Another week, another daily crossword solve, and what a gem this latest puzzle proved to be. There are those puzzles that glide by, a pleasant mental workout, and then there are the ones that truly engage, forcing a deeper dive, a prolonged consideration of every angle. This week’s offering firmly belonged to the latter category, and one particular crossword clue stood out as the undisputed king of the grid. It was a clue that wasn’t just a clever definition but also a meta-commentary on the puzzle’s very construction, a double helix of cleverness that truly elevates the art of cryptic design.
The crossword clue in question read: “Annual mass relocation, or a movement that happened four times in this puzzle?” Just reading it aloud, one can almost hear the gears of the mind whirring, trying to reconcile two seemingly disparate concepts. On one hand, we have “annual mass relocation,” a phrase immediately conjuring images of grand scale, recurring events, perhaps natural phenomena or widespread societal shifts. This aspect of the crossword clue pushes the solver towards ideas of migration, seasonal patterns, or even large-scale human transit. It’s a broad strokes definition that could lead to a multitude of answers, from the very literal to the more abstract.
But then, the second part of the crossword clue enters the fray, a fascinating curveball: “or a movement that happened four times in this puzzle?” This isn’t just about a definition anymore; it’s a direct instruction, a meta-hint pointing to something inherent within the grid itself. The inclusion of “four times” is the crucial detail, an explicit signpost indicating a recurring element, a thematic thread woven throughout the puzzle’s fabric. It transforms the solve from a simple definition match to a treasure hunt, urging solvers to look not just
at
the words, but
within
them, or perhaps
around
them.
This particular crossword clue exemplifies masterful puzzle construction. It takes a concept – “movement” – and interprets it on two distinct but ultimately connected levels. The first part, “annual mass relocation,” prompts a conceptual understanding of movement in the broader sense. It’s the kind of direct, yet elegantly phrased, lead that makes a solver feel they’re on the right track, ready to pluck a common phrase or term from their mental lexicon. However, the true brilliance of this crossword clue lies in its second part. It takes the abstract idea of “movement” and makes it concrete, tangible, and quantifiable within the confines of the puzzle’s own structure.
Deciphering this challenging crossword clue becomes less about simply knowing a definition and more about understanding the puzzle’s internal logic. How does a “movement” manifest four times within the grid? Is it a specific letter sequence? A series of related entries? A particular kind of wordplay employed in four separate places? This ambiguity is precisely what makes the solving process so engaging, pushing the solver to consider not just individual word meanings but also the overarching theme that binds the puzzle together. The moment the connection clicks, when the literal meaning of “annual mass relocation” aligns perfectly with the four-fold “movement” embedded in the grid, is one of those deeply satisfying “aha!” moments that every crossword enthusiast lives for. It transforms a difficult crossword clue into a rewarding revelation, cementing its place as a truly brilliant piece of design.
Available Answers:
ANIMALMIGRATION.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: –LA Times Crossword, Fri, Jun 13, 2025
Washington Post Crossword -Friday’s Daily By Katherine Simonson / Ed. Patti Varol