Homophone indicator
to the ear
“to the ear” 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
- moderate
- Part of speech
- phrase
- Themes
- sound
“A badger's home sounds firm (3)”
Answer: SET
Definition: "firm" — meaning fixed or rigid. "A badger's home" gives SETT (the badger's underground burrow). "sounds" signals a homophone. SETT spoken aloud sounds like SET.
Related indicators
- aloud
- announce
- apparently
- audibly
- broadcast
- by the sound of it
- declare
- echo
- express
- going by the sound
- hear
- homophone
- I hear
- in a manner of speaking
- in conversation
- in speech
Explore indicator types
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