Rebus
(This is only a basic description of the rebus; there is much more discussion and detail in a separate article, Solving and Composing the Rebus and Rebade.)
A word or phrase is represented by letters, numbers, or symbols; their positions; and sometimes related letter-play, like alterations to the verse.
For example, the word abalone—read as a B alone—might be represented by: B. The phrase damper sand—read as D, ampersand—might be represented by: D&. The phrase forge a check—read as for GE, a check—might be represented by a verse in which the letter pair ge was replaced once, or everywhere it appeared, by P. Here are two examples:
The solution: panda bear (P and a be, ar). Rebus solutions rarely have dictionary nature. When they do, the enumeration is bracketed:
The solution: undercover agent (under C, over a G, en, T).
The letters, numbers, or symbols indicating the solution (such as B or D& in the examples above) are called the rubric. The explanation of the solution (such as a B alone or for GE, a check) is called the reading of the rubric. Note that the reading is a heteronym of the solution. On the solution page, the editor will explain the readings of difficult rebuses.
If a reading has a word not in online MW, this is indicated by a tag like “NI2 phrase in reading” or “reading has an NI3 word with non-MW usage”. The solution, the reading, and even the rubric (perhaps having an NI2 diagram or symbol) may be tagged.
Rubrics are roughly centered and between the flat’s title and verse, unless a reading indicates otherwise.
In a phonetic rebus, the reading is a homonym of the solution. For example, II represents two black eyes (two black I’s); HEE is ate cheese (aitch, E’s); E is usury (use your E). See the discussion of phonetic flats.
The enigmatic rebus is not a specific puzzle type. Rather, “enigmatic” is a red flag, warning you that the reading involves something other than simple manipulation of letters.
A typical enigmatic rebus requires that you infer missing parts, as in E for eggnogs (EGG; no G’s). Or you may have to recognize letters as symbols (as in BASiS = basilicons = B, A, silicon, S).
The distinction between enigmatic and nonenigmatic isn’t black and white, hard and fast, or cut and dried. (Solvers, like editors, will find this to be tried and true.) Many once-enigmatic devices, through convention and familiarity, have come to be accepted as nonenigmatic. These include letters used as various symbols and abbreviations. Please see for a much fuller discussion.
A phonigmatic rebus is a rebus that is both phonetic and enigmatic.
The suber is a reversed rebus, as reversing its name will show. The reading of a suber is a reversed heteronym of the solution. For example, K,H could be the rubric for a suber with the solution hammock (a reversal of K, comma, H). Like a rebus, a suber can be enigmatic, phonetic, or phonigmatic.
The solution: dessertspoon (no O, P stressed).
In the progressive rebus, the solution to one rebus is the rubric for another. For example, OR could be the rubric for a two-part solution: ONE = odor (O; do R), TWO (with rubric ODOR) = outside the door (outside the DO, OR). One or more parts of a progressive rebus may be enigmatic, phonetic, or phonigmatic; each rebus is labeled and tagged separately.
An example of a progressive suber: rubric C + I, ONE = music (CI sum), TWO (rubric MUSIC) = coliseum (MU, es, I; lo! C).
Normally, if a verse has two rebuses, each has its own rubric. In a dual rebus, the two share the same rubric. For example:
The solutions are binary [B in aR Y] and Araby [Ar, a B, Y].