Cryptic crossword clue
Was judge free to frolic in grass? 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word REFEREED

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
R
E
F
E
R
E
E
D

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Was judge" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case was judge = refereed.
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 REFEREED mean?

REFEREED verb
  1. To act as a referee.
REFEREED adjective
  1. Said of articles or books that have undergone peer review
  2. Said of a journal whose articles are submitted to peer review

Latest crossword clues with full explanations