Welcome back, fellow word sleuths and cryptic puzzle enthusiasts! There’s nothing quite like the mental workout a good cryptic crossword clue provides, is there? Today, we’re diving headfirst into a five-letter wonder that had me scratching my head for a delightful few minutes before the penny finally dropped. It’s a prime example of how deceptively simple a crossword clue can appear on the surface, only to reveal layers of clever wordplay beneath.
The clue in question? It’s a compact, yet utterly brilliant, piece of crossword craftsmanship:
Animal creating ooze round hospital (5)
At first glance, your mind might leap to all sorts of creatures. A slug? A snail? Something slimy and perhaps even a little creepy-crawly? That’s the beauty of a well-crafted crossword puzzle: it sends you down one path while subtly nudging you towards another. The ‘animal’ part is, of course, our definition – the category of word we are ultimately seeking. But as with all cryptic crossword clues, the journey to that definition is where the real adventure lies. We’re looking for a five-letter word, which immediately narrows down our options significantly, setting the precise boundaries for our solution to this intriguing crossword clue.
Now, let’s turn our attention to the second half of this intriguing crossword clue: ‘creating ooze round hospital’. This is where the magic of wordplay truly comes into its own. Cryptic crosswords are famous for their ingenious use of language, and this section is no exception. We have ‘ooze’ – a wonderfully evocative word that could mean a slow flow, a swampy mud, or even a certain type of liquid. Which meaning is the setter hinting at? The context, as always, is king when deciphering a challenging crossword clue.
Then there’s ’round hospital’. Seasoned crossword solvers will immediately flag ‘hospital’ as a potential candidate for an abbreviation. Many common institutions and concepts have their shorthand versions in the world of crosswords, making them frequent components of the wordplay. And ’round’? Ah, ’round’ is a classic indicator, often signalling that one part of the wordplay needs to be placed
around
another. It’s a common trick, but one that still delights when you spot it. This is the kind of insight that separates a casual solver from someone truly enjoying the depth and complexity of a cryptic crossword clue. Understanding these common indicators is key to unlocking many a tough crossword clue.
The challenge, therefore, isn’t just about finding an animal that creates ooze. It’s about constructing a five-letter word where something representing ‘ooze’
surrounds
the abbreviation for ‘hospital’, and the resulting combination perfectly points to an animal. See how intricate it becomes? This isn’t just about vocabulary; it’s about deconstructing linguistic puzzles. Every single word in a cryptic crossword clue is there for a reason, either as part of the definition or as a component of the wordplay. Missing even one nuance can send you off course in your quest to solve the crossword clue.
This particular crossword clue offers a fantastic lesson in patience and lateral thinking. Don’t jump to conclusions. Take each element, weigh its possible meanings, and consider how they might interact within the confines of the five-letter structure. It’s about building a picture, piece by piece, until the full solution to this delightful crossword clue reveals itself. The satisfaction of cracking a cleverly disguised crossword clue like this is immense, making all that focused thought incredibly rewarding.
So, take a moment. Ponder ‘Animal creating ooze round hospital (5)‘. What leaps out at you? How do the parts fit together? It’s a rewarding experience when you finally connect the dots and crack a challenging crossword clue like this one. Share your initial thoughts and strategies in the comments below – no spoilers, of course! Just your approach to tackling such a clever and satisfying piece of crossword craftsmanship.
Available Answers:
SHEEP.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Friday, 12 September 2025