Container and Contents Indicators

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.

IndicatorAlternative form(s)VarietyType
aboardInsertionStandard
aboutContainmentStandard
absorbed byInsertionStandard
absorbingabsorbsContainmentStandard
accepted byInsertionStandard
acceptingacceptsContainmentStandard
accommodated byInsertionStandard
accommodatingaccommodatesContainmentStandard
admitted byInsertionStandard
admittingadmitsContainmentStandard
adopted byInsertionStandard
adoptingadoptsContainmentStandard
ambientInsertionAdvanced
amidamidstInsertionStandard
amongInsertionStandard
apprehended byInsertionStandard
apprehendingapprehendsContainmentStandard
aroundContainmentStandard
arrested byInsertionStandard
arrestingarrestsContainmentStandard
assumingassumes/assumed byContainmentAdvanced
assumingassumes/assumed byInsertionAdvanced
bagged byInsertionStandard
baggingbagsContainmentStandard
bailingbailsContainmentAdvanced
bathed inInsertionStandard
bathingbathesContainmentStandard
bearingbearsContainmentStandard
bedded inInsertionStandard
beddingbedsContainmentAdvanced
beset bybeset withInsertionStandard
besettingbesetsContainmentStandard
besieged byInsertionStandard
besiegingbesiegesContainmentStandard
bitingbitesContainmentStandard
bitten byInsertionStandard
blanketsContainmentStandard
boarded byContainmentStandard
boardingboardsInsertionStandard
bonesContainmentAdvanced
bordered byInsertionStandard
borderingbordersContainmentStandard
bored byContainmentStandard
boringboresInsertionStandard
borne byInsertionStandard
bottled byInsertionStandard
bottlingbottlesContainmentStandard
bounded byInsertionStandard
boundingboundsContainmentStandard
boxed byInsertionStandard
boxingboxesContainmentStandard
bracketed byInsertionStandard
bracketingbracketsContainmentStandard
breakingbreaksInsertionAdvanced
broken byContainmentAdvanced
bunged byContainmentStandard
bungingbungsInsertionStandard
buried inInsertionStandard
buryingburiesContainmentStandard
canned byInsertionStandard
cansContainmentStandard
captured byInsertionStandard
capturingcapturesContainmentStandard
carried byInsertionStandard
carryingcarriesContainmentStandard
cased byInsertionStandard
casingcasesContainmentStandard
catchingcatchesContainmentStandard
caught bycaught inInsertionStandard
chapsInsertionAdvanced
charged withContainmentStandard
chargingchargesInsertionStandard
checked byInsertionStandard
checkingchecksContainmentStandard
choked byInsertionStandard
chokingchokesContainmentStandard
circled byInsertionStandard
circlingcirclesContainmentStandard
circumvented byInsertionStandard
circumventingcircumventsContainmentStandard
clad inclad withInsertionStandard
claddingcladsContainmentStandard
clasped byInsertionStandard
claspingclaspsContainmentStandard
clenched inInsertionStandard
clenchingclenchesContainmentStandard
clings toclinging toContainmentStandard
clipped byInsertionStandard
clippingclipsContainmentStandard
cloaked inInsertionStandard
cloakingcloaksContainmentStandard
closed byInsertionStandard
closing incloses inContainmentStandard
clothed byclothed inInsertionStandard
clothingclothesContainmentStandard
clutched byInsertionStandard
clutchingclutchesContainmentStandard
collared byInsertionStandard
collaringcollarsContainmentStandard
compassesContainmentAdvanced
comprehended byInsertionAdvanced
comprehendingcomprehendsContainmentAdvanced
compressed inInsertionStandard
compressingcompressesContainmentStandard
comprised byInsertionStandard
comprisingcomprisesContainmentAdvanced
confined inInsertionStandard
confiningconfinesContainmentStandard
conserved byInsertionStandard
conservingconservesContainmentStandard
constrained byInsertionStandard
constrainingconstrainsContainmentStandard
consumed byInsertionStandard
consumingconsumesContainmentStandard
contained bycontained inInsertionStandard
