Went from a trot to a canter, say

Went from a trot to a canter, say: Unlocking the Clues of Crossword Jargon

Crossword puzzles are a fantastic way to flex your mental muscles and challenge your vocabulary. But every now and then, a clue comes along that throws you for a loop, leaving you scratching your head and wondering, “What in the world are they asking me?” Today, we’re tackling one such clue that often trips up solvers: “Went from a trot to a canter, say.”

This type of clue, while seemingly straightforward, relies on a specific type of wordplay that can be tricky for beginners to decipher. It’s a classic example of a

crossword clue

that uses

jargon

, a specialized vocabulary or set of expressions used by a particular group. In this case, the jargon relates to the language of horse riding, using terms like “trot” and “canter” to describe different gaits.

So how do we approach this seemingly cryptic clue? The key is to understand the relationship between the terms “trot” and “canter”. They represent

different speeds

of movement for a horse.

Think about it this way: If a horse transitions from a slower gait like a trot to a faster one like a canter, what has it done? It has

increased

its speed. The clue uses “say” as a signal that we need to find a word that means “increased” or “became faster.”

The beauty of

crossword clues

lies in their ability to lead you to the answer through clever wordplay and association. Sometimes, you need to think outside the box, consider synonyms, and even venture into different fields of knowledge. But with a little practice and the right tools, you can master even the most challenging clues.

Stay tuned for the answer to this cryptic clue in our next blog post, and don’t forget to share your own struggles with tricky crossword clues in the comments below! Happy solving!

Available Answers:

SPED UP.

Last seen on the crossword puzzle: NY Times Crossword 20 Jun 24, Thursday