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Costumier lost three coats and jewellery in the dryer? (8)

Minute Cryptic clue · October 6, 2026 · answer and full explanation
By Ahmed Hassan
Answer verified against the live puzzle

The Minute Cryptic clue “Costumier lost three coats and jewellery in the dryer?” (8) was set for Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Below is the answer — blurred until you tap — followed by the definition, the wordplay and why the letters land where they do.

Minute Cryptic · October 6, 2026

Costumier lost three coats and jewellery in the dryer?

(8)

The answer isTUMBLING

No spoilers — the answer stays blurred until you tap.

Letters 8Device DeletionSet by Liam RunnallsPar 3Solvers 14,628

The clue, colour-coded

Costumier lost three coats and jewellery in the dryer?
DefinitionWordplay / fodderLinking words

How this clue works

The definition

in the dryer?

Our definition here is 'in the dryer?', and our answer will be a word that could describe something in the dryer. Some lateral thinking is required, as signified by the question mark.

The wordplay

Costumier + jewellery

This clue's fodder is 'Costumier' and 'jewellery'. We'll need to find a substitute for one of these along with the letters of the other (or some of them) to construct our answer as guided by the clue's indicator(s).

The answer

TUMBLING

The clue reads “Costumier lost three coats and jewellery in the dryer?” (8). The definition part — “in the dryer?” — points straight at TUMBLING, and the rest of the clue builds it with deletion wordplay.

Minute Cryptic publishes a short walkthrough for this clue — watch Liam Runnalls’s own explanation →

This clue’s puzzle day

This clue was the Minute Cryptic for Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Open the October 6, 2026 puzzle page for that day’s write-up, or browse the full Minute Cryptic archive.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the answer to “Costumier lost three coats and jewellery in the dryer?”?
The answer is TUMBLING (8 letters). Tap the reveal button above to see it in the answer card.
How do I read a cryptic clue like this?
Every cryptic clue has two halves: a straight definition (at the start or the end) and a piece of wordplay that builds the same word letter by letter. Find the definition first, count the letters from the enumeration, then work out which trick the rest of the clue is playing.
Is there a new Minute Cryptic every day?
Yes — one cryptic clue a day at minutecryptic.com, plus community-set clues. We publish each day’s answer and breakdown here shortly after it goes live.