containingcontainsContainmentStandard
covered bycovered inInsertionStandard
coveringcoversContainmentStandard
cracked byContainmentAdvanced
crackingcracksInsertionAdvanced
cramped byInsertionStandard
crampingcrampsContainmentStandard
crashed bygatecrashed byContainmentStandard
crashesgatecrashesInsertionAdvanced
cribbed byInsertionAdvanced
cribbingcribsContainmentAdvanced
crossed byInsertionAdvanced
crossingcrossesContainmentAdvanced
crowded byInsertionStandard
crowded withContainmentStandard
crowdingcrowdsContainmentStandard
crowdingcrowdsInsertionStandard
crushed byInsertionStandard
crushingcrushesContainmentStandard
cuddled byInsertionStandard
cuddlingcuddlesContainmentStandard
cupsContainmentAdvanced
curbed byInsertionStandard
curbingcurbsContainmentStandard
cuttingcutsInsertionStandard
decked byInsertionStandard
deckingdecksContainmentStandard
detained byInsertionStandard
detainingdetainsContainmentStandard
devoured byInsertionStandard
devouringdevoursContainmentStandard
digested byInsertionStandard
digestingdigestsContainmentStandard
divided byContainmentStandard
dividingdividesInsertionStandard
donsInsertionStandard
drawing indraws inContainmentStandard
drawn in byInsertionStandard
drilled byContainmentStandard
drillingdrillsInsertionStandard
drinkingdrinksContainmentStandard
drunkInsertionStandard
eaten byInsertionStandard
eatingeatsContainmentStandard
edged byInsertionStandard
edgingedgesContainmentStandard
embedded inInsertionStandard
embeddingembedsContainmentAdvanced
embodied byInsertionStandard
embodyingembodiesContainmentStandard
embraced byInsertionStandard
embracingembracesContainmentStandard
encapsulated byInsertionStandard
encapsulatingencapsulatesContainmentStandard
encircled byInsertionStandard
encirclingencirclesContainmentStandard
enclavesContainmentAdvanced
enclosed byenclosed inInsertionStandard
enclosingenclosesContainmentStandard
encompassed byInsertionStandard
encompassingencompassesContainmentStandard
encrustedInsertionStandard
encrustingencrustsContainmentStandard
enfolded byenfolded inInsertionStandard
enfoldingenfoldsContainmentStandard
engaged inengaged byInsertionStandard
engagingengagesContainmentStandard
engulfed byInsertionStandard
engulfingengulfsContainmentStandard
enshroudedInsertionStandard
enshroudingenshroudsContainmentStandard
ensnared inInsertionStandard
ensnaringensnaresContainmentStandard
entered byContainmentStandard
enteringentersInsertionStandard
entertained byInsertionStandard
entertainingentertainsContainmentStandard
enthralled byInsertionStandard
enthrallingenthrallsContainmentStandard
enveloped byInsertionStandard
envelopingenvelopsContainmentStandard
environsContainmentAdvanced
externallyContainmentStandard
extraContainmentAdvanced
fed toInsertionStandard
fenced byInsertionStandard
fencingfencesContainmentStandard
filled withfilled byContainmentStandard
fillingfillsInsertionStandard
flanked byInsertionStandard
flankingflanksContainmentStandard
folded inInsertionAdvanced
foldingfoldsContainmentAdvanced
found inInsertionStandard
framed byInsertionStandard
framingframesContainmentStandard
fringed withInsertionStandard
fringingfringesContainmentStandard
getting aroundgetting aboutContainmentStandard
getting hold ofgets hold ofContainmentStandard
getting intogets intoInsertionStandard
gobbled byInsertionStandard
gobblinggobblesContainmentStandard
going aroundgoing aboutContainmentStandard
going intogoes intoInsertionStandard
grabbed byInsertionStandard
grabbinggrabsContainmentStandard
grasped byInsertionStandard
graspinggraspsContainmentStandard
gripinggripesContainmentAdvanced
gripped byInsertionStandard
grippinggripsContainmentStandard
guarded byInsertionStandard
guardingguardsContainmentStandard
gulped byInsertionStandard
gulpinggulpsContainmentStandard
harboured byInsertionStandard
harbouringharboursContainmentStandard
