Container indicator

grip

“grip” is a container indicator in cryptic crosswords.

One piece of wordplay is wrapped around or inserted into another. Containers use the imagery of holding, enclosing, or swallowing.

Clue types
Container
Forms
grips, gripping
Subtlety
moderate
Part of speech
participle, verb
Themes
containment
Worked example

Garden tool gripping American dynasty (5)

Answer: HOUSE

Definition: "dynasty" — a ruling family or line. Garden tool → HOE (an implement for weeding). "American" gives US. "gripping" tells HOE to wrap around US: HO-US-E. HOE gripping US gives HOUSE.


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