How Does Informer Crossword Clue Appear In Cryptic Puzzles?

2026-02-03 21:40:00
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4 Answers

Rebekah
Rebekah
Favorite read: The Witness
Detail Spotter Electrician
I get a different kind of thrill when 'informer' shows up because it forces me to switch gears between literal meaning and cryptic mechanics. Sometimes it's a straight synonym: think RAT (3), SNOOP (5), or GRASS (5). Other times it's constructed: anagram indicators like 'mixed' or 'confused' might scramble 'ratan' into something close, or a charade glues elements together (for instance, 'tell' + 'man' could give TELLMAN-type constructions in long themers). Hidden-word clues use embeddings: the letters of a synonym might be tucked inside adjacent words and flagged by an indicator such as 'in' or 'within'.

I also watch for surface storylines — 'informer' could be the definition while the wordplay paints a police drama. Spotting British slang versus neutral synonyms helps a lot; British outlets often prefer 'nark' or 'grass', while international puzzles lean on RAT and SNOOP. I often annotate possible synonyms and then test every cryptic device until something snaps into place, which makes solving methodical and fun.
2026-02-05 16:53:49
3
Responder Analyst
On slow mornings I enjoy scanning clues for the little signals that say 'informer' is the definition. My eye looks first to the ends of the clue — most definitions live there — then I hunt for indicators: 'in', 'inside', 'hidden', or action words that suggest reversal, anagram, or container. Common short solutions are RAT, NARK, and SNOOP; British puzzles like to use GRASS.

When the setter wants to be clever they’ll disguise a synonym as part of the wordplay: a hidden string across two words, or building the informer from charade parts (e.g., a verb plus an abbreviation). I like imagining the setter chuckling while writing those misleading surfaces. It’s a small ritual for me: spot definition, list candidate synonyms, then test the cryptic mechanics until something fits — and it usually does, with a neat little flourish that leaves me satisfied.
2026-02-08 16:58:59
3
Nolan
Nolan
Frequent Answerer Lawyer
Today I felt playful and broke down a couple of patterns I love when 'informer' is clued. One neat pattern is double definition: a short clue gives two straightforward meanings, like 'Rodent or betrayer (3)' = RAT. Another favourite is hidden-word: an indicator such as 'buried' or 'inside' can point to an informer name embedded across word boundaries — keep an eye on adjacent words for neat little letter runs.

I also see charades and containers all the time: a clue might put a short synonym inside an envelope word ('holding', 'around', 'in') to create the answer, or use a reversal if the clue suggests turning back. Homophones turn up too; something like 'tells' might produce TELL‑ words when the clue hints at sound. For longer, colorful entries you get 'stoolpigeon' or 'telltale', often clued with surface misdirection. Solving these feels like picking locks — satisfying and a little sneaky, and I always come away grinning.
2026-02-09 00:32:32
4
Yvette
Yvette
Spoiler Watcher Sales
I love how the little word 'informer' can be a treasure chest for cryptic setters and solvers alike.

In my puzzles, 'informer' will often be the straight definition at one end of the clue, pointing you to synonyms like RAT, SNOOP, NARK, GRASS, or TELL‑TALE. That simple reading is super common: a short double definition such as 'Rodent or betrayer (3)' gives RAT straightaway. But setters relish disguise: you'll see 'informer' clued by wordplay — hidden words, containers, anagrams and charades are all fair game. For example, a hidden indicator like 'in' can hide 'spy' inside a longer phrase, or a container indicator like 'holding' might put RAT inside another word.

I also enjoy the British flavour — 'grass' or 'nark' appear frequently — and the setter might use slang or surface misdirection to steer you away. Spotting the definition (usually at an end) and then testing for hidden words, reversal indicators, or synonyms is my go-to approach; it turns a baffling clue into a satisfying little reveal. Feels like detective work every time, honestly.
2026-02-09 14:42:21
3
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