The Clue
What a backward star may cry (4 letter answer)
The Answer
RATS
Tags
Notes
The answer RATS is seen frequently, appearing about once every 80 puzzles.
Related Clues
Bandicoots
Betrayers
"Curses!"
"Darn!"
Darn!
Informers
"Phooey!"
Phooey!
Rodents
Snitches
Squeals
Tellers
Tellers?
Vermin
Zounds!
"Of all the luck!"
Backward star
Backward star?
Comics expletive
"Confound it!"
Cry of disappointment
"Darn it!"
Darn it!
Exclamation of disgust
False hairpieces
Loser's cry
Mild expletive
"Peanuts" expletive
"Peanuts" plaint
Refuse visitors
Word of disgust
Charlie Brown expletive
Cry in a Schulz creation
"Dang it all!"
Deserters of sinking ships
"Gosh darn it!"
Sinking-ship quitters
Candidates for witness protection programs
Followers of the Pied Piper of Hamelin
"I hate it when that happens!"
Definition
RAT as a noun:
1. any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
2. (scab, strikebreaker, blackleg, rat) = someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike
3. (rotter, dirty dog, rat, skunk, stinker, stinkpot, bum, puke, crumb, lowlife, scum bag, so-and-so, git) = a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible; "only a rotter would do that"; "kill the rat"; "throw the bum out"; "you cowardly little pukes!"; "the British call a contemptible person a `git'"
4. (informer, betrayer, rat, squealer, blabber) = one who reveals confidential information in return for money
5. a pad (usually made of hair) worn as part of a woman's coiffure
RAT as a verb:
1. desert one's party or group of friends, for example, for one's personal advantage
2. employ scabs or strike breakers in
3. (fink, scab, rat, blackleg) = take the place of work of someone on strike
4. give (hair) the appearance of being fuller by using a rat
5. catch rats, especially with dogs
6. (denounce, tell on, betray, give away, rat, grass, shit, shop, snitch, stag) = give away information about somebody; "He told on his classmate who had cheated on the exam"