Some rival idol gives proper (5) cryptic crossword solution.

How the clue works

Some points to a hidden answer. VALID is concealed across riVAL IDol, and valid can mean proper or acceptable.

Verification steps

1. Read across the words rival idol.
2. Some suggests the answer is hidden in part of the clue.
3. riVAL IDol contains VALID across the word break.
4. Synonym: VALID can mean proper, acceptable, or legally sound.
5. The answer has five letters.

Why this answer is defensible

The answer VALID is supported by three checks: the definition is proper, the wordplay explains how the letters are produced, and the enumeration requires 5 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.