Acrostic indicator
at first
“at first” is an acrostic indicator in cryptic crosswords.
Also called letter-selection: you read the initial or final letters of consecutive words to spell part of the answer. Indicators point to beginnings, ends, or leaders.
- Clue types
- Acrostic
- Subtlety
- moderate
- Part of speech
- phrase
“The old dog always yaps at first these days (5)”
Answer: TODAY
Definition: "these days" — the present time. "at first" tells you to take initial letters. Take the first letter of each word in "the old dog always yaps": T-O-D-A-Y. Those initials spell TODAY.
Related indicators
- at last
- at the end
- at the end of
- at the outset
- at the start of
- backs of
- begin
- beginnings of
- borders of
- bottom of
- bottoms of
- capitals
- characters
- conclude
- conclusions of
- edges of
Explore indicator types
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