Cryptic Run
All lessons

Lesson 2 of 8

Hidden words

It's already there.

In a hidden-word clue the answer is spelled out, in order, inside a run of consecutive letters. It usually crosses at least one word break, which is what keeps it invisible on a first read.

The indicator is a word meaning “contained in”: some, part of, within, held by, found in, a bit of. When you see one, stop reading for meaning and start reading letters.

A good technique: write out the suspect phrase without spaces and slide a window the width of the answer along it. The definition confirms the match.

Words that give it away

  • some
  • part of
  • in
  • held by
  • found in
  • within
  • concealed in
  • a bit of

Worked examples

Horse hidden in a clump on yonder hill (4)

  1. 01“Horse” is a plausible definition at the start.
  2. 02“Hidden in” says the answer is inside “a clump on yonder hill”.
  3. 03Read across the breaks: clum·P ON Y·onder. PONY, a horse.

PONY

Some orchestra in a vehicle (5)

  1. 01“Some” is a hidden-word indicator. “A vehicle” at the end is the definition.
  2. 02Look inside “orchestra in”: orches·TRA IN.
  3. 03TRAIN is a vehicle, so that is the answer.

TRAIN

Try one Bunny slope

Primate found in Cape Town (3)