Container indicator

guard

“guard” 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: guards, guarding
Subtlety: subtle
Part of speech: participle, verb
Themes: containment

Worked example

“French-speaking province guards overtime estimate (5)”

Answer: QUOTE

Definition: "estimate" — a quoted price or figure, i.e. QUOTE. "French-speaking province" gives QUE (the standard abbreviation for Quebec). "overtime" gives OT. "guards" tells QUE to hold OT inside it: QU-OT-E. QUE around OT gives QUOTE.

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