Tackling Another Toughie: A Deep Dive into a Fiendish Crossword Clue
Alright, crossword enthusiasts! Another week, another puzzle conquered (or at least, attempted to be). This time, we’re zeroing in on a particularly pungent clue that had me scratching my head for a good long while. You know the kind – the ones that seem deceptively simple on the surface but harbor layers of linguistic trickery beneath. We’re talking about a clue that evokes a powerful, almost overwhelming sensation of… well, let’s just say it wasn’t a pleasant aroma.
This particular clue involved imagery so vivid, so evocative, that it practically leaped off the page. The words themselves painted a picture, or rather, unleashed an olfactory assault, requiring a detour through the landscape of similes and idioms. It wasn’t just about something being bad; it was about something reaching a level of unpleasantness that demanded a colorful descriptor.
My first instinct was to tackle this clue head-on. I considered the literal possibilities, thinking about sources of truly awful smells. Rotting food? Skunk spray? Industrial waste? The possibilities, unfortunately, seemed endless. I scribbled down a few options, mentally testing them against the intersecting letters, but nothing seemed to quite fit the bill.
That’s when I realized I was approaching this from the wrong angle. This wasn’t just about identifying
a
bad smell; it was about identifying the
expression
used to describe an exceptionally bad smell. This called for a shift in strategy. I needed to think metaphorically, to delve into the realm of well-worn phrases and figures of speech.
I started brainstorming idioms and similes associated with unpleasant odors. “Smelled to high heaven” came to mind, but the letter count was off. “Reeked to the rafters” felt close, but still didn’t quite resonate with the overall feeling of the clue. I even considered some more obscure expressions, pulling from my dusty mental archives of literary references and historical slang.
The key, I realized, lay in the particular word used to quantify the stink. It wasn’t just “bad,” it was an amplified, intensified version of bad. This pushed me towards considering more emphatic, almost hyperbolic, descriptions. The clue suggested a potent, unforgettable, and perhaps even slightly theatrical, stink.
Finally, I focused on the second half of the clue, the part that offered a hint of personality. It wasn’t just any old unpleasantness; it was a specific type, associated with a certain character or entity. This added another layer of complexity, suggesting a connection to folklore, mythology, or perhaps even popular culture. The challenge now was to find the phrase that perfectly captured this combination of intense foulness and a specific, memorable character.
This crossword clue tested my knowledge of idioms, my ability to think metaphorically, and my willingness to explore the less-than-savory corners of the English language. It was a reminder that crossword solving isn’t just about knowing facts; it’s about deciphering the clever and often cryptic ways those facts are presented. Let me know your experience with this tricky clue.
Available Answers:
REEKED.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Universal Crossword – It%27s The End Of The World As We Know It By Adrian Johnson