How do I solve 1 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

1 across reads "Snakeskin shoe?" (8 letters); the answer is MOCCASIN. It's a cryptic definition: the whole clue is a playful or punny description of the answer. No wordplay decomposition to do — read laterally and identify what's being described. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 5 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

5 across reads "Tipsy chef’s hidden spirit" (6 letters); the answer is PSYCHE. It's a hidden-word clue: the answer is spelled out by consecutive letters in the clue itself, often crossing a word boundary. Indicators like 'in', 'some', or 'part of' signal that you're looking at a substring. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 10 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

10 across reads "Name a song about a wild animal" (5 letters); the answer is NYALA. It's a reversal clue: the answer is a word read backwards. Look for indicators like 'back', 'returned', or — in a down clue — 'up' or 'lifted'. Find the source word and reverse it. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 11 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

11 across reads "Pirate very briefly at sea?" (9 letters); the answer is PRIVATEER. It's a cryptic definition: the whole clue is a playful or punny description of the answer. No wordplay decomposition to do — read laterally and identify what's being described. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 12 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

12 across reads "Nice expression of a woman’s involvement?" (8,2,5 letters); the answer is CHERCHEZ LA FEMME. It's a cryptic definition: the whole clue is a playful or punny description of the answer. No wordplay decomposition to do — read laterally and identify what's being described. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 13 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

13 across reads "It leads in pace in races quite unexpectedly" (10 letters); the answer is REQUIESCAT. It's an anagram clue: the answer is a rearrangement of letters supplied by the clue itself. Look for an indicator like 'mixed', 'broken', 'cooked', or 'wild', and find a phrase whose letters add up to the answer's length. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 15 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

15 across reads "Fly over low zone" (4 letters); the answer is ZOOM. It's a reversal clue: the answer is a word read backwards. Look for indicators like 'back', 'returned', or — in a down clue — 'up' or 'lifted'. Find the source word and reverse it. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 18 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

18 across reads "No winner in this raffle" (4 letters); the answer is DRAW. It's a double-definition clue: two separate definitions of the same word sit side by side. No wordplay split and no indicators — both halves of the clue define the answer. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 19 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

19 across reads "Show how to go from tube to Barking?" (5-5 letters); the answer is POTTY-TRAIN. It's a double-definition clue: two separate definitions of the same word sit side by side. No wordplay split and no indicators — both halves of the clue define the answer. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 21 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

21 across reads "Power which a body still has" (9,6 letters); the answer is POTENTIAL ENERGY. It's a cryptic definition: the whole clue is a playful or punny description of the answer. No wordplay decomposition to do — read laterally and identify what's being described. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 23 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

23 across reads "Good game, but learner’s missed turn" (9 letters); the answer is PIROUETTE. It's a deletion clue: start with a word the clue points to, then drop one or more letters. Indicators include 'endlessly' (lose the last letter), 'beheaded' (lose the first), or 'heartlessly' (lose the middle). The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 24 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

24 across reads "Not so safe to swim across lake" (5 letters); the answer is FALSE. It's an anagram clue: the answer is a rearrangement of letters supplied by the clue itself. Look for an indicator like 'mixed', 'broken', 'cooked', or 'wild', and find a phrase whose letters add up to the answer's length. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 25 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

25 across reads "Makes off-peak calls?" (6 letters); the answer is YODELS. It's a cryptic definition: the whole clue is a playful or punny description of the answer. No wordplay decomposition to do — read laterally and identify what's being described. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 26 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

26 across reads "Adds water to cover costs, it’s said" (8 letters); the answer is HYDRATES. It's a homophone clue: the answer sounds like another word. Indicators like 'reportedly', 'we hear', or 'sounds like' point to a word that's pronounced similarly to the answer. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 1 down in Times Cryptic 5220?

1 down reads "Groomed fellow and I smoked together" (9 letters); the answer is MANICURED. It's a charade: the answer breaks into parts in clue order, each part clued by a word or short phrase. No indicators needed; watch for standard abbreviations (RA = artist, US = American, IN = at home) and short synonyms. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 2 down in Times Cryptic 5220?

2 down reads "Bloke almost getting iron to act as rubber" (5 letters); the answer is CHAFE. It's a deletion clue: start with a word the clue points to, then drop one or more letters. Indicators include 'endlessly' (lose the last letter), 'beheaded' (lose the first), or 'heartlessly' (lose the middle). The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 3 down in Times Cryptic 5220?

