Solve of the Day
Minute Cryptic
Mar 18, 2026 · By Member: Kjersti C and Liam
"Spaceman shoos away both parents sneaking aboard at liftoff" (6)
Definition
Our definition here is 'liftoff', and our answer will be a word strongly associated with 'liftoff'.
Indicator
This clue's indicators are 'shoos away' and 'sneaking aboard'. One is a deletion indicator, guiding us to delete some fodder (either letters actually in the clue or their possible substitutes) from other fodder. The other is a containing indicator - we'll need to put some fodder inside some other fodder to reach our answer.
Fodder
This clue's fodder is 'Spaceman', 'both parents', and 'at'. We'll need to use the letters of two of these along with a couple of substitutes for the other to construct our answer, as guided by the clue's indicator(s).
The Answer
ASCENT
Deep Dive & Strategy
Minute Cryptic
2026-03-17
Minute Cryptic 2026-03-18: Spaceman Clue
Crack the sneaky surface of 'Spaceman shoos away both parents sneaking aboard at liftoff'. Deletion and containment hide in plain sight. Tactical breakdown inside.