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Cryptic Crossword Dictionary : S

A dictionary of words and phrases often encountered in cryptic crossword clues - words that may mean something more, or something other, than is indicated by their surface meaning.


SABBATH

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.

Sample clues:
Aircraft for Black Sabbath (4)
Toil - that's what lumberjacks do on the Sabbath (4)

SAD

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SADLY

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SAFETY FIRST

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SAID

1. Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator for ORAL.

Sample clue:
Soothing stuff said to be found in royal residence (8)

2. The word said or phrases such as so it's said may be homophone indicators.

Sample clue:
An opening, so it's said, for love (5)

SAILOR

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters AB or TAR or JACK or SALT.

Sample clues:
Sailor a foot nearer the stern (5)
Sailor's coat that is found on road (6)
A sailor coming back for a book of maps (5)

SAILORS

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters TARS or RN.

Sample clues:
Sailors going round northern mountain lakes (5)
Please German sailors with bird (7)

SAINT

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S or the letters ST.


SAINTS

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters SS.


SALESMAN

Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters REP.


SAPPERS

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters RE (Royal Engineers).


SATURDAY

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SAUDI ARABIA

Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters SA.

(See International Vehicle Registrations).


SAVE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters BAR.


SAY

1. Possibly a homophone indicator.

Sample clue:
Run away from pudding, say (6)

2. Possibly a bits and pieces indicator indicating the letters EG, or AVER, STATE, UTTER, EXPRESS, etc.

Sample clues:
Twins, say, coming back by car (6)
Maniacs, say, going in opposite directions (7)

SCATTER

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SCATTERED

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SCOTSMAN

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters IAN or MAC or MON.


SCRATCH THE HEAD

Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the removal of an initial letter.


SCRIPTURE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters NT (New Testament) or OT (Old Testament or RE (Religious Education) or RI (Religious Instruction).


SECOND

1. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.

2. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the second letter of a word, e.g. the second of June giving U.


SECOND CLASS

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter B.

Sample clue:
Second-class bird dog (6)

SECOND PERSON

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters YOU or YE or THEE or THOU or EVE.


SECONDS

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SECONDS OUT

1. Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the omission of the letter S from a word.

2. Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the omission of alternate letters from a word.


SECOND THOUGHTS

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters PS.

Sample clue:
Pipemen having second thoughts about wood? (8)

SECRETING

Possibly a hidden word indicator.


SEE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter V or the letters LO or ELY.


SELECTION

Possibly a hidden word indicator.


SELF-STARTER

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SENIOR CITIZEN

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters OAP.


SENIOR SERVICE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters RN (Royal Navy).


SENT BACK

Possibly a reversal indicator.


SENT UP

Possibly a reversal indicator (in a Down clue).


SEPARATING

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.


SEPTEMBER

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SERVICE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters MASS.


SET OFF

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SET OUT

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SEX APPEAL

Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters SA.


SHAKE

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SHAKEN

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SHAKESPEARE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters BARD or WILL.

SHAKING

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SHAKY

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SHAMBLES

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SHELLED

Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the removal of first and last letters.


SHELTER

1. Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.

2. Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters LEE.


SHELTERED

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.


SHELTERING

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.


SHELTERS

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.


SHIFT

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SHIFTED

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SHIFTING

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SHILLING

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SHIP

Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters SS.


SHIRT

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter T.


SHOT

1. Possibly an anagram indicator.

2. Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters GO, TRY, etc.


SHOWING

Possibly a hidden word indicator.


SHOWN UP

Possibly a reversal indicator (in a Down clue).


SIDE

1. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters L or R or WING or TEAM or XI.


SIDES SPLITTING

Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the removal of first and last letters.


SIERRA

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.

(See NATO Phonetic Alphabet).

Sample clue:
Gallery next to Sierra Nevada, for example (5)

SIGN

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter V.


SIGN OF THE TIMES

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter X.


SILLY

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:
Calm down, silly sausage! (7)

SILVER

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters AG.

(See Symbols for Chemical Elements).

Sample clues:
We must accept silver as payment (4)
People going to Silver Lake to find animal collection (9)

SINGULAR

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SISTER

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters SIS or NUN.


SIX

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters VI.


SKILL

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters strong>ART.


SKINHEAD

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SLOPPY

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SMALL

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SMALL CHANGE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter P.


SMASH

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SMASHED

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SMASHING

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SMUGGLING

Possibly a hidden word indicator.


SNARLED

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter U.


SOCIETY

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SODIUM

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters NA.

(See Symbols for Chemical Elements).

Sample clue:
Girl taking sodium backwards and forwards (4)

SOFT

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter P (piano, as in a music score).


SOME

Possibly a hidden word indicator.

