A terrible dearth of cotton (6)

A Cotton Crisis: Cracking This Cryptic Crossword Clue

Ah, the joy of a good crossword puzzle! Those satisfying clicks as you fill in the grid, the sense of accomplishment when you finally crack a tricky clue – it’s a feeling like no other.

But what about those clues that leave you scratching your head, staring blankly at the grid, and muttering, “What on earth is this supposed to mean?” That’s where the thrill of the challenge truly comes in. Today, we’re tackling one such cryptic clue: “

A terrible dearth of cotton (6)

“.

This cryptic clue is a real head-scratcher. It seems to hint at a lack of something, but what? And how does “terrible” play into this? Let’s break it down and see if we can unravel the mystery.

Deciphering the Clues:

“A terrible dearth of cotton”:

The phrase “terrible dearth” implies a serious shortage or lack of something. But what is it?

“(6)”:

This tells us the answer will be a six-letter word.

Potential Approaches:

Wordplay:

Cryptic clues often use wordplay. “Cotton” could be a double meaning, or there might be a word related to cotton that fits the answer.

Reverse Thinking:

Sometimes, the answer is hidden in the clue itself. Is there a word within the clue that fits the description?

Synonyms:

“Terrible” could have a synonym that hints at the answer, or perhaps it describes the outcome of the cotton shortage.

Ready to dive in? Let’s crack this cryptic clue together!

Available Answers:

THREAD.

Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Monday, 7 October 2024