' contributes a word for use.
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'old''old' adds its single letter.
17D — Trouble afoot seemingly reduced desire for work (7)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'work'The definition is the last word — read it as a piece of art.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'seemingly reduced''seemingly reduced' tells you to drop the final letter of the word before it.
-
Operation
'seemingly reduced' signals a deletion operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'Trouble afoot'
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Trouble afoot'Start from the foot ailment.
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'desire'Add the word for longing.
19D — Very large agricultural tool cutting middle of ankle bone (7)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'bone'The definition is the last word.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'cutting middle''cutting ... middle of ankle' tells you to remove the centre letter of 'ankle' from a word.
-
Operation
'cutting middle' signals a deletion operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'agricultural tool'
-
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Very large'The 'very large' tag opens the answer.
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'agricultural tool'Start from the reaping blade.
20D — Babushka topping it with a Sicilian dessert (7)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'Sicilian dessert'The definition is the last two words — a frozen Italian treat.
-
Wordplay
Wordplay: CharadeNo indicator words here — the parts just join end to end. That's a charade.
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Babushka'Granny sits on top in this down clue.
22D — City district with church, without hotel (5)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'City'The definition is the first word — a capital city.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'without hotel''without hotel' tells you to drop the letter hotel stands for in the radio alphabet.
-
Operation
'without hotel' signals a deletion operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'district with church,'
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'district with church,'Start from the word for a church district.
24D — Uncovered real meaning in boring routine (3)
-
Definition
Definition found: 'boring routine'The definition is the last two words — a tedious groove you get stuck in.
-
Indicator
Indicator found: 'Uncovered''Uncovered' tells you to strip the covering letters off the ends — keep the middle.
-
Operation
'Uncovered' signals a letter_selection operation
-
Fodder
Fodder: 'real meaning'
-
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'real meaning'Start from a word for the real meaning.