Sample clues:
Some teachers get hurt (4)
Some academic once denied a grant (7)

SOMEHOW

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SOMEWHAT

Possibly a hidden word indicator.

Sample clues:
Perhaps a teddy bear, somewhat fed up? (5)
Small owl, young, somewhat humble (5)

SON

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SO TO SPEAK

Possibly a homophone indicator.


SOUND

Possibly a homophone indicator.

Sample clues:
Employ sound sheep (3)
Cat with sound connections (4)
Suitable sound for ceremony (4)

SOUNDED

Possibly a homophone indicator.

Sample clues:
A country sounded musical (6)
A shopkeeper sounded more offensive (7)

SOUNDING

Possibly a homophone indicator.

Sample clues:
Regretted sounding coarse (4)
Sounding like a simple Moslem leader (5)
Be like Norman William, sounding like a nut (7)

SOUNDS

Possibly a homophone indicator.

Sample clues:
A poem sounds due (3)
This set of rooms sounds charming (5)
Old puzzle - it sounds delightful (9)

SOUTH

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SOUTH AFRICA

Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters SA.


SOUTHERN

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SO WE HEAR

Possibly a homophone indicator.


SPADES

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SPAIN

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter E.

(See International Vehicle Registrations).


SPANISH GENTLEMAN

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters DON.


SPANNER

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters BRIDGE.

Sample clue:
Shortened spanner held by a duke (8)

SPASM

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters TIC.


SPEAKER'S

Possibly a homophone indicator.


SPIES

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters CIA.


SPILL

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SPILLED

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SPIN

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SPINNING

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SPLITTING

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.


SPOIL

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SPOILT

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SPOKEN

Possibly a homophone indicator.


SPOT MARKER

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter X.


SPREAD

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SPUN

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SPYMASTER

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter M.


SQUARE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter T or the letters QUAD.


STAGGERED

Possibly an anagram indicator.


STAGGERING

Possibly an anagram indicator.

Sample clue:
Name of woman staggering in the bar (6)

STANDARD

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters PAR.


STAND-IN

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters SUB.


START

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the initial letter of a word.


STARTED

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the initial letter of a word.


STARTING

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the initial letter of a word.


STARTING PRICE

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter P or the letters SP.


START OFF

Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the removal of an initial letter.


STARTS

1. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the initial letter of a word.

Sample clue:
Happy girl starts before boy (4)

2. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the initial letters of two or more consecutive words.

Sample clues:
Animal starts to play in garden (3)
Israeli city helping Arabs in fits and starts (5)

3. May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the first few letters of a word or phrase.

Sample clue:
Scent starts a romantic affair (5)

START TO GO

Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the removal of an initial letter.


STEW

Possibly an anagram indicator.


STOP-START

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


STORM

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters RAGE.


STRANGE

Possibly an anagram indicator.


STRANGELY

Possibly an anagram indicator.


STRAY

1. Possibly an anagram indicator.

2. Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters ERR.


STREET

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters ST.


STRIKE THE HEAD

Possibly a subtraction indicator signifying the removal of an initial letter.


STRING

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter G.


STUFFING

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.


SUBDUED

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter P (as in music notation).


SUBSTITUTE

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SUBSTITUTED

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SULPHUR

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.

(See Symbols for Chemical Elements).

Sample clues:
Sulphur taken by a young man as healthy food? (5)
Be contemptuous of sulphur put on cereal (5)

SUM

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters ADD.


SUN

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S or the letters SOL.


SUNDAY

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.


SUPERIOR

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter U.


SUPPORTER

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters BRA or FAN.


SURPRISING

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SURPRISINGLY

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SURROUND

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.


SURROUNDED

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.


SURROUNDING

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.


SURROUNDS

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.


SUSPECT

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SWALLOW

1. Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.

2. Possibly a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters EAT, DOWN, etc.


SWALLOWED

1. Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.

Sample clue:
A bird has swallowed her cigar (7)

2. Possibly a hidden word indicator.

Sample clues:
Rum swallowed by good drinkers (3)
Fruit swallowed by some Londoners (5)


SWALLOWING

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.

Sample clue:
Fish swallowing end of angler's line (4)


SWALLOWS

Possibly a container-and-contents indicator.


SWAN

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letters COB or PEN.


SWEDEN

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter S.

(See International Vehicle Registrations).


SWEETHEART

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter E.


SWIMMER

May be a bits-and-pieces indicator indicating the letter FISH or a particular type of fish such as EEL, RAY, etc.

(For more type of fish, see Lists of Fish).


SWIMMING

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SWIRL

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SWIRLING

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SWITCH

Possibly an anagram indicator.


SWITCHED

Possibly an anagram indicator.


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