There are those days when the morning coffee hits just right, and your brain is buzzing, ready to tackle whatever the grid throws at you. Then there are the days when a single, deceptively simple-looking crossword clue stops you dead in your tracks, forcing you to slow down, reread, and really dig deep. Today, we’re talking about one of
those
clues – the kind that makes you marvel at the setter’s ingenuity, even as you’re pulling your hair out trying to crack it.
The crossword clue in question? “Spread supplied by former nurse and journalist (8)“. Oh, what a beauty! At first glance, it might seem like a straightforward definition and a bit of biographical knowledge, but as with all truly great crossword clues, there’s more than meets the eye. This isn’t just about knowing a famous person; it’s about understanding how setters play with words and concepts.
Let’s break down why this particular crossword clue is such a fascinating challenge. Firstly, we have “Spread.” This is a classic example of a word with multiple meanings that setters absolutely adore. “Spread” could refer to a food item, like butter or jam. It could mean a wide distribution, as in the spread of news. It could be a newspaper layout, a geographical expanse, or even the act of extending something. Immediately, your mind has to juggle several possibilities, making this part of the crossword clue remarkably open-ended until you get to the wordplay.
Then we move to the cryptic element: “supplied by former nurse and journalist.” This is where the general knowledge comes into play, but it’s not just a straightforward synonym. This phrase points to a specific individual who fits both of those professional descriptions. The setter isn’t giving you a direct definition of the answer; they’re giving you a biographical detail that leads to a specific proper noun. This combination of a common noun (the ‘spread’) and a very specific, almost biographical, piece of information is a hallmark of a well-crafted crossword clue. It forces you to think laterally, connecting two seemingly disparate pieces of information.
When you encounter a crossword clue like this, the initial approach often involves trying to think of common “spreads” that are eight letters long. You might list them out, mentally or on paper. But then you hit a wall, because which of those is also a former nurse and journalist? None, likely! This is where you flip your thinking. Instead of going from the definition to the wordplay, you might go from the wordplay to the definition.
Your brain then switches gears to recall famous people who were both nurses and journalists. This is a testament to how crosswords, and particularly a challenging crossword clue, can expand our general knowledge. It’s not just about vocabulary; it’s about history, literature, geography, and in this case, biographical details of notable figures. The beauty of this specific crossword clue is in how it seamlessly blends these two aspects – a common noun for the definition, and a highly specific set of roles for the wordplay.
The “aha!” moment with this kind of crossword clue isn’t just about finding the right word; it’s about seeing how the two parts, the definition and the wordplay, suddenly click into perfect alignment. It’s the moment when you realize the brilliant double-bluff or the clever misdirection the setter employed. The eight-letter constraint is your final filter, ensuring that once you have a strong candidate for the “former nurse and journalist,” it also perfectly matches the length for “spread.”
This “Spread supplied by former nurse and journalist (8)” crossword clue is a prime example of what makes daily crossword puzzles so endlessly engaging. It’s not just a test of vocabulary, but a delightful exercise in lateral thinking, general knowledge, and linguistic agility. It’s the kind of crossword clue that makes you nod in appreciation once you’ve figured it out, admiring the elegant construction and the subtle pointers that lead you to the solution without ever giving it away too easily. It stands as a testament to the art of crossword setting.
Available Answers:
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Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Wednesday, 18 June 2025