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 Azed puzzle is available at this link: Azed 2,785
In the October Digest, we discuss classic comedy, competition vs cooperation, and not one but two new clue-writing contests for you to enter
The PDF of the latest Gemelo puzzle is available at this link: Gemelo 52

Latest Posts

Latest Comments

Latest Forum Topics/Posts

  2. Good to see that The Observer will accept clue-writing entries from anyone (but only online), including photos/scans of e.g. printed…

  3. Thanks for your question, which gives me the opportunity to make a more general point. The links included in the…

  5. Afraid I still don’t buy the explanation for 26A. Whilst a “spit” is defined as “a long narrow tongue of…

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

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

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