Containment and insertion indicators tell the solver to put one piece of text inside another. Containment involves X surrounding Y (result = Y inside X), as in ‘Irish playwright holds party’ for SHAW contains DO = SHADOW; insertion means X being put into Y (result = X inside Y), as in ‘worker entering annexe’ for ANT inserted into WING = WANTING. In general, any term which suggests something being contained by something else is likely to be acceptable, although setters should avoid ones which are normally used only in a restricted context (eg ‘punches’, which relates specifically to piercing using a tool). Where the indicator is a verb, other forms are possible, such as the infinitive (eg ‘naughty to embrace king’ for BAD contains R = BARD). Note that a few verbs, such as ‘assume’ and ‘inspire’ can be used (in advanced crosswords) to indicate either containment or insertion (‘He inspired the fresh air’ / ‘He was inspired with ambition’). Setters should be careful when using certain past participles with ‘by’ – for instance, ‘Mary imprisoned by Elizabeth’ doesn’t imply imprisonment within Elizabeth.
Indicator | Alternative form(s) | Variety | Type |
---|---|---|---|
aboard | Insertion | Standard | |
about | Containment | Standard | |
absorbed by | Insertion | Standard | |
absorbing | absorbs | Containment | Standard |
accepted by | Insertion | Standard | |
accepting | accepts | Containment | Standard |
accommodated by | Insertion | Standard | |
accommodating | accommodates | Containment | Standard |
admitted by | Insertion | Standard | |
admitting | admits | Containment | Standard |
adopted by | Insertion | Standard | |
adopting | adopts | Containment | Standard |
ambient | Insertion | Advanced | |
amid | amidst | Insertion | Standard |
among | Insertion | Standard | |
apprehended by | Insertion | Standard | |
apprehending | apprehends | Containment | Standard |
around | Containment | Standard | |
arrested by | Insertion | Standard | |
arresting | arrests | Containment | Standard |
assuming | assumes/assumed by | Containment | Advanced |
assuming | assumes/assumed by | Insertion | Advanced |
bagged by | Insertion | Standard | |
bagging | bags | Containment | Standard |
bailing | bails | Containment | Advanced |
bathed in | Insertion | Standard | |
bathing | bathes | Containment | Standard |
bearing | bears | Containment | Standard |
bedded in | Insertion | Standard | |
bedding | beds | Containment | Advanced |
beset by | beset with | Insertion | Standard |
besetting | besets | Containment | Standard |
besieged by | Insertion | Standard | |
besieging | besieges | Containment | Standard |
biting | bites | Containment | Standard |
bitten by | Insertion | Standard | |
blankets | Containment | Standard | |
boarded by | Containment | Standard | |
boarding | boards | Insertion | Standard |
bones | Containment | Advanced | |
bordered by | Insertion | Standard | |
bordering | borders | Containment | Standard |
bored by | Containment | Standard | |
boring | bores | Insertion | Standard |
borne by | Insertion | Standard | |
bottled by | Insertion | Standard | |
bottling | bottles | Containment | Standard |
bounded by | Insertion | Standard | |
bounding | bounds | Containment | Standard |
boxed by | Insertion | Standard | |
boxing | boxes | Containment | Standard |
bracketed by | Insertion | Standard | |
bracketing | brackets | Containment | Standard |
breaking | breaks | Insertion | Advanced |
broken by | Containment | Advanced | |
bunged by | Containment | Standard | |
bunging | bungs | Insertion | Standard |
buried in | Insertion | Standard | |
burying | buries | Containment | Standard |
canned by | Insertion | Standard | |
cans | Containment | Standard | |
captured by | Insertion | Standard | |
capturing | captures | Containment | Standard |
carried by | Insertion | Standard | |
carrying | carries | Containment | Standard |
cased by | Insertion | Standard | |
casing | cases | Containment | Standard |
catching | catches | Containment | Standard |
caught by | caught in | Insertion | Standard |
chaps | Insertion | Advanced | |
charged with | Containment | Standard | |
charging | charges | Insertion | Standard |
checked by | Insertion | Standard | |
checking | checks | Containment | Standard |
