🔄 Reversal

A word is spelled backwards to form the answer (or part of it). Indicators like "back", "returned", "up" (in down clues), or "over" signal this.

Look through these examples — you'll start spotting the pattern after just a few. When you're ready, try the practice mode. — Cordelia

Practice these All types

Definition Wordplay Fodder Unhighlighted = indicator or linking word

Vehicles Sting held up (5)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Vehicles Sting held up

Answer: TRAMS

Definition: Vehicles = TRAMS

Wordplay:

Sting = SMART (synonym)

Assembly:

Reverse SMART = TRAMS

Summary: reverse SMART(Sting)

Monster therefore returns (4)

Recognized perch from the rear flap (6)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Recognized perch from the rear flap

Answer: TISWAS

Definition: flap = TISWAS

Wordplay:

Recognized = SAW (synonym)

perch = SIT (synonym)

Assembly:

Reverse SAWSIT = TISWAS

Summary: reverse SAW(Recognized)+SIT(perch)

Raised gang with genuine fabulous sailor (7)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Raised gang with genuine fabulous sailor

Answer: LAERTES

Definition: sailor = LAERTES

Wordplay:

gang = SET (synonym)

genuine = REAL (synonym)

Assembly:

Reverse SETREAL = LAERTES

Summary: reverse SET(gang)+REAL(genuine)

Just English left on rising Italian island (9)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Just English left on rising Italian island

Answer: EQUITABLE

Definition: Just = EQUITABLE

Wordplay:

left = QUIT (synonym)

island = ELBA (synonym)

english first letter = E

Assembly:

Reverse ELBA = EQUITABLE

Summary: E(english) + QUIT(left) + reverse ELBA(island)

Criticise some informal styles making a comeback (4)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Criticise some informal styles making a comeback

Answer: SLAM

Definition: Criticise = SLAM

Wordplay:

hidden in some informal styles

Assembly:

Reverse MALS = SLAM

Summary: reverse MALS(some informal styles)

Piece of information backing commercial corporation (5)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Piece of information backing commercial corporation

Answer: DATUM

Definition: Piece of information = DATUM

Wordplay:

commercial = AD (abbreviation)

corporation = TUM (abbreviation)

Assembly:

Reverse AD = DATUM

Summary: reverse AD(commercial) + TUM(corporation)

Obvious role of mother, say, following return of father (8)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Obvious role of mother say following return of father

Answer: APPARENT

Definition: Obvious = APPARENT

Wordplay:

father = PA (synonym)

mother = PARENT (synonym)

Assembly:

Reverse PA = APPARENT

Summary: reverse PA(father) + PARENT(mother)

Figure reserve, Mo Salah, finally right to make a comeback (7)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Figure reserve Mo Salah finally right to make a comeback

Answer: RHOMBUS

Definition: Figure = RHOMBUS

Wordplay:

reserve = SUB (synonym)

MO (literal)

Salah last letter = H

right = R (abbreviation)

Assembly:

Reverse SUBMOHR = RHOMBUS

Summary: Definition: "Figure" (geometric shape). Reversal: "reserve" = SUB, "Mo" = MO, "Salah finally" = H (last letter of Salah), "right" = R. SUB + MO + H + R = SUBMHOR. "to make a comeback" indicates reversal: SUBMHOR reversed = RHOMBUS.

Manage spinning empty half-truths for ages (6)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Manage spinning empty half-truths for ages

Answer: EPOCHS

Definition: ages = EPOCHS

Wordplay:

manage = COPE (synonym)

half-truths first letter = HS

Assembly:

Reverse COPE = EPOCHS

Summary: reverse COPE(manage) + HS(half-truths)

Key part of speech written up for Mark (5)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Key part of speech written up for Mark

Answer: BREVE

Definition: Mark = BREVE

Wordplay:

part of speech = VERB (synonym)

Assembly:

Reverse VERB = BREVE

Summary: reverse VERB(part of speech) + E

Mother raised money as source of meal (6)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Mother raised money as source of meal

Answer: MANIOC

Definition: source of meal = MANIOC

Wordplay:

Mother = MA (synonym)

money = COIN (synonym)

Assembly:

Reverse COIN = MANIOC

Summary: MA(Mother) + reverse COIN(money)

Twisted reptile losing tail in mythic poems (4)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Twisted reptile losing tail in mythic poems

Answer: EDDA

Definition: mythic poems = EDDA

Wordplay:

reptile minus R = ADDE

Assembly:

Reverse ADDE = EDDA

Summary: reverse ADDE(reptile)

Designs aircraft base rejected (5)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Designs aircraft base rejected

Answer: PLANS

Definition: Designs = PLANS

Wordplay:

aircraft base = SNALP (synonym)

Assembly:

Reverse SNALP = PLANS

Summary: reverse SNALP(synonym of "aircraft base")

Dutch brought back through Jaguar factory (4)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Dutch brought back through Jaguar factory

Answer: FRAU

Definition: Dutch = FRAU

Wordplay:

Jaguar factory reversed = UARF

Assembly:

Reverse UARF = FRAU

Summary: reverse UARF(Jaguar factory)

Olympian from Egyptian port returned (4)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Olympian from Egyptian port returned

Answer: ZEUS

Definition: Olympian = ZEUS

Wordplay:

Egyptian port = SUEZ (synonym)

Assembly:

Reverse SUEZ = ZEUS

Summary: reverse SUEZ(Egyptian port)

Hit back in tie (4)

Drunkard back with hard stuff (4)

Sex appeals after knocking back wine (4)

Half rushed back for teaching session (7)

Set report about four allowed to retire (10)

Polish brought west to fight make dugouts? (6)

Reasonable except when noun plays part of verb (4)

Backing separate sink — it keeps things fresher (3,4)

Fresh article covering popular water sports venue (3,6)

Stain most of top lip, upset over case of catarrh (8)

Try it: click any word above to look it up. Or try the Pattern finder (top right).

Colour map:

Stain most of top lip upset over case of catarrh

Answer: BESMIRCH

Definition: Stain = BESMIRCH

Summary: Definition: "Stain". Charade with reversal: "most of top" = BES (most of BEST), "lip" = RIM, "upset" = reversal indicator giving MIR, "over" = positioning indicator, "case of catarrh" = CH (first and last letters). BES + MIR + CH = BESMIRCH.

Roving investigators before noon running northwards (7)

Car manufacturer endorses backing Russian agreement (5)

Practice reversal clues Back to all types