Lesson 7 of 8
Containers
One word inside another.
A container clue builds the answer by putting one piece inside another. The indicator either says the outer word holds something (holds, around, about, swallowing, embracing, wearing) or that the inner word is inside something (in, kept in, held by, within).
Both pieces are usually clued, and one is often very short: a single letter from an abbreviation, like I for one, L for learner, or a compass point. “Cereal swallowing one for the mind” is BRAN around I, which gives BRAIN.
The direction of the indicator matters. “A holds B” puts B inside A, while “A in B” puts A inside B. Read the indicator twice before you decide which word is the shell.
Words that give it away
- holds
- around
- about
- inside
- swallowing
- wearing
- kept in
- containing
- embracing
Worked examples
Cereal swallowing one for the mind (5)
- 01“Swallowing” is the indicator, so the cereal is the outer word.
- 02“Cereal” is BRAN, and “one” is I. BRAN swallowing I is BRA-I-N.
- 03“The mind” defines BRAIN, so it all fits.
BRAIN
Fastener kept in the southeast for a backbone (5)
- 01“Kept in” is the indicator, this time pointing the other way: the fastener goes inside.
- 02“Fastener” is PIN, and “the southeast” is SE, so PIN kept in SE is S-PIN-E.
- 03“A backbone” is a SPINE.
SPINE
Try one Bunny slope
Signal keeps a learner in for a tip (4)