Read it backwards
Reversals
A reversal indicator (back, returned, sent back, going west) tells you to reverse a stretch of fodder to reach the definition.
Reversals are short and sharp. When you see “returned”, “sent back”, or “going west”, check whether flipping a neighbouring word lands on a clean definition.
In across clues, “from the east” / “westbound” style direction hints also reverse; keep the grid orientation in mind when you move from booklets to blocked grids.
Common reversal indicators
Across clues love “back” and “west”; down clues lean on “up” and “raised” in many papers (this solver focuses on the across-friendly set below).
| Indicator | Sense |
|---|---|
| back / returned / sent back | Read the fodder backwards |
| going west / from the east | Leftward in an across clue |
| reversed / reflected / backwards | Explicit flip |
| about / around | Can reverse (also used for containers) |
| coming back / brought back / knocked back | Return journey |
Things to watch
- Reverse the obvious short word first: pots, loop, trap, time.
- “Up” and “raised” reverse more often in down clues than across.
- The definition still has to mean the reversed result, not the fodder.
Worked example
Pots returned for a halt (4)