Verbal Indicators In Disguise

Take a look at the typical clue type indicators: "breaking" for anagrams, "swallowing" for containers, "returning" for reversals. The function of the indicator seems obvious in each case, doesn't it? For a wily crossword setter, this will not do. The setter strives not only to make the indicator unambiguous in the cryptic reading but also inscrutable on the clue's surface.

How does the setter do it?

One devious device is to play tricks with parts of speech. Many clue type indicators happen to be verbs. The setter dresses the verbal indicator to masquerade as a noun or adjective.

A classic example from Tim Moorey's How To Master The Times Crossword:

Times: Composer of lines for Russian city (10)

In this clue, the word "lines" reads like a noun on the surface, a synonym for poetry. In the cryptic reading, "lines" is the verb that means "fills". The wordplay:

OF lines i.e. fills PRO (for) KIEV (Russian city), which gives the answer PROKOFIEV.

Solve These

Every clue in this list contains a disguised verbal indicator. Solve and enjoy.

Independent 7642 (Anax): Pop, as do bubbles? (4)
Guardian 25374 (Crucible): Frank's in gym regularly taking hooks (4)
Guardian 25374 (Crucible): Wordy half of book’s boring poems (7) 
FT 13403 (Loroso): Tight-lipped guards work in exhibition centre (6) M_____

Read more about disguising verbal anagrinds: Camouflaging Anagrams and Verbal Anagrammar.

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Related Posts:

• Double-Edged Indicators
• Tricky Indicators
• How To Interpret Punctuation In Clues

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