How to Solve: Package Returned in Wednesday's Post

Understanding the Puzzle Structure

Cryptic crossword clues contain three essential components: a definition, indicators, and fodder. This particular puzzle demonstrates how combining multiple wordplay techniques can lead to the answer.

Breaking Down the Clue

The Definition: "Post"

Your first step is identifying what the answer means. The word "post" serves as the definition in this clue. Therefore, you're looking for a synonym for "post."

The Fodder: "Wednesday's"

The fodder is the raw material you'll manipulate to build your answer. In this case, it's the letters from "Wednesday's." Write them out: W-E-D-N-E-S-D-A-Y-S. These letters contain everything you need.

The Indicators: "Returned" and "In"

This is where the wordplay happens. You have two indicators working together:

• "Returned" — a reversal indicator telling you to reverse something
• "In" / "Package... in" — a hidden indicator telling you to look within the fodder for a concealed word

Solving Step-by-Step

Step 1: Reverse the Fodder

Take "Wednesday's" and reverse it:

Wednesday's → s'yadsdendeW

Step 2: Find the Hidden Word

Now search within the reversed letters for a word that means "post." Look carefully through "s'yadsdendeW" and you'll spot: SEND

Reading the letters in sequence: s-SEND-w (the word "send" is hidden within the reversed fodder).

Step 3: Verify Against the Definition

Does "send" mean "post"? Absolutely! "Send" and "post" are synonymous—both describe transmitting something to someone else.

The Answer

SEND

Key Takeaways

This puzzle teaches an important cryptic crossword technique: combining indicators. Rather than using a simple anagram or basic hidden word, the clue layers two techniques:

• First, reverse the fodder (indicated by "returned")
• Then, extract a hidden word (indicated by "in")

The "surface" of the clue—the way it reads naturally—obscures this process. "Package returned in Wednesday's post" reads like a sentence about mailing something, but it's actually instructions for wordplay manipulation.

When solving cryptic crosswords, always separate the surface meaning from the actual puzzle mechanics. Once you identify the definition, indicators, and fodder, the answer often becomes clear.