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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.
Errors or omissions? Please let us know
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