choked by | Insertion | Standard | |
choking | chokes | Containment | Standard |
circled by | Insertion | Standard | |
circling | circles | Containment | Standard |
circumvented by | Insertion | Standard | |
circumventing | circumvents | Containment | Standard |
clad in | clad with | Insertion | Standard |
cladding | clads | Containment | Standard |
clasped by | Insertion | Standard | |
clasping | clasps | Containment | Standard |
clenched in | Insertion | Standard | |
clenching | clenches | Containment | Standard |
clings to | clinging to | Containment | Standard |
clipped by | Insertion | Standard | |
clipping | clips | Containment | Standard |
cloaked in | Insertion | Standard | |
cloaking | cloaks | Containment | Standard |
closed by | Insertion | Standard | |
closing in | closes in | Containment | Standard |
clothed by | clothed in | Insertion | Standard |
clothing | clothes | Containment | Standard |
clutched by | Insertion | Standard | |
clutching | clutches | Containment | Standard |
collared by | Insertion | Standard | |
collaring | collars | Containment | Standard |
compasses | Containment | Advanced | |
comprehended by | Insertion | Advanced | |
comprehending | comprehends | Containment | Advanced |
compressed in | Insertion | Standard | |
compressing | compresses | Containment | Standard |
comprised by | Insertion | Standard | |
comprising | comprises | Containment | Advanced |
confined in | Insertion | Standard | |
confining | confines | Containment | Standard |
conserved by | Insertion | Standard | |
conserving | conserves | Containment | Standard |
constrained by | Insertion | Standard | |
constraining | constrains | Containment | Standard |
consumed by | Insertion | Standard | |
consuming | consumes | Containment | Standard |
contained by | contained in | Insertion | Standard |
containing | contains | Containment | Standard |
covered by | covered in | Insertion | Standard |
covering | covers | Containment | Standard |
cracked by | Containment | Advanced | |
cracking | cracks | Insertion | Advanced |
cramped by | Insertion | Standard | |
cramping | cramps | Containment | Standard |
crashed by | gatecrashed by | Containment | Standard |
crashes | gatecrashes | Insertion | Advanced |
cribbed by | Insertion | Advanced | |
cribbing | cribs | Containment | Advanced |
crossed by | Insertion | Advanced | |
crossing | crosses | Containment | Advanced |
crowded by | Insertion | Standard | |
crowded with | Containment | Standard | |
crowding | crowds | Containment | Standard |
crowding | crowds | Insertion | Standard |
crushed by | Insertion | Standard | |
crushing | crushes | Containment | Standard |
cuddled by | Insertion | Standard | |
cuddling | cuddles | Containment | Standard |
cups | Containment | Advanced | |
curbed by | Insertion | Standard | |
curbing | curbs | Containment | Standard |
cutting | cuts | Insertion | Standard |
decked by | Insertion | Standard | |
decking | decks | Containment | Standard |
detained by | Insertion | Standard | |
detaining | detains | Containment | Standard |
devoured by | Insertion | Standard | |
devouring | devours | Containment | Standard |
digested by | Insertion | Standard | |
digesting | digests | Containment | Standard |
divided by | Containment | Standard | |
dividing | divides | Insertion | Standard |
dons | Insertion | Standard | |
drawing in | draws in | Containment | Standard |
drawn in by | Insertion | Standard | |
drilled by | Containment | Standard | |
drilling | drills | Insertion | Standard |
drinking | drinks | Containment | Standard |
drunk | Insertion | Standard | |
eaten by | Insertion | Standard | |
eating | eats | Containment | Standard |
edged by | Insertion | Standard | |
edging | edges | Containment | Standard |
embedded in | Insertion | Standard | |
embedding | embeds | Containment | Advanced |
embodied by | Insertion | Standard | |
embodying | embodies | Containment | Standard |
embraced by | Insertion | Standard | |
embracing | embraces | Containment | Standard |
encapsulated by | Insertion | Standard | |
encapsulating | encapsulates | Containment | Standard |
encircled by | Insertion | Standard | |
encircling | encircles | Containment | Standard |
enclaves | Containment | Advanced | |
enclosed by | enclosed in | Insertion | Standard |
