🔗 Charade
The answer is built by joining smaller pieces end to end, like links in a chain. Each piece of the clue gives you one chunk of the answer.
Charades are the most common type. The answer is built by joining pieces — synonyms, abbreviations, or short words — end to end. Each word in the clue contributes a chunk of letters.
Cordelia's trick: click the words in the clue using our word lookup tool. You'll quickly see which words are abbreviations (quiet = P, old = O) and which have synonyms that could be pieces. Once you have a few pieces, try the pattern finder with your crossing letters to narrow down the answer.
Look through these examples — you'll start spotting the pattern after just a few. When you're ready, try the practice mode. — Cordelia
A free BBC
(6)
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Answer:
AUNTIE
Definition:
BBC = AUNTIE
Wordplay:
A
(literal)
free
=
UNTIE
(synonym)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
A + UNTIE
Summary:
A(A) + UNTIE(free)
Minute mark
(4)
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Answer:
NOTE
Definition:
Minute = NOTE
Assembly:
double_definition:
NOTE
Summary:
NOTE (synonym of "mark"); definition: "Minute"
Doctor on boat in capital
(6)
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Colour map:
Doctor
on
boat
in
capital
Answer:
MOSCOW
Definition:
capital = MOSCOW
Wordplay:
Doctor
=
MO
(abbreviation)
boat
=
SCOW
(synonym)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
MO + SCOW
Summary:
MO(Doctor) + SCOW(boat)
Signified average temperature
(5)
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Colour map:
Signified
average
temperature
Answer:
MEANT
Definition:
Signified = MEANT
Wordplay:
average
=
MEAN
(synonym)
temperature
=
T
(abbreviation)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
MEAN + T
Summary:
MEAN(average) + T(temperature)
City hospital to decline work
(3,5)
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Colour map:
City
hospital
to
decline
work
Answer:
SANDIEGO
Definition:
City = SANDIEGO
Wordplay:
hospital
=
SAN
(synonym)
decline
=
DIE
(synonym)
work
=
GO
(synonym)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
SAN + DIE + GO
Summary:
SAN (synonym of "hospital") + DIE (synonym of "decline") + GO (synonym of "work"); definition: "City"
Producing clubs with gold pipe
(7)
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Colour map:
Producing
clubs
with
gold
pipe
Answer:
CAUSING
Definition:
Producing = CAUSING
Wordplay:
clubs
=
C
(abbreviation)
gold
=
AU
(abbreviation)
pipe
=
SING
(synonym)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
C + AU + SING
Summary:
C(clubs) + AU(gold) + SING(pipe)
Fools lease land west of London
(9)
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Colour map:
Fools
lease
land
west
of
London
Answer:
BERKSHIRE
Definition:
land west of London = BERKSHIRE
Wordplay:
Fools
=
BERKS
(synonym)
lease
=
HIRE
(synonym)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
BERKS + HIRE
Summary:
BERKS (synonym of "Fools") + HIRE (synonym of "lease"); definition: "land west of London"
Silly Queen cuts time with power
(5)
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Colour map:
Silly
Queen
cuts
time
with
power
Answer:
TWERP
Definition:
Silly = TWERP
Wordplay:
time
=
T
(abbreviation)
Queen
=
ER
(abbreviation)
with
=
W
(abbreviation)
power
=
P
(abbreviation)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
T + W + ER + P
Summary:
T(time) + W(with) + ER(Queen) + P(power)
Glib talk close to fashion model
(7)
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Colour map:
Glib
talk
close
to
fashion
model
Answer:
PATTERN
Definition:
model = PATTERN
Wordplay:
Glib talk
=
PATTER
(synonym)
fashion
last letter =
N
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
PATTER + N
Summary:
PATTER(Glib talk) + N(fashion)
Discuss business while gobbling?
(4,6)
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Colour map:
Discuss
business
while
gobbling
Answer:
TALKTURKEY
Definition:
Discuss business = TALKTURKEY
Wordplay:
Discuss business while gobbling?
