Northwest evacuated? (2,3,4)
Minute Cryptic Answer — September 18, 2026
Northwest evacuated? (2,3,4)
First letter shown — tap each tile or show the full answer below
Answer explained
Northwest is the definition, asking for a phrase naming the diagonal direction up and to the left.
evacuated? supplies a second reading, suggesting that something has gone away by moving upward and leftward.
The clue is a cryptic double definition, and both readings give UP AND LEFT.
UP AND LEFT matches Northwest exactly because it describes the direction diagonally up and to the left.
Completed
up+and+left→up and left
Explainer
Answer
up and left
Recent clues
- Something spiked spoiled lovely formal dance (10)Sep 19
- Northwest evacuated? (2,3,4)Sep 18
- The Origin of Species is Darwin's! (6)Sep 17
- Vanilla? Ugh! Terrible ingredient for one's gag reflex? (8)Sep 16
- Scramble, scrambled, scrambles (8)Sep 15
- Dad steps forward in spat... "What's happened?" (4)Sep 14
- Kind of puppet taking direction from hand inside Miss Piggy? (6)Sep 13
The Minute Cryptic answer to “Northwest evacuated?” (2,3,4) is UP AND LEFT — 2,3,4 — 3 words, 9 letters in total. It ran on Friday, September 18, 2026, a member submission from Tom K, and it turns on cryptic double definition wordplay. Below you'll find the answer on its own, the clue taken apart a piece at a time, and what to look for the next time the same trick shows up.
“Northwest evacuated?” (2,3,4) — answer
UP AND LEFT (2,3,4)
The letters run U • • • • • • • T, and the tiles above spell the answer out in full. If you only wanted a nudge, the highlighted clue above gives you the indicator, the fodder and the definition one at a time, the same way the game does.
Why the answer is UP AND LEFT
"Northwest" is the definition, asking for a phrase naming the diagonal direction up and to the left.
"evacuated?" supplies a second reading, suggesting that something has gone away by moving upward and leftward.
The clue is a cryptic double definition, and both readings give UP AND LEFT.
UP AND LEFT matches "Northwest" exactly because it describes the direction diagonally up and to the left.
Minute Cryptic also films a short explainer for this clue if you'd rather hear it walked through.
Other recent Minute Cryptic clues
Minute Cryptic runs one clue a day, so there's no sibling clue to cross-check against. Here are the most recent clues, with their answers:
- Something spiked spoiled lovely formal dance (10) → VOLLEYBALL
- The Origin of Species is Darwin's! (6) → THESIS
- Vanilla? Ugh! Terrible ingredient for one's gag reflex? (8) → LAUGHTER
- Scramble, scrambled, scrambles (8) → CLAMBERS
- Dad steps forward in spat... "What's happened?" (4) → PAST
- Kind of puppet taking direction from hand inside Miss Piggy? (6) → SHADOW
Looking for today's clue instead? Head to the Minute Cryptic answer today.
About Minute Cryptic
Minute Cryptic publishes one cryptic crossword clue a day at minutecryptic.com — no grid, no streak, just the clue, three nudges and a short video explainer. Scoring is golf-style: every clue carries a par counted in hints, and each nudge or revealed letter costs a stroke. Clues come from editor Liam Runnalls and from community setters. This one came from community member Tom K, with a par of 3 hints.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Minute Cryptic answer to “Northwest evacuated?” (2,3,4)?
UP AND LEFT — 2,3,4 — 3 words, 9 letters in total. The clue ran on Friday, September 18, 2026, a member submission from Tom K.
Why is the answer UP AND LEFT?
"Northwest" is the definition, asking for a phrase naming the diagonal direction up and to the left. "evacuated?" supplies a second reading, suggesting that something has gone away by moving upward and leftward. The clue is a cryptic double definition, and both readings give UP AND LEFT. UP AND LEFT matches "Northwest" exactly because it describes the direction diagonally up and to the left.
How many letters is the answer to “Northwest evacuated?” (2,3,4)?
2,3,4 — 3 words, 9 letters in total, running U • • • • • • • T.
What kind of cryptic clue is “Northwest evacuated?” (2,3,4)?
A cryptic double definition clue.
What was par for “Northwest evacuated?” (2,3,4)?
3 hints, and solvers average 2. Par counts nudges rather than guesses, so taking fewer than 3 on this clue puts you under par. 19 people have solved it.
Where can I find today's Minute Cryptic answer?
The Minute Cryptic answer today page always shows the current clue with every nudge highlighted.