3 down reads "Lawless as a US drug agent here in Rome" (8 letters); the answer is ANARCHIC. It's a charade: the answer breaks into parts in clue order, each part clued by a word or short phrase. No indicators needed; watch for standard abbreviations (RA = artist, US = American, IN = at home) and short synonyms. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 4 down in Times Cryptic 5220?

4 down reads "As artists, they take off" (14 letters); the answer is IMPRESSIONISTS. It's a cryptic definition: the whole clue is a playful or punny description of the answer. No wordplay decomposition to do — read laterally and identify what's being described. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 6 down in Times Cryptic 5220?

6 down reads "Isle of Man area" (6 letters); the answer is STAFFA. It's a charade: the answer breaks into parts in clue order, each part clued by a word or short phrase. No indicators needed; watch for standard abbreviations (RA = artist, US = American, IN = at home) and short synonyms. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 7 down in Times Cryptic 5220?

7 down reads "Pop musician’s last notes entertaining a lot" (5,4 letters); the answer is CREAM SODA. It's a container clue: one word goes inside another. Container indicators include 'in', 'around', 'holding', and 'embracing' — identify the outer word, then the inner piece that gets slotted into it. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 8 down in Times Cryptic 5220?

8 down reads "Watch over river, one that’s home to eagles" (5 letters); the answer is EYRIE. It's a container clue: one word goes inside another. Container indicators include 'in', 'around', 'holding', and 'embracing' — identify the outer word, then the inner piece that gets slotted into it. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 9 down in Times Cryptic 5220?

9 down reads "Is it, from ground, literally fired?" (5,9 letters); the answer is FIELD ARTILLERY. It's a cryptic definition: the whole clue is a playful or punny description of the answer. No wordplay decomposition to do — read laterally and identify what's being described. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 14 down in Times Cryptic 5220?

14 down reads "Put up and cut up" (9 letters); the answer is QUARTERED. It's a double-definition clue: two separate definitions of the same word sit side by side. No wordplay split and no indicators — both halves of the clue define the answer. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 16 down in Times Cryptic 5220?

16 down reads "Poor? Only seems so!" (9 letters); the answer is MONEYLESS. It's an anagram clue: the answer is a rearrangement of letters supplied by the clue itself. Look for an indicator like 'mixed', 'broken', 'cooked', or 'wild', and find a phrase whose letters add up to the answer's length. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 17 down in Times Cryptic 5220?

17 down reads "Put up with champion" (5,3 letters); the answer is STAND FOR. It's a double-definition clue: two separate definitions of the same word sit side by side. No wordplay split and no indicators — both halves of the clue define the answer. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 20 down in Times Cryptic 5220?

20 down reads "Cancel collecting a yearbook" (6 letters); the answer is ANNUAL. It's a container clue: one word goes inside another. Container indicators include 'in', 'around', 'holding', and 'embracing' — identify the outer word, then the inner piece that gets slotted into it. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 21 down in Times Cryptic 5220?

21 down reads "A girl’s daddy?" (5 letters); the answer is PAPPY. It's a cryptic definition: the whole clue is a playful or punny description of the answer. No wordplay decomposition to do — read laterally and identify what's being described. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 22 down in Times Cryptic 5220?

22 down reads "After climbing, worker on roof fired again" (5 letters); the answer is RELIT. It's a reversal clue: the answer is a word read backwards. Look for indicators like 'back', 'returned', or — in a down clue — 'up' or 'lifted'. Find the source word and reverse it. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

Times Cryptic 5220 — Answers, Hints & Wordplay Explained

1A — Snakeskin shoe? (8) — MOCCASIN

Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.
Indicator
Indicator found: ''
Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definition
Assembly
MOCCASIN = MOCCASIN

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5A — Tipsy chef’s hidden spirit (6) — PSYCHE

Definition
Definition found: 'spirit' — The plain definition is the single word at the end.
Indicator
Indicator found: 'hidden'
Operation
'hidden' signals a hidden_word operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'Tipsy chef’s'
Assembly
PSYCHE = PSYCHE

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10A — Name a song about a wild animal (5) — NYALA

Definition
Definition found: 'wild animal' — The plain definition is the last two words — a creature of the wild.
Indicator
Indicator found: 'about'
Operation
'about' signals a reversal operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'a song'
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Name' → N
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'song' → LAY
Assembly
N + (A + LAY > ALAY > YALA) = NYALA