=
TALKTURKEY
(synonym)
Assembly:
double_definition:
TALKTURKEY
Summary:
TALKTURKEY (synonym of "Discuss business while gobbling?")
Dance with game business graduate
(5)
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Colour map:
Dance
with
game
business
graduate
Answer:
RUMBA
Definition:
Dance = RUMBA
Wordplay:
game
=
RU
(abbreviation)
business graduate
=
MBA
(synonym)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
RU + MBA
Summary:
RU(game = rugby union) + MBA(business graduate)
Detectives wait on southern swells
(8)
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Colour map:
Detectives
wait
on
southern
swells
Answer:
DISTENDS
Definition:
swells = DISTENDS
Wordplay:
Detectives
=
DIS
(synonym)
wait on
=
TEND
(synonym)
southern
=
S
(abbreviation)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
DIS + TEND + S
Summary:
DIS(Detectives) + TEND(wait on) + S(southern)
Fighter with degrees in Old Persian
(3,4)
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Colour map:
Fighter
with
degrees
in
Old
Persian
Answer:
ALI BABA
Definition:
Old Persian = ALI BABA
Wordplay:
fighter
=
ALI
(synonym)
degrees
=
BA
(abbreviation)
degrees
=
BA
(abbreviation)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
ALI + BA + BA
Summary:
ALI(fighter) + BA(degrees) + BA(degrees)
Pure Charlie? It’s superior to speed
(6)
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Colour map:
Pure
Charlie
It
s
superior
to
speed
Answer:
CHASTE
Definition:
Pure = CHASTE
Wordplay:
Charlie
=
C
(abbreviation)
speed
=
HASTE
(synonym)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
C + HASTE
Summary:
C(Charlie) + HASTE(speed)
Soiled article brought to pawnbroker
(7)
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Colour map:
Soiled
article
brought
to
pawnbroker
Answer:
UNCLEAN
Definition:
Soiled = UNCLEAN
Wordplay:
pawnbroker
=
UNCLE
(synonym)
article
=
AN
(synonym)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
UNCLE + AN
Summary:
UNCLE(pawnbroker) + AN(article)
Snack, one eaten by uncommon baronet
(7)
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Colour map:
Snack
one
eaten
by
uncommon
baronet
Answer:
RAREBIT
Definition:
Snack = RAREBIT
Wordplay:
one
=
I
(abbreviation)
uncommon
=
RARE
(synonym)
by
first letter =
B
baronet
last letter =
T
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
RARE + B + I + T
Summary:
RARE(synonym of "uncommon") + B(first letter of "by") + I(abbr. "one") + T(last letter of "baronet")
Singer about to plug very old record
(8)
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Colour map:
Singer
about
to
plug
very
old
record
Answer:
VOCALIST
Definition:
Singer = VOCALIST
Wordplay:
very old
=
VO
(abbreviation)
about
=
CA
(abbreviation)
record
=
LIST
(synonym)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
VO + CA + LIST
Summary:
VO(abbr. "very old") + CA(abbr. "about") + LIST(synonym of "record")
Former partner, full-figured specimen
(7)
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Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).
Colour map:
Former
partner
full-figured
specimen
Answer:
EXAMPLE
Definition:
specimen = EXAMPLE
Wordplay:
Former partner
=
EX
(abbreviation)
full-figured
=
AMPLE
(synonym)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
EX + AMPLE
Summary:
EX(Former partner) + AMPLE(full-figured)
Aida perhaps got naked for each adult
(5)
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Colour map:
Aida
perhaps
got
naked
for
each
adult
Answer:
OPERA
Definition:
Aida perhaps = OPERA
Wordplay:
got
minus FFED =
O
each
minus CAPITA =
PER
adult
=
A
(abbreviation)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
O + PER + A
Summary:
O(got) + PER(each) + A(adult)
Check address of page, an old peasant
(5)
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Colour map:
Check
address
of
page
an
old
peasant
Answer:
CHURL
Definition:
an old peasant = CHURL
Wordplay:
Check
=
CH
(abbreviation)
URL
(literal)
Summary:
CH(abbr. "Check") + URL(address of page); definition: "an old peasant"
Silly play’s opening provided by cast
(8)
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Colour map:
Silly
play
s
opening
provided
by
cast
Answer:
PIFFLING
Definition:
Silly = PIFFLING
Wordplay:
play
first letter =
P
provided
=
IF
(abbreviation)
cast
=
FLING
(synonym)
Summary:
P(first letter of "play") + IF(abbr. "provided") + FLING(synonym of "cast"); definition: "Silly"
Rubbish as well, Scottish entertainer?