hedged byInsertionStandard
hedginghedgesContainmentAdvanced
held byheld inInsertionStandard
hemminghemsContainmentStandard
hidden byhiding inInsertionStandard
hidinghidesContainmentStandard
holdingholdsContainmentStandard
hoopsContainmentStandard
hosted byInsertionStandard
hostinghostsContainmentStandard
housed inInsertionStandard
housinghousesContainmentStandard
hugged byInsertionStandard
hugginghugsContainmentStandard
implicatedInsertionStandard
implicated byInsertionAdvanced
implicatingimplicatesContainmentAdvanced
imprisoned inInsertionStandard
imprisoningimprisonsContainmentStandard
ininsideInsertionStandard
included inInsertionStandard
includingincludesContainmentStandard
incorporated inInsertionStandard
incorporatingincorporatesContainmentStandard
infiltrated byContainmentStandard
infiltratinginfiltratesInsertionStandard
inhabited byContainmentStandard
inhabitinginhabitsInsertionStandard
inhibited byInsertionStandard
inhibitinginhibitsContainmentStandard
injected withContainmentStandard
Inspired byinspiring/inspiresInsertionStandard
inspired withinspired byContainmentAdvanced
inspiringinspiresContainmentAdvanced
installed inInsertionStandard
installinginstallsContainmentStandard
interred inInsertionStandard
interrupted byContainmentStandard
interruptinginterruptsInsertionStandard
interveningInsertionStandard
introduced byintroduced toInsertionStandard
introducingintroducesContainmentStandard
invested withInsertionStandard
investinginvestsContainmentAdvanced
involved inInsertionStandard
involvinginvolvesContainmentStandard
jammed byInsertionAdvanced
jammed withContainmentStandard
jammingjamsContainmentAdvanced
jammingjamsInsertionStandard
keepingkeepsContainmentStandard
kept bykept inInsertionStandard
lagginglagsContainmentAdvanced
lappinglapsContainmentAdvanced
limited byInsertionStandard
limitinglimitsContainmentStandard
lined withContainmentStandard
lininglinesInsertionStandard
lipsContainmentAdvanced
listedInsertionAdvanced
listinglistsContainmentAdvanced
locked byInsertionAdvanced
lockinglocksContainmentAdvanced
mantlesContainmentStandard
nabbed byInsertionStandard
nabbingnabsContainmentStandard
nailed byInsertionStandard
nailingnailsContainmentStandard
netted byInsertionStandard
nettingnetsContainmentStandard
nicked byInsertionStandard
nickingnicksContainmentStandard
nipped byInsertionStandard
nippingnipsContainmentStandard
nobbled byInsertionStandard
nobblingnobblesContainmentStandard
nursed byInsertionStandard
nursingnursesContainmentStandard
occupied byContainmentStandard
occupyingoccupiesInsertionStandard
outsideContainmentStandard
overtakingovertakesContainmentStandard
overwhelmed byInsertionStandard
overwhelmingoverwhelmsContainmentStandard
packed withContainmentStandard
packingpacksContainmentStandard
part way throughInsertionStandard
parted byContainmentStandard
partingpartsInsertionStandard
patrolled byInsertionStandard
patrollingpatrolsContainmentStandard
penetrated byContainmentStandard
penetratingpenetratesInsertionStandard
penned byInsertionStandard
penningpensContainmentStandard
perambulatingperambulatesContainmentAdvanced
picked up byInsertionStandard
picking upContainmentStandard
pierced byContainmentStandard
piercingpiercesInsertionStandard
pinched byInsertionStandard
pinchingpinchesContainmentStandard
pinned inInsertionStandard
pinningpinsContainmentAdvanced
plugged byContainmentStandard
pluggingplugsInsertionStandard
pocketed byInsertionStandard
pocketingpocketsContainmentStandard
popped byInsertionAdvanced
poppingpopsContainmentAdvanced
possessed byInsertionStandard
possessingpossessesContainmentStandard
pounded byInsertionAdvanced
poundingpoundsContainmentAdvanced
pressed byInsertionStandard
pressingpressesContainmentStandard
prisonsContainmentAdvanced
probed byContainmentStandard
probingprobesInsertionStandard
