New contestant rehearsal
Learn the Tell
Every cryptic clue answers itself twice. Find the two parts, then try one for real.
The universal key
01 / 02Find both halves
Tap both highlighted terms in either order. This is the one rule every clue family shares.
A cryptic clue gives you a and a .
One tells you what the answer means. The other tells you how to build it. Both point to the same whole answer.
Find both parts to open the rehearsal clue.
After the five
Advanced Devices
Reversal
The answer is a word written backwards. Tells include words like: back, returning, over, reflected. Example: Wicked, reflected? Alive! (4) gives EVIL. See puzzles →
Container
One word is placed inside another. Tells include words like: in, inside, around, holding. Example: Meadow held by empty pot — a fold (5) gives PLEAT. See puzzles →
Keep nearby
Complete Rules & FAQ
What is a cryptic crossword clue?
A cryptic clue has two parts that both point to the same answer: a straight definition and a wordplay section. The definition reads normally; the wordplay (hidden word, anagram, charade, double meaning, or homophone) spells the answer a second way.
How do you find the definition in a cryptic clue?
The definition is always at the very start or the very end of the clue — never in the middle. Read the first and last few words, then check which one matches the answer's length and meaning. The rest of the clue is wordplay.
What is an indicator word in a cryptic crossword?
An indicator word is the 'tell' that signals which wordplay device is in play. For example, 'mixed' or 'scrambled' signals an anagram, 'we hear' or 'sounds' signals a homophone, and 'in' or 'hidden' signals a concealed word. Spot the indicator and you know how to build the answer.
How many letters are in a cryptic crossword answer?
The number in parentheses after the clue is the enumeration — it tells you the answer's length. '(5)' means a five-letter answer, and '(3,4)' means a three-letter word followed by a four-letter word.
How does the daily streak work in Crack the Tell?
A new cryptic clue is filed every night at midnight UTC. Solve that day's clue before the edition closes to extend your streak by one. Miss a day and a streak freeze can bridge it — solving daily is how you keep it alive.
How do you solve a cryptic crossword clue?
Solve a cryptic clue in four steps: first, find the definition — it's always at the very start or end of the clue. Second, spot the indicator word that signals the wordplay device (for example, 'scrambled' means anagram, 'we hear' means homophone). Third, apply the device to the wordplay portion to build the answer. Fourth, check your answer against the enumeration in parentheses to confirm the letter count.