The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 3 letter word RIP
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
R
I
P
More clues leading to the result RIP
- Late message? Almost ready
- A final message is cut
- Reprobate is the reverse of holy, right?
- Tear in jumper I purchased
- Tear drop regularly includes one
- Letters referring to late / rent
- Funerary inscription yielding a tear
- Scam involving rent not on
- Not working after rent swindle
- Tear shed first from soppy individual
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Late message?" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case late message? = rip.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 RIP mean?
RIP noun- A tear (in paper, etc.).
- A type of tide or current.
- A comical, embarrassing, or hypocritical event or action.
- A hit (dose) of marijuana.
- (Eton College) A black mark given for substandard schoolwork.
- Something unfairly expensive, a rip-off.
- Data or audio copied from a CD, DVD, Internet stream, etc. to a hard drive, portable device, etc.
- Something ripped off or stolen; plagiarism.
- A kind of glissando leading up to the main note to be played.
- To divide or separate the parts of (especially something flimsy such as paper or fabric), by cutting or tearing; to tear off or out by violence.
- To tear apart; to rapidly become two parts.
- To get by, or as if by, cutting or tearing.
- To move quickly and destructively.
- To cut wood along (parallel to) the grain.
- To copy data from CD, DVD, Internet stream, etc. to a hard drive, portable device, etc.
- (narcotics) To take a "hit" of marijuana.
- To fart.
- To mock or criticize (someone or something). (often used with on)
- To steal; to rip off.
- To move or act fast, to rush headlong.
- To tear up for search or disclosure, or for alteration; to search to the bottom; to discover; to disclose; usually with up.
- To surf extremely well.
- A wicker basket for fish.
- A worthless horse; a nag.
- An immoral man; a rake, a scoundrel.
- A handful of unthreshed grain.