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11A — Pirate very briefly at sea? (9) — PRIVATEER

Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.
Indicator
Indicator found: ''
Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definition
Assembly
PRIVATEER = PRIVATEER

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12A — Nice expression of a woman’s involvement? (8,2,5) — CHERCHEZ LA FEMME

Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.
Indicator
Indicator found: ''
Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definition
Assembly
CHERCHEZLAFEMME = CHERCHEZ LA FEMME

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13A — It leads in pace in races quite unexpectedly (10) — REQUIESCAT

Definition
Definition found: 'It leads in pace' — The opening describes the answer by where it sits in a well-known Latin tomb inscription.
Indicator
Indicator found: 'unexpectedly'
Operation
'unexpectedly' signals a anagram operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'races quite'
Assembly
RACESQUITE = REQUIESCAT

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15A — Fly over low zone (4) — ZOOM

Definition
Definition found: 'Fly' — The first word defines the answer — to move very fast.
Indicator
Indicator found: 'over'
Operation
'over' signals a reversal operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'low zone'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'low' → MOO
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'zone' → Z
Assembly
MOO + Z > MOOZ = ZOOM

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18A — No winner in this raffle (4) — DRAW

Wordplay
Wordplay: Double definition
Assembly
DRAW = DRAW

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19A — Show how to go from tube to Barking? (5-5) — POTTY-TRAIN

Wordplay
Wordplay: Double definition
Assembly
POTTYTRAIN = POTTY-TRAIN

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21A — Power which a body still has (9,6) — POTENTIAL ENERGY

Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.
Indicator
Indicator found: ''
Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definition
Assembly
POTENTIALENERGY = POTENTIAL ENERGY

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23A — Good game, but learner’s missed turn (9) — PIROUETTE

Definition
Definition found: 'turn' — The single word at the end is a plain synonym for the answer.
Indicator
Indicator found: 'learner’s missed'
Operation
'learner’s missed' signals a deletion operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'game,'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Good' → PI
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'game,' → ROULETTE
Assembly
PI + (ROULETTE - L > ROUETTE) = PIROUETTE

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24A — Not so safe to swim across lake (5) — FALSE

Definition
Definition found: 'Not so' — Two words at the start define the answer — think 'untrue'.
Indicator
Indicator found: 'swim'
Operation
'swim' signals a anagram operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'safe lake'
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'lake' → L
Assembly
L > SAFEL = FALSE

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25A — Makes off-peak calls? (6) — YODELS

Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.
Indicator
Indicator found: ''
Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definition
Assembly
YODELS = YODELS

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26A — Adds water to cover costs, it’s said (8) — HYDRATES

Definition
Definition found: 'Adds water' — The first two words define the answer — to add moisture.
Indicator
Indicator found: 'it’s said'
Operation
'it’s said' signals a homophone operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'cover costs,'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'cover costs,' → HIGHRATES
Assembly
HIGHRATES = HYDRATES

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1D — Groomed fellow and I smoked together (9) — MANICURED

Definition
Definition found: 'Groomed' — The first word is a plain synonym for the answer.
Wordplay
Wordplay: Charade
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'fellow' → MAN
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'smoked' → CURED
Assembly
MAN + I + CURED = MANICURED

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2D — Bloke almost getting iron to act as rubber (5) — CHAFE

Definition
Definition found: 'act as rubber' — The definition reads as a verb — something that rubs — not the eraser the surface suggests.
Indicator
Indicator found: 'almost'
Operation
'almost' signals a deletion operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'Bloke'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Bloke' → CHAP
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'iron' → FE
Assembly
(CHAP - P > CHA) + FE = CHAFE

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3D — Lawless as a US drug agent here in Rome (8) — ANARCHIC

Definition
Definition found: 'Lawless' — The first word is a plain synonym for the answer.
Wordplay
Wordplay: Charade
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'US drug agent' → NARC
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'here in Rome' → HIC
Assembly
A + NARC + HIC = ANARCHIC

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4D — As artists, they take off (14) — IMPRESSIONISTS

Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.
Indicator
Indicator found: ''
Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definition
Assembly
IMPRESSIONISTS = IMPRESSIONISTS

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6D — Isle of Man area (6) — STAFFA

Definition
Definition found: 'Isle' — The first word is the plain definition — don't be fooled by the famous isle the surface suggests.
Wordplay
Wordplay: Charade
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Man' → STAFF
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'area' → A
Assembly
STAFF + A = STAFFA

