Cryptic crossword clue
Fire started by phosphorous in match 4-3

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word PLAY-OFF

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
P
L
A
Y
-
O
F
F

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "match" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case match = play-off.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does PLAY-OFF mean?

PLAY-OFF noun
  1. A final game in a series needed to break a tie.
  2. A short series of games to select a league champion.

Latest crossword clues with full explanations