Picture this: You’re on the golf course, enjoying a pristine day, the sun glinting off a perfectly manicured green, and then, suddenly, a colossal grey form emerges from the water hazard. Not a lost golf cart, nor an unusually large duck, but a fully-fledged hippopotamus, lumbering towards your putter. Absurd, right? Utterly preposterous!
Well, that’s precisely the vivid, comical image conjured by today’s featured
crossword clue
: “My hippo’s even a problem for golfers (4)“.
From the moment I first laid eyes on this particular
crossword clue
, a broad smile stretched across my face. It’s the kind of clue that instantly grabs your attention, pulling you into its whimsical world before challenging your very understanding of how words work. The immediate mental picture of a hippo disrupting a quiet round of golf is pure gold, a testament to the delightful and often mischievous nature of expert clue-setting.
At first glance, it feels like a riddle, perhaps even a non-sequitur designed purely for a laugh. How could a hippo, even
my
hippo, possibly relate to a four-letter word that describes a golf problem? This is where the magic of a well-crafted
cryptic crossword clue
truly shines. They lull you into a literal interpretation, making you ponder the logistics of amphibian wildlife management on the links, only to reveal a clever linguistic twist lurking just beneath the surface.
This isn’t your average straightforward definition. You won’t find a dictionary entry for “golf problem that is a hippo.” No, this particular
crossword clue
is a masterclass in misdirection, a gentle nudge away from the obvious and towards the ingenious wordplay that is the hallmark of cryptic puzzles. The setter wants you to get lost in the imagery, to chuckle at the thought of a hippo demanding right-of-way on the fairway, before you delve into the mechanics of the language itself.
For seasoned solvers of daily
crossword puzzles
, the alarm bells ring almost immediately. “My hippo’s even…” That little word, “even,” often carries significant weight in the cryptic realm. It’s a common indicator, a subtle signpost that points you towards a specific type of wordplay. It invites you to consider letters in particular positions, or to think about things that are ‘level’ or ‘balanced’ in a less obvious way. Combine that with the definition, “a problem for golfers,” and you’ve got all the ingredients for a classic “aha!” moment.
The sheer satisfaction of cracking a
crossword clue
like this one is immense. It’s not just about filling in the blanks; it’s about appreciating the cleverness of the setter, the elegance of the construction, and the joy of a mental breakthrough. This clue isn’t just tricky; it’s genuinely witty, offering both a giggle and a cerebral workout. It reminds us why we keep coming back to our favourite
crossword puzzles
day after day, eager for the next challenge.
So, take a moment. Savor the image of that golf-course-invading hippo. Ponder the word “even.” And consider what four-letter golfing woe could be hiding in plain sight. This is more than just a
crossword clue
; it’s an invitation to a delightful linguistic dance.
Available Answers:
YIPS.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Sunday, 29 June 2025