Hidden cryptic clue
The answer sits verbatim inside the clue text, usually straddling word boundaries.
How it works
The answer is written out in full, in order, inside the clue text — usually straddling two or more words, so your eye slides right past it. An indicator like hidden, in, or some of points at where to look.
Because nothing is transformed, hidden clues are the friendliest type for beginners. Train yourself to read the letters, not the words.
Worked example
The answer sits inside the clue text, straddling a word boundary.
Watch for a period buried in watermelon (4)
AnswerTERM
- Definition: period — one meaning of TERM.
- Buried in is the hiding indicator; look inside watermelon.
- wa-TERM-el-on — letters 3 to 6 spell TERM in plain sight.
Spotting it in the wild
- Indicators: in, within, some of, part of, buried, lurking, sheltered.
- The answer usually crosses a word boundary — that is the whole trick.
- If a clue reads suspiciously smoothly, suspect a hidden word.