<p>Can somebody explain to me how crosswords and clues work? For instance if the clue BEFORE FALL leads to the answer FALL. What is the clue here and how do I apply it? Also, IT'S PAINFUL WHEN THE GOD RETURNS, for the answer SORE. EROS spelled backwards. But how do I know to look for the word EROS?</p>
<p>I'm getting these clues from the following web site. If someone can explain them in more detail. </p>
<p>Well, BEFORE FALL actually leads to the answer PRIDE. You figure this out because there's a saying that "Pride goeth before a fall." (which explains why that article says "you can be grateful that the clue wasn't SUMMER? which also goeth before a fall!") Also, about the IT'S PAINFUL WHEN THE GOD RETURNS, you know that there's something that's going to be like PAINFUL and that it's going to be some GOD's name backwards (RETURNS). Well, the only word that fits this is SORE.</p>
<p>you just have to have the background knowledge (eg - that there's a saying that 'Pride goeth before a fall') and the patience to work out the clues (eg - 'god returns' means it's a god's name backwards)</p>
<p>so what do the numbers by the clues stand for?</p>
<p>The numbers by the clues tell you what boxes to insert the answer in. So for 1-Across, you would locate the box with "1" on the crossword puzzle and fill it in across one letter at a time.</p>