protected byInsertionStandard
protectingprotectsContainmentStandard
pulled byInsertionAdvanced
pullingpullsContainmentAdvanced
pursed byInsertionAdvanced
pursingpursesContainmentStandard
put aboutput roundContainmentStandard
put input intoInsertionStandard
received byInsertionStandard
receivingreceivesContainmentStandard
repressed byInsertionStandard
repressingrepressesContainmentStandard
restrained byInsertionStandard
restrainingrestrainsContainmentStandard
restricted byInsertionStandard
restrictingrestrictsContainmentStandard
retained byInsertionStandard
retainingretainsContainmentStandard
ringingringsContainmentStandard
roundContainmentStandard
rounded byInsertionStandard
roundingroundsContainmentStandard
sandwiched byInsertionStandard
sandwichesContainmentStandard
screened byInsertionStandard
screeningscreensContainmentStandard
sealed byInsertionAdvanced
sealingsealsContainmentAdvanced
secured byInsertionStandard
securingsecuresContainmentStandard
seized byInsertionStandard
seizingseizesContainmentStandard
set aboutContainmentStandard
set inInsertionStandard
shared byContainmentAdvanced
sharingsharesInsertionAdvanced
sheltered byInsertionStandard
shelteringsheltersContainmentStandard
shrouded byInsertionStandard
shroudingshroudsContainmentStandard
skirted byInsertionStandard
skirtingskirtsContainmentStandard
slipped intoInsertionStandard
smothered byInsertionStandard
smotheringsmothersContainmentStandard
smoulderingsmouldersContainmentAdvanced
smuggled byInsertionAdvanced
smugglingsmugglesContainmentAdvanced
snared byInsertionStandard
snaringsnaresContainmentStandard
snugglingsnugglesContainmentStandard
spanned byInsertionStandard
spanningspansContainmentStandard
split byContainmentStandard
splittingsplitsInsertionStandard
spread byContainmentAdvanced
spreadingspreadsInsertionAdvanced
squashed byInsertionStandard
squashingsquashesContainmentStandard
squeezed byInsertionStandard
squeezingsqueezesContainmentStandard
stalled byInsertionAdvanced
stallingstallsContainmentAdvanced
stickingsticksInsertionAdvanced
stifled byInsertionStandard
stiflingstiflesContainmentStandard
stopped byContainmentAdvanced
stoppingstopsInsertionAdvanced
stored inInsertionStandard
storingstoresContainmentStandard
stowed inInsertionStandard
stowingstowsContainmentStandard
strainingstrainsContainmentAdvanced
stuck withContainmentAdvanced
stuffed withContainmentStandard
stuffingstuffsInsertionStandard
sucked byInsertionAdvanced
suckingsucksContainmentAdvanced
suppressed byInsertionStandard
suppressingsuppressesContainmentStandard
surrounded byInsertionStandard
surroundingsurroundsContainmentStandard
swallowed byInsertionStandard
swallowingswallowsContainmentStandard
swathed inInsertionStandard
swathingswathesContainmentStandard
tackled byInsertionStandard
tacklingtacklesContainmentStandard
taken byInsertionStandard
taken on byInsertionAdvanced
takingtakesContainmentStandard
taking intakes inContainmentStandard
taking ontakes onContainmentAdvanced
tapped byContainmentAdvanced
tappingtapsInsertionAdvanced
throttled byInsertionStandard
throttlingthrottlesContainmentStandard
thrown inthrown intoInsertionStandard
transfixed byContainmentStandard
transfixingtransfixesInsertionStandard
trapped inInsertionStandard
trappingtrapsContainmentStandard
trousersContainmentStandard
tucked intoInsertionStandard
undoingundoesInsertionAdvanced
undone byContainmentAdvanced
vicesContainmentAdvanced
wearingwearsInsertionStandard
wedged inwedgesInsertionStandard
wedged withContainmentStandard
wedgesContainmentAdvanced
welcomed byInsertionStandard
welcomingwelcomesContainmentStandard
wimplesContainmentAdvanced
windingwindsContainmentAdvanced
withinInsertionStandard
worn byContainmentStandard
wound byInsertionAdvanced
wrapped inInsertionStandard
wrappingwrapsContainmentStandard
wreathed inInsertionStandard