(6)
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Colour map:
Rubbish
as
well
Scottish
entertainer
Answer:
TATTOO
Definition:
Scottish entertainer = TATTOO
Wordplay:
Rubbish
=
TAT
(synonym)
as well
=
TOO
(synonym)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
TAT + TOO
Summary:
TAT(rubbish) + TOO(as well)
Press yellow base metal made from this?
(4,3)
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Colour map:
Press
yellow
base
metal
made
from
this
Answer:
IRON ORE
Definition:
metal made from this = IRON ORE
Wordplay:
Press
=
IRON
(synonym)
yellow
=
OR
(synonym)
base
=
E
(abbreviation)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
IRON + OR + E
Summary:
Press = IRON Yellow = ORE
Look old taking book inside summerhouse
(6)
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Colour map:
Look
old
taking
book
inside
summerhouse
Answer:
GAZEBO
Definition:
summerhouse = GAZEBO
Wordplay:
Look
=
GAZE
(synonym)
old
=
O
(abbreviation)
book
=
B
(abbreviation)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
GAZE + B + O
Summary:
GAZE(Look) + B(book) + O(old)
Grand pound shop's opening showing pants
(8)
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Colour map:
Grand
pound
shop's
opening
showing
pants
Answer:
KNICKERS
Definition:
pants = KNICKERS
Wordplay:
Grand
=
K
(abbreviation)
pound
=
NICKER
(synonym)
shop's opening
first letter =
S
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
K + NICKER + S
Summary:
K(Grand) + NICKER(pound) + S(shop's opening)
Refrain from church when finally contrite
(5)
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Colour map:
Refrain
from
church
when
finally
contrite
Answer:
CEASE
Definition:
Refrain from = CEASE
Wordplay:
church
=
CE
(synonym)
when
=
AS
(synonym)
finally contrite
last letter =
E
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
CE + AS + E
Summary:
CE(church) + AS(when) + E(finally contrite)
Friend having top that's rather washed out
(6)
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Colour map:
Friend
having
top
that's
rather
washed
out
Answer:
PALLID
Definition:
washed out = PALLID
Wordplay:
Friend
=
PAL
(synonym)
top
=
LID
(synonym)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
PAL + LID
Summary:
PAL(Friend) + LID(top)
Heartless Conservative left to admit regret
(5)
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Colour map:
Heartless
Conservative
left
to
admit
regret
Answer:
CRUEL
Definition:
Heartless = CRUEL
Wordplay:
Conservative
=
C
(abbreviation)
left
=
L
(abbreviation)
regret
=
RUE
(synonym)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
C + RUE + L
Summary:
C(Conservative) + RUE(regret) + L(left)
Here peers sit, in Lords, returned to power
(10)
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Colour map:
Here
peers
sit
in
Lords
returned
to
power
Answer:
CHAMBERPOT
Definition:
Here peers sit = CHAMBERPOT
Wordplay:
Lords
=
CHAMBER
(synonym)
in
=
POT
(synonym)
Assembly:
Join the pieces:
CHAMBER + POT
Summary:
Peers (people who pee) in lords = CHAMBER reutorned (reverves) TO P(ower) = POT
Palace attendant’s first opening after noon
(7)
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Colour map:
Palace
attendant
s
first
opening
after
noon
Answer:
LATERAN
Definition:
Palace attendant's = LATERAN
Wordplay:
after
=
LATER
(synonym)
attendant's
first letter =
A
noon
first letter =
N
Summary:
LATER(synonym of "after") + A(first letter of "attendant's") + N(first letter of "noon"); definition: "Palace attendant's"