Container indicator

keep

“keep” 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: keeps, keeping
Subtlety: subtle
Part of speech: participle, verb
Themes: containment

Worked example

“Sat keeping time, sent off (6)”

Answer: POSTED

Definition: "sent off" — dispatched, mailed. "Sat" → POSED (as in modelled for a portrait). "time" → T (its standard abbreviation). "keeping" tells POSED to contain the T. POSED around T gives POSTED.

Related indicators

about
absorb
accommodate
acquire
admit
adopt
amid
amidst
among
amongst
around
bear
box
break
bury
cage

Explore indicator types

Anagram Hidden word Container Reversal Deletion Homophone Charade Acrostic

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