Cryptic crossword clue
It’s played when one is out of form 5

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word HOOKY

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
H
O
O
K
Y

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "It’s played when one is out of form" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case it’s played when one is out of form = hooky.
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 HOOKY mean?

HOOKY noun
  1. Absence from school or work.
HOOKY adjective
  1. Full of hooks.
  2. Shaped like a hook.

Latest crossword clues with full explanations