| Misleading clue |
Universal |
16 Sep 2025 |
| Misleading clue (3,7) |
Mirror Classic |
26 Aug 2025 |
| Creature of whodunit distraction |
Wall Street Journal |
21 Jul 2025 |
| Woman's upset about detective initially making a mistake - this isn't a clue |
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| Did she get a ruby when she got engaged to put others off the hunt? (3,7) |
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| Scarlet woman's cabal causing diversion |
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| Misleading distraction (3,7) |
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| Embarrassed woman's jewellery has become a distraction |
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| Blushing, slipping after first of hurdles? Did this divert you? (3,7) |
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| Sneaky herder with phone causes a diversion |
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| Misleading clue embarrassed Hercule, initially slipping up (3,7) |
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| Fish from commune, perhaps, used to create a diversion (3,7) |
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| Distraction, in a quest (3,7) |
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| Communist putsch ultimately going wrong provides futile diversion |
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| Something fishy in a detective story? (3,7) |
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| Swimmer embarrassed by unhelpful clue (3,7) |
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| A swimmer smoked something to divert the attention |
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| The ruddy fish was a bit of a distraction! (3,7) |
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| Misleading clue |
Mirror Classic |
26 Sep 2024 |
| Irrelevant diversion (3,7) |
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| You won't get the answer from a clue such as this? (3,7) |
The Guardian Cryptic |
29 Aug 2024 |
| Crimson fish is a side-issue to divert attention (3,7) |
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| A fishy diversion (3,7) |
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| Off-putting food? (3,7) |
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| Colourful fish, it is off-putting (3,7) |
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| It misleads revolutionary woman's circle (3,7) |
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| Misleading diversion in a mystery story (3,7) |
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| Blind German communist regularly missing signage |
The Times Cryptic |
27 May 2024 |
| False diversion (3,7) |
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| A diversionary tactic |
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| Misleading clue or distraction (3,7) |
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| Russian fish? That will put you off the scent! (3,7) |
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| Piece of literary misdirection |
USA Today |
04 Apr 2024 |
| Fishy diversion? (3,7) |
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| It's diverting, though irrelevant (3,7) |
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| Fish from Russia, perhaps, used to create a diversion (3,7) |
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| Misleading clue |
USA Today |
30 Jan 2024 |
| Colourful fishy diversion? (3,7) |
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| Misleading clue embarrassed Holmes, initially slipping up |
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| Misleading clue |
The Times Concise |
04 Jan 2024 |
| Hoax (3,7) |
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| Hoax |
The Telegraph Quick |
17 Dec 2023 |
| Embarrassed by horse going astray — it's a distraction |
The Guardian Cryptic |
27 Jun 2023 |
| Misleading information |
The Guardian Speedy |
24 Jul 2022 |
| Cardinal, perhaps making mistake after hotel creates smokescreen |
The Telegraph Cryptic |
11 Jul 2022 |
| Misleading information |
The Telegraph Quick |
28 Jun 2022 |
| Don't be misled by this |
New York Times |
27 Aug 2021 |
| Lure agitated herd astray |
The Telegraph Toughie |
26 Feb 2021 |
| This will lead you down the garden path to shady type similar to one of those in 9 across |
Irish Times Crosaire |
30 Oct 2020 |
| Whodunit misdirection |
The Washington Post |
22 Jul 2020 |
| Whodunit misdirection |
LA Times Daily |
22 Jul 2020 |
| Misleading clue |
Universal |
23 Mar 2019 |
| Misleading clue |
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| Distracting literary device |
LA Times Daily |
05 Jul 2018 |
| Distracting literary device |
The Washington Post |
05 Jul 2018 |
| Scarlet woman's item of jewellery creating a diversion |
The Telegraph Toughie |
14 Jun 2018 |
| Distracting literary device |
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| Embarrassed-looking husband making mistake creates smokescreen |
The Telegraph Cryptic |
05 Dec 2017 |
| Irrelevant clue |
Newsday |
10 Oct 2017 |
| Diversionary tactic |
The Washington Post |
21 Apr 2016 |
| Misleading clue |
The Washington Post |
23 Mar 2016 |
| Purposeful misdirection |
New York Times |
09 Feb 2016 |
| Purposeful misdirection |
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| *Whodunit staple |
LA Times Daily |
27 Dec 2015 |
| Deception |
Universal |
22 Aug 2015 |
| Deliberate distraction |
Newsday |
06 Aug 2015 |
| Deliberate distraction |
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| Deception |
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| *Whodunit staple |
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| Misleading clue |
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| Embarrassed fish? |
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| Fake footprint at the murder scene, e.g. |
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| Fake footprint at the murder scene, e.g. |
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| Misleading lead |
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| Misleading clue |
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| CARDINALFISH? |
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| False lead |
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| Misleading evidence |
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| Decoy, of sorts |
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| Attention diverter |
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| Mystery writer's favorite appetizer? |
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| Misleading clue |
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| Misleading clue |
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| Misleading clue? |
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| Device used in mystery writing |
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| Fishy lead |
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| False clue |
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| Artful dodge |
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| It misleads |
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| Misleading clue |
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| Diversionary tactic |
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| Mystery-novel item |
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| Subterfuge |
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| Whodunit ingredient |
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| Diversion; distraction |
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| False clue |
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| Planned distraction |
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| Fishy clue |
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| Dish for a shifty politician |
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| Fishy fish |
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| Something that diverts attention from main issue. |
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| Mystery story trickery. |
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| It diverts the attention. |
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| Diversionary tactic, as in politics. |
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| False clue. |
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| Diversionary trick. |
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