Welcome back, fellow word-wizards and linguistic adventurers! Today, we’re diving headfirst into a
crossword clue
that, quite frankly, left me staring at the grid with a mixture of delight and utter bewilderment for a good few minutes. You know the feeling, right? That initial spark of recognition, followed by the slow burn of trying to unravel the clever layers woven into just a handful of words. It’s that delightful struggle that keeps us coming back to the daily
crossword puzzle
grid, isn’t it?
Our contender for today’s brain-teaser championship is: ‘Instrument set in aspic, colourfully (7)‘.
Just read it aloud. ‘Instrument.’ A vast category, isn’t it? From a grand piano to a surgeon’s scalpel, a scientific gauge to a humble hammer. The sheer breadth of possibilities there is enough to make a seasoned
crossword solver
pause. Is it a musical instrument? A tool for precise measurement? Or perhaps something even more abstract? This is where the beauty of a well-crafted
crossword clue
truly shines – its ability to lead you down multiple garden paths, all while a deceptively simple solution hides in plain sight.
Then we hit ‘set in aspic.’ Ah, aspic! Not your everyday word, is it? It immediately conjures images of shimmering, gelatinous forms, perhaps an old-fashioned dinner party centerpiece. But ‘set in aspic’? This isn’t just about food. In
crossword
terms, ‘set in’ can be a classic indicator for an insertion or embedding. Could it be that the ‘instrument’ is literally ‘set’
within
another word or phrase? And what about ‘aspic’ itself? Is it a homophone? An anagram indicator? Or just a very clever bit of misdirection, designed to make your mind wander off into the culinary arts while the real answer hides in plain sight, perfectly camouflaged within the language of the clue? The setters are notoriously cunning, after all.
And just when you think you’ve got a handle on the first two parts, this fascinating
crossword clue
throws in ‘colourfully’. Now, this could mean vibrant hues, a spectrum of shades, a literal explosion of pigment. Or, given the context of a cryptic
crossword
, could it be hinting at something more metaphorical? Does ‘colourfully’ describe the
way
the instrument is set? Or does it describe the
instrument
itself, perhaps its nature or function, implying a vivid or expressive quality? The interplay between ‘aspic’ and ‘colourfully’ here is particularly intriguing. Are we looking for something that is both ‘jellied’ and ‘vivid’? Or is the ‘colourfully’ part a definition, and ‘instrument set in aspic’ is the intricate wordplay that leads us to the solution? These are the kinds of questions that make a
crossword clue
such a rewarding challenge.
This particular ‘Instrument set in aspic, colourfully (7)‘
crossword clue
is a masterclass in elegant misdirection, a testament to the setter’s cunning. It forces you to consider multiple meanings for each word, to peel back the layers of surface sense to find the true, hidden meaning. It’s the kind of
crossword puzzle
gem that makes you pump your fist in triumph when the penny finally drops, and that “aha!” moment arrives. And let me tell you, when it does, the satisfaction is immense, a true testament to your own wordplay prowess.
For those of you tackling your daily
crossword
, or perhaps a more challenging weekend cryptic, this clue is a perfect example of why we love this hobby. It’s not just about filling in boxes; it’s about the mental gymnastics, the battle of wits with an unseen setter, and the sheer joy of decoding linguistic riddles. So, before you rush to any
crossword clue
solver online, take a moment. Savor the ambiguity. Wrestle with the possibilities. Because the journey to the solution is often as rewarding as the destination itself.
Have you encountered a similar
crossword clue
that stumped you initially but felt incredibly satisfying once solved? Share your thoughts below – but no spoilers for
this
one just yet! Let’s give everyone a chance to ponder this delightful enigma. Stay tuned for the full breakdown and the reveal of the answer to this fascinating ‘Instrument set in aspic, colourfully (7)‘
crossword clue
in our next post! Happy solving, everyone!
Available Answers:
PICCOLO.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Tuesday, 1 July 2025