Homophone indicator
by the sound of it
“by the sound of it” is a homophone indicator in cryptic crosswords.
The wordplay points to a word that sounds the same when spoken aloud. Homophones use the imagery of hearing, speech, and broadcasting.
- Clue types
- Homophone
- Subtlety
- obvious
- Part of speech
- phrase
- Themes
- sound
“Earth spun round, by the sound of it (5)”
Answer: WORLD
Definition: "Earth" — our planet. "spun round" → WHIRLED (twirled rapidly about). "by the sound of it" signals a homophone. WHIRLED said aloud sounds like the answer. Spoken, WHIRLED gives WORLD.
Related indicators
- aloud
- announce
- apparently
- audibly
- broadcast
- declare
- echo
- express
- going by the sound
- hear
- homophone
- I hear
- in a manner of speaking
- in conversation
- in speech
- in the ear
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