Homophones Clues
Homophones are pairs of words (or phrases) that are quite distinct in spelling and meaning but have the same pronunciation.
Homophones are pairs of words (or phrases) that are quite distinct in spelling and meaning but have the same pronunciation. For example:
CREWS / CRUISE
DUCT / DUCKED
PROFIT / PROPHET
ARRAYED / A RAID
ILLEGAL / ILL EAGLE
PHARAOH / FAIR ROW
A typical homophone clue in a cryptic crossword is this one:
Remained sober, so we hear (6)
You should read this as: a word meaning remained which sounds the same as a word meaning sober. The fact that this is a homophone clue is signalled by the indicator so we hear.
Other common homophone indicators are: heard, so it's said, in speech.
Here are a few more examples of homophone clues:
Neckwear that's Siamese, so we hear (3)
Narrow channel - not winding, we hear (6)
Expensive animal, by the sound of it (4)
I'd heard and observed (4)
An advance, we hear, on its own (5)
Next: Reversals
