cryptic crossword minute – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk! Below you'll find comprehensive solutions for the cryptic crossword clue "cryptic crossword minute", complete with explanations to help you understand the wordplay. Whether you're stuck or just curious, we have the answer for every length.
Solutions for "cryptic crossword minute" by Letter Count
3 Letters
SEC: Often used as an abbreviation for 'second', a smaller unit of time than a minute, implying brevity.
4 Letters
TINY: Directly means extremely small, leveraging the 'my-NOOT' pronunciation of minute.
6 Letters
MOMENT: Refers to a very brief period of time, fitting the 'MIN-it' pronunciation of minute.
7 Letters
INSTANT: A precise and very brief point in time, another strong contender for the temporal meaning of minute.
More About "cryptic crossword minute"
The clue "cryptic crossword minute" is a classic example of how setters exploit words with multiple meanings or pronunciations to create ingenious puzzles. The word "minute" can refer to a unit of time (pronounced "MIN-it") or something extremely small (pronounced "my-NOOT"). This duality is a common trick in cryptic crosswords, designed to make you consider both interpretations before landing on the correct answer.
When encountering such a clue, experienced solvers immediately look for context within the clue itself or crossing letters that might favour one meaning over the other. For instance, if the clue involves something incredibly small, the 'tiny' sense of minute is likely at play. If it's about a brief duration, the 'time' sense is more relevant. This precise ambiguity is what makes cryptic crosswords so captivating and challenging.
Our goal with this page is not just to provide the answer, but to illuminate the thinking behind it, helping you to build your own cryptic solving skills. Understanding how setters use words like 'minute' will equip you to tackle similar linguistic traps in future puzzles.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Identify the double meaning: For words like 'minute' that have multiple pronunciations or meanings, always consider both. Cryptic clues often hinge on this ambiguity.
- Look for indicators: Pay attention to words that might indicate anagrams ("mixed," "broken"), reversals ("up," "back"), or hidden words ("in," "part of").
- Break down the clue: Cryptic clues often have two parts: a definition and the wordplay. Try to separate them. The definition might be a simple synonym for the answer.
- Think outside the box (and inside it): Sometimes the most obvious answer is hidden by a clever surface reading. Conversely, sometimes the clue is a straightforward definition.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 'cryptic' crossword clue?
A cryptic crossword clue is a type of clue that does not directly describe the answer. Instead, it uses wordplay, puns, anagrams, hidden words, charades, and other linguistic tricks to lead you to the solution. The 'surface reading' often makes sense as a normal sentence but hides a secondary, cryptic meaning that provides the actual hint.
How does 'minute' work as a cryptic crossword clue?
The word 'minute' is a common source of ambiguity in cryptic crosswords because it has two distinct pronunciations and meanings: 'my-NOOT' (extremely small) and 'MIN-it' (a unit of time). A cryptic clue for 'minute' will typically exploit this double meaning, leading solvers to consider answers related to either very small things (e.g., TINY, ATOM) or brief periods of time (e.g., MOMENT, INSTANT).
Are there common patterns for cryptic clues using time or size?
Yes, clues for time units often use words like 'moment', 'tick', 'second', 'age', or 'era'. For size, 'small', 'tiny', 'wee', 'little', or 'atom' are common. Cryptic setters are fond of homophones (words that sound alike but have different meanings) or words with multiple definitions to create challenging yet fair clues.