Q. How many players are there on a basketball team?

In France I hesitate to show contempt by derision (4)

(Down Clue)

For those looking to become a better daily cryptic crossword solver, use the clues below to help you solve, understand and learn from this cryptic crossword clue. Use the expandable hints below to guide yourself through the solution and explanation.

In France I hesitate to
show contempt by derision
(4)

This hint shows straight definition and cryptic wordplay parts and helps you as the solver to understand how the clue is constructed. There may be only straight definitions if the clue is a multiple definition type, or cryptic wordplays if the clue is a cryptic definition type, where the clue is usually a play on words, puns, or uses misleading homonyms in its surface reading.

(In France I)
letter group
(hesitate)
letter group
to
show contempt by derision
definition

This hint breaks down the clue further showing the different cryptic indicators used and which parts they act upon within the clue. Various things are indicated as follows:

Link Word Synonym Example of Type of Anagrammed Hidden Selection Homophone Reversed

__ E __ R

Similar to a real cryptic crossword, this hint shows you checked (intersecting) letters with other clues that have already been solved.

jeer

Laugh at with contempt and derision

This is the solution to the cryptic crossword clue : In France I hesitate to show contempt by derision (4). Look below for an explanation to help you as the cryptic crossword solver understand it.

This is the explanation to the solution to the clue to help you understand how the answer was arrived at.

(In France I)
letter group
JE
(hesitate)
letter group
ER
to
show contempt by derision
definition
JEER

Simple letter groups combine together, [in France I] (JE) and hesitate (ER), giving the definition for show contempt by derision. To is used as a link word between the cryptic wordplays and straight definition.

Je is the French word for I. 

Puzzler 436

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