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7D — Pop musician’s last notes entertaining a lot (5,4) — CREAM SODA

Definition
Definition found: 'Pop' — The very first word is the definition — read it as a fizzy drink, not a genre of music.
Indicator
Indicator found: 'entertaining'
Operation
'entertaining' signals a container operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'musician’s last notes a lot'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'musician’s last notes' → CODA
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'a lot' → REAMS
Assembly
CODA + REAMS = C(REAMS)ODA

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8D — Watch over river, one that’s home to eagles (5) — EYRIE

Definition
Definition found: 'home to eagles' — The definition is the phrase at the end describing where eagles live.
Indicator
Indicator found: 'over'
Operation
'over' signals a container operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'Watch river, one'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Watch' → EYE
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'river, one' → RI
Assembly
EYE + RI = EY(RI)E

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9D — Is it, from ground, literally fired? (5,9) — FIELD ARTILLERY

Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.
Indicator
Indicator found: ''
Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definition
Assembly
FIELDARTILLERY = FIELD ARTILLERY

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14D — Put up and cut up (9) — QUARTERED

Wordplay
Wordplay: Double definition
Assembly
QUARTERED = QUARTERED

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16D — Poor? Only seems so! (9) — MONEYLESS

Definition
Definition found: 'Poor?' — The first word is a plain synonym for the answer; the '?' hints the rest is playing tricks.
Indicator
Indicator found: 'so!'
Operation
'so!' signals a anagram operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'Only seems'
Assembly
ONLYSEEMS = MONEYLESS

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17D — Put up with champion (5,3) — STAND FOR

Wordplay
Wordplay: Double definition
Assembly
STANDFOR = STAND FOR

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20D — Cancel collecting a yearbook (6) — ANNUAL

Definition
Definition found: 'yearbook' — The single word at the end is a plain synonym for the answer.
Indicator
Indicator found: 'collecting'
Operation
'collecting' signals a container operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'Cancel a'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Cancel' → ANNUL
Assembly
ANNUL + A = ANNU(A)L

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21D — A girl’s daddy? (5) — PAPPY

Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.
Indicator
Indicator found: ''
Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definition
Assembly
PAPPY = PAPPY

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22D — After climbing, worker on roof fired again (5) — RELIT

Definition
Definition found: 'fired again' — The phrase at the end defines the answer — think of a fire set going once more.
Indicator
Indicator found: 'After climbing,'
Operation
'After climbing,' signals a reversal operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'worker on roof'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'worker on roof' → TILER
Assembly
TILER = RELIT

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Times Cryptic 5220

Across

1A — Snakeskin shoe? (8) — MOCCASIN

5A — Tipsy chef’s hidden spirit (6) — PSYCHE

10A — Name a song about a wild animal (5) — NYALA

11A — Pirate very briefly at sea? (9) — PRIVATEER

12A — Nice expression of a woman’s involvement? (8,2,5) — CHERCHEZ LA FEMME

13A — It leads in pace in races quite unexpectedly (10) — REQUIESCAT

15A — Fly over low zone (4) — ZOOM

18A — No winner in this raffle (4) — DRAW

19A — Show how to go from tube to Barking? (5-5) — POTTY-TRAIN

21A — Power which a body still has (9,6) — POTENTIAL ENERGY

23A — Good game, but learner’s missed turn (9) — PIROUETTE

24A — Not so safe to swim across lake (5) — FALSE

25A — Makes off-peak calls? (6) — YODELS

26A — Adds water to cover costs, it’s said (8) — HYDRATES

Down

1D — Groomed fellow and I smoked together (9) — MANICURED

2D — Bloke almost getting iron to act as rubber (5) — CHAFE

3D — Lawless as a US drug agent here in Rome (8) — ANARCHIC

4D — As artists, they take off (14) — IMPRESSIONISTS

6D — Isle of Man area (6) — STAFFA

7D — Pop musician’s last notes entertaining a lot (5,4) — CREAM SODA

8D — Watch over river, one that’s home to eagles (5) — EYRIE

9D — Is it, from ground, literally fired? (5,9) — FIELD ARTILLERY

14D — Put up and cut up (9) — QUARTERED

16D — Poor? Only seems so! (9) — MONEYLESS

17D — Put up with champion (5,3) — STAND FOR

20D — Cancel collecting a yearbook (6) — ANNUAL

21D — A girl’s daddy? (5) — PAPPY

22D — After climbing, worker on roof fired again (5) — RELIT