# Help explain a British cryptic answer **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** board-card-word-game\ **Created:** [March 5, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231 "2026-03-05T18:05:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/1 "2026-03-05T18:05:27Z")
As I’ve mentioned before, I have been doing cryptic crosswords from the London Times. I find them very difficult, but I like a challenge. As an American, I’m at a disadvantage because those puzzles make tremendous use of British terms I have no clue about. Quite often it happens that I don’t understand how the answer works even when I look up the solution. Here is one case from a recent puzzle: Poor batsman repeatedly encouraged to run by singers (6) Answer: RABBIT After some searching, I discovered that “rabbit” is a British slang term for a poor batsman in cricket. So that explains that part. I don’t get the rest. If anyone could explain it I’d appreciate it ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/2 "2026-03-05T18:21:11Z")
This should clear it up: [Run, Rabbit, Run - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run,_Rabbit,_Run) ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/3 "2026-03-05T18:21:34Z")
Run rabbit run is an old song. [Run, Rabbit, Run - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run,_Rabbit,_Run) ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/4 "2026-03-05T18:22:05Z")
Ninja’d 😲 ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/5 "2026-03-05T18:23:04Z")
ya gotta be quick 😀 ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/6 "2026-03-05T18:23:19Z")
Also - in cricket, ‘bowling a maiden over’ does not mean knocking a female down. 🧐 ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/7 "2026-03-05T18:33:22Z")
Things you learn by following links provided in the Dope: > “Run, rabbit, run” is a lyric in the [Pink Floyd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Floyd) song [“Breathe”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Side_of_the_Moon), possibly reflection of Roger Waters’ anti-war sentiments. Now I understand that part of the song better. 🙂 Thanks to the ninja’er and the ninja’ed! ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/8 "2026-03-05T18:44:54Z")
Inspired by this thread, I made up a cryptic clue. 🕶 Cricket-loving gang enforcer’s technique (3, 5) **Leg break** is both a type of cricket play and a nasty threat… ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/9 "2026-03-05T20:11:07Z")
Wow, thanks everyone! I’ve never heard of that song, so there’s no way in a million years I’d get it. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/10 "2026-03-07T10:42:38Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > “rabbit” is a British slang term for a poor batsman in cricket. I’m English and have (very) casually followed cricket for decades and I’ve never even heard of that. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/11 "2026-03-07T10:50:40Z")
I know about it because of a joke somebody made that a a particularly poor batsman was a ferret because “he went in after the rabbits” ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/12 "2026-03-07T12:56:31Z")
If an Englishman finds some of these terms obscure, then I as an American have no hope. Still, I keep trying! ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/13 "2026-03-07T12:59:34Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > I’m English and have (very) casually followed cricket for decades and I’ve never even heard of that. Exactly the same here ! ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/14 "2026-03-07T15:38:50Z")
How about this one: Young salmon, the one that survived! Parr which is the definition of a young salmon (new to me) and I think the cryptic part has to do with Henry Viii ---
**Author:** ![Hook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@Hook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hook)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/15 "2026-03-07T15:45:24Z")
From Australia. A rabbit is a batsman who is frequently dismissed by the same bowler. He is then referred to as XXX’s rabbit. Referenced in Paul Kelly’s song **Bradman**. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231/16 "2026-03-07T16:06:27Z")
Yes Catherine Parr was the last wife and widow of King Henry VIII. The one who survived him.