The Clue Clinic

all about cryptic crossword clues

The Clue Clinic

Welcome to The Clue Clinic – where people interested in solving or setting cryptic crosswords come to learn, sharpen their skills, and get expert guidance from experienced setters.

If this is your first visit, we would recommend visiting the About This Site page to get some ideas about the areas of the site which may be of particular interest to you and the ways in which you can interact with Clinic staff and other readers.

What’s New

The PDF of the latest Gemelo puzzle is available at this link: Gemelo 52.
The PDF of the latest Azed puzzle is available at this link: Azed 2,784
The September Digest is now published, with views, news…and a chance to give your opinion on the health of the cryptic
The Forum is now available for discussion of all things crossword-related

Latest Posts

Latest Comments

Latest Forum Topics/Posts

  1. Hi again, I have a proposal for an addition to Links between Definition and Wordplay: When wordplay see definition e.g…

  2. This monstrosity was the first of these puzzles I have attempted, and with your help completed, for a couple of…

  3. Hi Christine In 32a, an archaic three-letter form of “God’s” formerly used in oaths (ie “God’s replacement no longer”) contains…

  4. Hi Could you explain 32 across, please?

  5. Hi Paul Thank you for your kind comments, much appreciated. 7d has a three-letter word typically indicated in cryptics by…

  6. Strangely enough, that was the first LP I ever owned. I wonder how many people can say that their first…

  7. To be clear you are talking about an lp which has two separate grooves on one side so what you…

  8. But see Monty Python’s album, “Matching tie and handkerchief”

  9. I’d like to echo Sheila’s thanks for these clues. I used to avoid Azed and Gemolo but with your help…

  10. Hi Iain I think you may have UPWARDS at 32a – that’s not correct. I hope that will be enough…