Guide › Containers & Insertions
What Are Container Clues?
In a container clue (also called an insertion clue), one set of letters is placed inside another to form the answer. Think of it as one word "swallowing" or "holding" another. The setter signals this with a container indicator like "around", "holding", "swallowing", "embracing", or "inside".
Container clues work in two directions. Either the outer word contains the inner word (signalled by "holding", "swallowing", "embracing"), or the inner word enters the outer word (signalled by "in", "inside", "entering"). The result is the same — one set of letters nested inside another.
To solve these, you need to identify which letters go outside and which go inside, then picture how they fit together. Writing it out with brackets can help: if FAST holds E, you get F(E)AST = FEAST.
Worked Examples
"Host swallowing energy is a banquet (5)"
FEAST
Indicator: "swallowing" — the host contains the energy. Outer word: "Host" = FAST (to fast means to go without food). Inner letter: "energy" = E (standard abbreviation). Construction: E goes inside FAST: F-E-A-S-T = FEAST. Definition: "banquet" = FEAST. Check: F + E + AST = FEAST.
"Cooking vessel around fifty is a scheme (4)"
PLAN
Indicator: "around" — the vessel goes around the number. Outer word: "Cooking vessel" = PAN. Inner letter: "fifty" = L (Roman numeral). Construction: L goes inside PAN: P-L-A-N = PLAN. Definition: "scheme" = PLAN. Check: P + L + AN = PLAN.
"Music group embracing right is a make (5)"
BRAND
Indicator: "embracing" — the group holds the letter. Outer word: "Music group" = BAND. Inner letter: "right" = R (standard abbreviation). Construction: R goes inside BAND: B-R-A-N-D = BRAND. Definition: "make" (as in brand/make of a product) = BRAND. Check: B + R + AND = BRAND.
"Small piece clutching right is a citizen (4)"
BRIT
Indicator: "clutching" — the small piece holds the letter. Outer word: "Small piece" = BIT. Inner letter: "right" = R (standard abbreviation). Construction: R goes inside BIT: B-R-I-T = BRIT. Definition: "citizen" = BRIT (short for British citizen). Check: B + R + IT = BRIT.
Complete Container Indicator Glossary
These words signal that one set of letters should be placed inside another:
around
clutching
consuming
containing
covering
eating
embracing
holding
housing
in
inside
into
outside
surrounding
swallowing
within
wrapping
Tips for Solving Container Clues
1. Identify which part goes inside which
The indicator word tells you the direction. "Swallowing" and "embracing" mean the first word wraps around the second. "Inside" and "entering" mean the first word goes into the second. Read the indicator carefully.
2. Use bracket notation
Write out the construction with brackets: F(E)AST, B(R)AND, P(L)AN. This makes it easy to see whether the letters combine correctly to spell the answer.
3. Look for common short insertions
The inserted element is often a single letter from a standard abbreviation: E (energy), R (right), L (left), N (new), O (love/nothing). This keeps the clue concise.
4. The outer word splits at a natural point
The inserted letters always go between existing letters of the outer word. Try different split points in the outer word to see where the insertion makes a real word.
Container clues are really satisfying once you get the hang of them. The key insight is that the answer is always longer than either component alone — it is the combination of both parts nested together.
Explore Other Clue Types
Containers are one of several wordplay techniques used in cryptic crosswords.