Sets ashore reveals band (4) cryptic crossword solution.

How the clue works

Reveals can point to text hidden inside the clue. setS ASHore contains SASH, a band worn across the body.

Verification steps

1. Read across sets ashore.
2. Reveals suggests looking inside the clue text.
3. setS ASHore contains SASH.
4. Synonym: SASH is a band or strip of fabric.
5. The answer fits four letters.

Why this answer is defensible

The answer SASH is supported by three checks: the definition is band, the wordplay explains how the letters are produced, and the enumeration requires 4 letters. That combination is stronger than a dictionary match alone.

Clue type context

A hidden-word clue places the answer directly inside consecutive letters of the clue. The answer may sit inside one word or cross a word boundary.

Watch for containment language such as some, part of, held by, seen in, or contains. Then scan the clue text itself before trying more complex wordplay.

Common traps for this clue type

• Missing answers that cross a space between two words.
• Stopping at a plausible hidden word before checking the definition.
• Assuming every containment word creates a hidden answer rather than another mechanism.

When to be cautious

Confidence should be reduced if another answer fits the same enumeration and known letters better, if the definition is weaker than expected, or if the indicator does not fairly support the proposed wordplay. This page marks the current parse as high confidence.