enclosing | encloses | Containment | Standard |
encompassed by | Insertion | Standard | |
encompassing | encompasses | Containment | Standard |
encrusted | Insertion | Standard | |
encrusting | encrusts | Containment | Standard |
enfolded by | enfolded in | Insertion | Standard |
enfolding | enfolds | Containment | Standard |
engaged in | engaged by | Insertion | Standard |
engaging | engages | Containment | Standard |
engulfed by | Insertion | Standard | |
engulfing | engulfs | Containment | Standard |
enshrouded | Insertion | Standard | |
enshrouding | enshrouds | Containment | Standard |
ensnared in | Insertion | Standard | |
ensnaring | ensnares | Containment | Standard |
entered by | Containment | Standard | |
entering | enters | Insertion | Standard |
entertained by | Insertion | Standard | |
entertaining | entertains | Containment | Standard |
enthralled by | Insertion | Standard | |
enthralling | enthralls | Containment | Standard |
enveloped by | Insertion | Standard | |
enveloping | envelops | Containment | Standard |
environs | Containment | Advanced | |
externally | Containment | Standard | |
extra | Containment | Advanced | |
fed to | Insertion | Standard | |
fenced by | Insertion | Standard | |
fencing | fences | Containment | Standard |
filled with | filled by | Containment | Standard |
filling | fills | Insertion | Standard |
flanked by | Insertion | Standard | |
flanking | flanks | Containment | Standard |
folded in | Insertion | Advanced | |
folding | folds | Containment | Advanced |
found in | Insertion | Standard | |
framed by | Insertion | Standard | |
framing | frames | Containment | Standard |
fringed with | Insertion | Standard | |
fringing | fringes | Containment | Standard |
getting around | getting about | Containment | Standard |
getting hold of | gets hold of | Containment | Standard |
getting into | gets into | Insertion | Standard |
gobbled by | Insertion | Standard | |
gobbling | gobbles | Containment | Standard |
going around | going about | Containment | Standard |
going into | goes into | Insertion | Standard |
grabbed by | Insertion | Standard | |
grabbing | grabs | Containment | Standard |
grasped by | Insertion | Standard | |
grasping | grasps | Containment | Standard |
griping | gripes | Containment | Advanced |
gripped by | Insertion | Standard | |
gripping | grips | Containment | Standard |
guarded by | Insertion | Standard | |
guarding | guards | Containment | Standard |
gulped by | Insertion | Standard | |
gulping | gulps | Containment | Standard |
harboured by | Insertion | Standard | |
harbouring | harbours | Containment | Standard |
hedged by | Insertion | Standard | |
hedging | hedges | Containment | Advanced |
held by | held in | Insertion | Standard |
hemming | hems | Containment | Standard |
hidden by | hiding in | Insertion | Standard |
hiding | hides | Containment | Standard |
holding | holds | Containment | Standard |
hoops | Containment | Standard | |
hosted by | Insertion | Standard | |
hosting | hosts | Containment | Standard |
housed in | Insertion | Standard | |
housing | houses | Containment | Standard |
hugged by | Insertion | Standard | |
hugging | hugs | Containment | Standard |
implicated | Insertion | Standard | |
implicated by | Insertion | Advanced | |
implicating | implicates | Containment | Advanced |
imprisoned in | Insertion | Standard | |
imprisoning | imprisons | Containment | Standard |
in | inside | Insertion | Standard |
included in | Insertion | Standard | |
including | includes | Containment | Standard |
incorporated in | Insertion | Standard | |
incorporating | incorporates | Containment | Standard |
infiltrated by | Containment | Standard | |
infiltrating | infiltrates | Insertion | Standard |
inhabited by | Containment | Standard | |
inhabiting | inhabits | Insertion | Standard |
inhibited by | Insertion | Standard | |
inhibiting | inhibits | Containment | Standard |
injected with | Containment | Standard | |
Inspired by | inspiring/inspires | Insertion | Standard |
inspired with | inspired by | Containment | Advanced |
inspiring | inspires | Containment | Advanced |
installed in | Insertion | Standard | |
installing | installs | Containment | Standard |
interred in | Insertion | Standard | |
