October 21, 2026Clue № 40

Cryptic clue for October 21, 2026

Blackbird from lake taking left(5)

Free container cryptic crossword clue from Icqu Cryptic (5). Solve it with hints — the answer and full breakdown publish the next day, or the moment you solve it.

5 lettersdifficulty 5/5par 3

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Answer & breakdown

Container

AnswerMERLE

DefinitionBlackbirdat the front of the clue

Wordplayfrom lake taking leftindicator: taking

BuildMER(L)E

Reed bed when the dusk still thickens. Left yields L; taking slots it into lake (MERE) — MER(L)E. Blackbird is the merle itself. Soft mud and a leaning binocular sell the container as marsh watch rather than a labelled bird tag.

How this container cryptic clue works

Put one word inside another. The indicator names the insertion.

Learn how Container cryptic clues work Take a course

Bonus 3

1Squad tram after a letter swap, R→E (4)Open →2Deal with a handler cut short (6)Open →3Priest initially: vol itself colour absence rule (5)Open →

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