{"id":441,"date":"2017-02-11T13:42:25","date_gmt":"2017-02-11T13:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.clueclinic.com\/?page_id=441"},"modified":"2026-02-21T09:49:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T09:49:19","slug":"reversal-indicators","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/clueclinic.com\/index.php\/reversal-indicators\/","title":{"rendered":"Reversal Indicators"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reversal<\/em>\u00a0indicators tell the solver to reverse the order of the letters in a piece of text (eg ‘turning nasty’ = BAD reversed = DAB).\u00a0A few\u00a0indicators (eg ‘westbound’) are only suitable for use in the clues\u00a0to across entries, whilst\u00a0a substantial number (eg served up’) are only\u00a0appropriate in\u00a0down clues. The indicators marked as ‘Standard’ in this list are generally acceptable, but setters should be aware that many of the indicators shown as ‘Advanced’ (eg ‘towering’) could be rejected by crossword editors – whilst ‘tower’ does have a meaning of ‘to rise into the air’,\u00a0one could reasonably question\u00a0both whether the word implies movement (rather than a state) and whether the letters in a crossword grid could ‘tower’.<\/p>\n

Certain indicators, such as ‘from the right’, make sense only when applied to a horizontal operand; since all clues are written horizontally these indicators should be valid irrespective of the direction of grid entry, but some editors with not allow them in down clues; these indicators are marked ‘Either*’ is the ‘Across or Down’ column and caution is advised when using them in down clues. Note that it is not acceptable to combine ‘Either*’ and ‘down only’ indicators, so ‘reprimand backed over time’ would not be allowed for PART (RAP reversed horizontally placed vertically above T).<\/p>\n

Date last modified: 17\/02\/26<\/em>
\nNature of change: <\/em>(21\/12\/24) added returned, rise of<\/em>, (16\/02\/25) added overturns\/overturning<\/em>, comes\/coming round<\/em>, (23\/04) added chops\/chopping\/chopped<\/em>, ups\/upping\/upped<\/em>., (17\/02\/26) added in review<\/em>, on the counter\/rebound\/turn<\/em>, reared<\/em>, rebounding<\/em>, receiving a tip<\/em>, reverse<\/em> (adjective), taking a turn<\/em>, uphill<\/em>, versed<\/em>.\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Indicator<\/th>Alternative form(s)<\/th>Across or Down<\/th>Type<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
about<\/td>right about<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
arising<\/td>arises<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
around<\/td>all around<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ascending<\/td>ascends\/ascendant<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
back<\/td>backwards\/backward<\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
back to front<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
backing<\/td>backs\/backed<\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
backsliding<\/td><\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
backtracking<\/td>backtracks<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
boomerangs<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
boosted<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
brought about<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
brought up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
capsizing<\/td>capsizes\/capsized<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
cast up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
chopping<\/td>chops\/chopped<\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
climbing<\/td>climbs<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
cocked<\/td>cocked up<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
coming back<\/td>comes back<\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
coming round<\/td>comes round<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
coming up<\/td>comes up<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
converse<\/td>conversely<\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
counter<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
doubling<\/td>doubles<\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
dressed<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ebbing<\/td>ebbs<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
elevated<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
erected<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
falling back<\/td><\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
fixed up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
flipping<\/td>flips\/flipped<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
from below<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
from the back<\/td>from back<\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
from the bottom<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
from the east<\/td><\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
from the right<\/td><\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
from the south<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
going back<\/td>goes back<\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
going north<\/td>goes north<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
going round<\/td>goes round<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
going up<\/td>goes up<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
going west<\/td>goes west<\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
hauled up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
head over heels<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
headlong<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
held back<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
held up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
hinging<\/td>hinges<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
hoisted<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
in recess<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
in retrospect<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
in return<\/td>in turn<\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
in reverse<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
in review<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
inverse<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
inverted<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
keeling over<\/td>keels over<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
kept back<\/td><\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
knocked back<\/td><\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
lifted<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
lifting<\/td>lifts<\/td>Down only<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
looking back<\/td><\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
looking up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
lying about<\/td>lies about<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
lying around<\/td>lies around<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
making a comeback<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
mounting<\/td>mounts\/mounted<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
northbound<\/td>northward<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
on head<\/td>on its head<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
on reflection<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
on the counter<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
on the rebound<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
on the turn<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
on the up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
over<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
overthrown<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
overturned<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
overturning<\/td>overturns<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
peaked<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
propped up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
put back<\/td><\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
put up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
raised<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rampant<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
reared<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rearing<\/td>rears<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rebounding<\/td>rebounds<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rebuffed<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
recalled<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
receding<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
receiving a tip<\/td>receives a tip<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
recoiling<\/td>recoils<\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
recurrent<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
redirected<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
reflecting<\/td>reflects\/reflected<\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
reflex<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
regressing<\/td>regressive<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
repelled<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
repulsed<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
retiring<\/td>retires<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
retorted<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
retracted<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
retreating<\/td>retreats<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
retrograde<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
retrogressing<\/td>retrogressive<\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
retrospective<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
returned<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
returning<\/td>returns<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
reverse<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
reverse of<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
reversing<\/td>reverses\/reversed<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
reverting<\/td>reverts\/reverted<\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
revolutionary<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rise of<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rising<\/td>rises<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rocketing<\/td>rockets<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
roll of<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rolling<\/td>rolls<\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rotating<\/td>rotates\/rotated<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
round<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
rounded<\/td>rounds\/rounding<\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
scaling<\/td>scales<\/td>Down only<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
sent back<\/td><\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
sent up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
served up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
set back<\/td><\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
set up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
shown up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
shrinking<\/td>shrinks<\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
skied<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
slewing<\/td>slews\/slewed<\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
soaring<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
somersaulting<\/td>somersaults<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
spinning<\/td>spins\/spun<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
standing<\/td>stands\/stands up<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
stuck up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
swivelling<\/td>swivels<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
taken aback<\/td>aback<\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
taken up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
taking a turn<\/td>takes a turn<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
tipping<\/td>tips\/tipped<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
topsy-turvy<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
towering<\/td>towers<\/td>Down only<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
tripping<\/td>trips<\/td>Down only<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
turning<\/td>turns\/turned<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
turning over<\/td>turns over\/turned over<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
turning up<\/td>turns up<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
turnover of<\/td>turnover in<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
twirls<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
twisting<\/td>twists\/twisted<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
up<\/td>upwards<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
upending<\/td>upended<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
uphill<\/td>going uphill<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
uplifted<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
upping<\/td>ups\/upped<\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
upright<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
uprising<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
upset<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
upside down<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
upturn in<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
upwardly mobile<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
used up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
versed<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
vice versa<\/td><\/td>Either<\/td>Advanced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
westbound<\/td>westward\/westwards<\/td>Either*<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
wheeling<\/td>wheels<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
withdrawing<\/td>withdraws\/withdrawn<\/td>Either<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
written up<\/td><\/td>Down only<\/td>Standard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reversal\u00a0indicators tell the solver to reverse the order of the letters in a piece of text (eg ‘turning nasty’ = BAD reversed = DAB).\u00a0A few\u00a0indicators (eg ‘westbound’) are only suitable for use in the...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-441","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clueclinic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clueclinic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clueclinic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clueclinic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clueclinic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=441"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/clueclinic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6447,"href":"https:\/\/clueclinic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/441\/revisions\/6447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clueclinic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}