Clue' A crossword clue direction is a term used to describe the direction in which the answer to a crossword puzzle clue should be written. The most common clue direction is 'DOWN, ' which indicates that the answer should be written downwards from the clue. Other clue directions include 'ACROSS, ' 'DIAGONAL, ' and 'BACKWARDS.' Clue directions are an important part of solving crossword puzzles, as they provide the necessary information for finding the correct answer.