There are those moments in a crossword puzzle where a seemingly simple phrase clue stops you dead in your tracks. You read it, you know it’s familiar, yet the precise word eludes you, dancing just at the edge of your memory. This week, one such
crossword clue
had many solvers scratching their heads and digging deep into their linguistic archives: “Won by a __.”
Ah, the classic fill-in-the-blank
crossword clue
! These gems are often a staple in daily crosswords, from the challenging depths of the New York Times
crossword clue
list to the more accessible pleasures of the USA Today
crossword clue
. They tap into our common knowledge of idioms, sayings, and well-worn expressions, making them both incredibly satisfying when solved and maddeningly elusive when the right word just won’t surface.
When faced with a
crossword clue
like “Won by a __,” the initial impulse is often to brainstorm different contexts of “winning.” Is it a sporting victory? A political triumph? A general achievement where the margin of success is described by a particular phrase? The beauty and the beast of this kind of
crossword clue
lie in its universality. “Won by a…” could precede many different outcomes, each with its own evocative imagery. Think of the narrowest margins, where victory is almost snatched from the jaws of defeat. Or consider the overwhelming, decisive wins, where the competition wasn’t even close. Each scenario brings a different set of possibilities for that crucial final word.
One effective strategy for tackling such a challenging
crossword clue
is to consider the length of the blank. If you’ve already filled in surrounding letters from other intersecting clues, that can significantly narrow down the pool of potential answers. For instance, if the final word needed to be three letters, your mental Rolodex would spin through a completely different set of options than if it required six or seven letters. This interplay between the phrase itself and the mechanics of the grid is what makes solving a good
crossword clue
such a rewarding mental workout.
Another approach for this type of phrase-based
crossword clue
is to think about the
degree
of winning. Are we talking about a massive victory, or one that was incredibly close? The English language is rich with expressions to describe both scenarios. Sometimes, the key isn’t just knowing the phrase, but knowing which common article or preposition precedes the missing word. In this case, “by a” is a strong indicator that we’re looking for a singular noun or adjective that quantifies or describes the margin of victory.
Solving a
crossword clue
like “Won by a __” isn’t just about finding the right word; it’s about connecting with a shared cultural understanding of language. It’s about recognizing those turns of phrase that are so ingrained in our communication that we barely think about them until a
crossword clue
forces us to dissect them. It’s a reminder of the precision and poetry of everyday speech, transformed into a delightful puzzle.
So, whether you’re a seasoned solver or just getting started with daily
crossword puzzles
, encountering a
crossword clue
of this nature is a rite of passage. It tests your vocabulary, your idiomatic knowledge, and your ability to think laterally. And when that final word slots perfectly into place, illuminating the entire phrase, there’s truly nothing quite like it. It’s the moment of pure crossword bliss that keeps us coming back for more, week after week.
Available Answers:
NOSE.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Washington Post Crossword -Monday’s Daily By Matthew Stock / Ed. Patti Varol