That Pesky Five-Letter Crossword Clue Got You? You’re Not Alone!
Staring blankly at a crossword puzzle is a familiar feeling for many of us. Sometimes the clues practically scream the answer, while other times… well, other times you’re convinced the compiler is speaking a language you’ve never encountered. That’s precisely where I found myself this morning, wrestling with a deceptively short clue:
“Alan’s smashed up about the nose (5)“
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Five letters. That’s it. Sounds simple, right? Famous last words.
The initial impression is straightforward. We’re dealing with a word that’s somehow connected to “Alan” being “smashed up” and pertaining to the anatomical feature of the “nose.” This immediately points to a need for anagramming or some kind of manipulation of the name “Alan.”
My first instinct, naturally, was to explore potential anagrams of “Alan.” Could scrambling those four letters reveal something relevant? I tried every combination imaginable: “Lana,” “Anal,” and… okay, let’s just say none of them felt like they were on the right track. They certainly didn’t conjure any images of damaged noses.
So, if not a straightforward anagram, what else could the clue be hinting at? The phrase “smashed up” implies a state of disrepair, a broken or distorted condition. Could it be related to a word being “broken” or rearranged in some way? Perhaps a word formed by taking pieces of other words?
And then there’s the “about the nose” part. This suggests a connection to the nose, either directly or indirectly. Are we looking for a synonym for the nose? Something associated with noses, like smelling or breathing? Or perhaps something that protects the nose, like spectacles? This aspect of the clue certainly acts as a significant constraint on potential solutions.
The “Alan’s” part is particularly interesting. The possessive form suggests something belonging to Alan or somehow associated with him. Is Alan a famous figure whose name is linked to a five-letter word? Could this be a reference to a well-known character named Alan who is renowned for having a particularly prominent or damaged nose? Or maybe it’s a play on words involving Alan’s profession or background?
This clue possesses a layered complexity. It demands more than just a simple synonym or a straightforward definition. It needs us to play detective, piecing together the fragments of information to arrive at the correct solution. The clever juxtaposition of “smashed up” and “about the nose” forces us to think laterally.
The challenge is to decipher the precise relationship between Alan’s misfortune, the physical feature in question, and the five-letter word that ultimately satisfies the crossword’s constraints.
This clue is a reminder of why crosswords are so addictive. They demand mental agility, vocabulary prowess, and a healthy dose of lateral thinking. So, I implore you, fellow crossword enthusiasts, to consider the possibilities, explore the connections, and delve into the intricacies of this seemingly simple five-letter clue.
Available Answers:
NASAL.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: –Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Monday, 4 August 2025
Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Saturday, 5 July 2025