interrupted by | Containment | Standard | |
interrupting | interrupts | Insertion | Standard |
intervening | Insertion | Standard | |
introduced by | introduced to | Insertion | Standard |
introducing | introduces | Containment | Standard |
invested with | Insertion | Standard | |
investing | invests | Containment | Advanced |
involved in | Insertion | Standard | |
involving | involves | Containment | Standard |
jammed by | Insertion | Advanced | |
jammed with | Containment | Standard | |
jamming | jams | Containment | Advanced |
jamming | jams | Insertion | Standard |
keeping | keeps | Containment | Standard |
kept by | kept in | Insertion | Standard |
lagging | lags | Containment | Advanced |
lapping | laps | Containment | Advanced |
limited by | Insertion | Standard | |
limiting | limits | Containment | Standard |
lined with | Containment | Standard | |
lining | lines | Insertion | Standard |
lips | Containment | Advanced | |
listed | Insertion | Advanced | |
listing | lists | Containment | Advanced |
locked by | Insertion | Advanced | |
locking | locks | Containment | Advanced |
mantles | Containment | Standard | |
nabbed by | Insertion | Standard | |
nabbing | nabs | Containment | Standard |
nailed by | Insertion | Standard | |
nailing | nails | Containment | Standard |
netted by | Insertion | Standard | |
netting | nets | Containment | Standard |
nicked by | Insertion | Standard | |
nicking | nicks | Containment | Standard |
nipped by | Insertion | Standard | |
nipping | nips | Containment | Standard |
nobbled by | Insertion | Standard | |
nobbling | nobbles | Containment | Standard |
nursed by | Insertion | Standard | |
nursing | nurses | Containment | Standard |
occupied by | Containment | Standard | |
occupying | occupies | Insertion | Standard |
outside | Containment | Standard | |
overtaking | overtakes | Containment | Standard |
overwhelmed by | Insertion | Standard | |
overwhelming | overwhelms | Containment | Standard |
packed with | Containment | Standard | |
packing | packs | Containment | Standard |
part way through | Insertion | Standard | |
parted by | Containment | Standard | |
parting | parts | Insertion | Standard |
patrolled by | Insertion | Standard | |
patrolling | patrols | Containment | Standard |
penetrated by | Containment | Standard | |
penetrating | penetrates | Insertion | Standard |
penned by | Insertion | Standard | |
penning | pens | Containment | Standard |
perambulating | perambulates | Containment | Advanced |
picked up by | Insertion | Standard | |
picking up | Containment | Standard | |
pierced by | Containment | Standard | |
piercing | pierces | Insertion | Standard |
pinched by | Insertion | Standard | |
pinching | pinches | Containment | Standard |
pinned in | Insertion | Standard | |
pinning | pins | Containment | Advanced |
plugged by | Containment | Standard | |
plugging | plugs | Insertion | Standard |
pocketed by | Insertion | Standard | |
pocketing | pockets | Containment | Standard |
popped by | Insertion | Advanced | |
popping | pops | Containment | Advanced |
possessed by | Insertion | Standard | |
possessing | possesses | Containment | Standard |
pounded by | Insertion | Advanced | |
pounding | pounds | Containment | Advanced |
pressed by | Insertion | Standard | |
pressing | presses | Containment | Standard |
prisons | Containment | Advanced | |
probed by | Containment | Standard | |
probing | probes | Insertion | Standard |
protected by | Insertion | Standard | |
protecting | protects | Containment | Standard |
pulled by | Insertion | Advanced | |
pulling | pulls | Containment | Advanced |
pursed by | Insertion | Advanced | |
pursing | purses | Containment | Standard |
put about | put round | Containment | Standard |
put in | put into | Insertion | Standard |
received by | Insertion | Standard | |
receiving | receives | Containment | Standard |
repressed by | Insertion | Standard | |
repressing | represses | Containment | Standard |
restrained by | Insertion | Standard | |
restraining | restrains | Containment | Standard |
restricted by | Insertion | Standard | |
restricting | restricts | Containment | Standard |
retained by | Insertion | Standard | |
retaining | retains | Containment | Standard |
ringing | rings | Containment | Standard |
