Start halfway and stop halfway and flip halfway? (9)

The Minute Cryptic clue “Start halfway and stop halfway and flip halfway?” (9) was set for Friday, September 4, 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 · September 4, 2026

Start halfway and stop halfway and flip halfway?

(9)

The answer isHANDSTAND

No spoilers — the answer stays blurred until you tap.

Letters 9Set by Cheesy Penguin (community)Par 3Solvers 13,766

The clue, colour-coded

Start halfway and stop halfway and flip halfway?
DefinitionWordplay / fodderLinking words

How this clue works

The definition

flip halfway?

Our definition here is 'flip halfway?', and note the question mark - our definition is rather stretchy. The answer will be a word that describes a 'flip halfway'.

The wordplay

halfway + and + stop + and

This clue's fodder is 'halfway', 'and', 'stop', and 'and'. We'll use these letters (or some of them) to construct our answer, as guided by the clue's indicator(s).

The answer

HANDSTAND

The clue reads “Start halfway and stop halfway and flip halfway?” (9). The definition part — “flip halfway?” — points straight at HANDSTAND, and the rest of the clue builds it through wordplay.

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

This clue’s puzzle day

This clue was the Minute Cryptic for Friday, September 4, 2026. Open the September 4, 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 “Start halfway and stop halfway and flip halfway?”?
The answer is HANDSTAND (9 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.