round | Containment | Standard | |
rounded by | Insertion | Standard | |
rounding | rounds | Containment | Standard |
sandwiched by | Insertion | Standard | |
sandwiches | Containment | Standard | |
screened by | Insertion | Standard | |
screening | screens | Containment | Standard |
sealed by | Insertion | Advanced | |
sealing | seals | Containment | Advanced |
secured by | Insertion | Standard | |
securing | secures | Containment | Standard |
seized by | Insertion | Standard | |
seizing | seizes | Containment | Standard |
set about | Containment | Standard | |
set in | Insertion | Standard | |
shared by | Containment | Advanced | |
sharing | shares | Insertion | Advanced |
sheltered by | Insertion | Standard | |
sheltering | shelters | Containment | Standard |
shrouded by | Insertion | Standard | |
shrouding | shrouds | Containment | Standard |
skirted by | Insertion | Standard | |
skirting | skirts | Containment | Standard |
slipped into | Insertion | Standard | |
smothered by | Insertion | Standard | |
smothering | smothers | Containment | Standard |
smouldering | smoulders | Containment | Advanced |
smuggled by | Insertion | Advanced | |
smuggling | smuggles | Containment | Advanced |
snared by | Insertion | Standard | |
snaring | snares | Containment | Standard |
snuggling | snuggles | Containment | Standard |
spanned by | Insertion | Standard | |
spanning | spans | Containment | Standard |
split by | Containment | Standard | |
splitting | splits | Insertion | Standard |
spread by | Containment | Advanced | |
spreading | spreads | Insertion | Advanced |
squashed by | Insertion | Standard | |
squashing | squashes | Containment | Standard |
squeezed by | Insertion | Standard | |
squeezing | squeezes | Containment | Standard |
stalled by | Insertion | Advanced | |
stalling | stalls | Containment | Advanced |
sticking | sticks | Insertion | Advanced |
stifled by | Insertion | Standard | |
stifling | stifles | Containment | Standard |
stopped by | Containment | Advanced | |
stopping | stops | Insertion | Advanced |
stored in | Insertion | Standard | |
storing | stores | Containment | Standard |
stowed in | Insertion | Standard | |
stowing | stows | Containment | Standard |
straining | strains | Containment | Advanced |
stuck with | Containment | Advanced | |
stuffed with | Containment | Standard | |
stuffing | stuffs | Insertion | Standard |
sucked by | Insertion | Advanced | |
sucking | sucks | Containment | Advanced |
suppressed by | Insertion | Standard | |
suppressing | suppresses | Containment | Standard |
surrounded by | Insertion | Standard | |
surrounding | surrounds | Containment | Standard |
swallowed by | Insertion | Standard | |
swallowing | swallows | Containment | Standard |
swathed in | Insertion | Standard | |
swathing | swathes | Containment | Standard |
tackled by | Insertion | Standard | |
tackling | tackles | Containment | Standard |
taken by | Insertion | Standard | |
taken on by | Insertion | Advanced | |
taking | takes | Containment | Standard |
taking in | takes in | Containment | Standard |
taking on | takes on | Containment | Advanced |
tapped by | Containment | Advanced | |
tapping | taps | Insertion | Advanced |
throttled by | Insertion | Standard | |
throttling | throttles | Containment | Standard |
thrown in | thrown into | Insertion | Standard |
transfixed by | Containment | Standard | |
transfixing | transfixes | Insertion | Standard |
trapped in | Insertion | Standard | |
trapping | traps | Containment | Standard |
trousers | Containment | Standard | |
tucked into | Insertion | Standard | |
undoing | undoes | Insertion | Advanced |
undone by | Containment | Advanced | |
vices | Containment | Advanced | |
wearing | wears | Insertion | Standard |
wedged in | wedges | Insertion | Standard |
wedged with | Containment | Standard | |
wedges | Containment | Advanced | |
welcomed by | Insertion | Standard | |
welcoming | welcomes | Containment | Standard |
wimples | Containment | Advanced | |
winding | winds | Containment | Advanced |
within | Insertion | Standard | |
worn by | Containment | Standard | |
wound by | Insertion | Advanced | |
wrapped in | Insertion | Standard | |
wrapping | wraps | Containment | Standard |
wreathed in | Insertion | Standard |