Seeing Red (Or Blue, Or Green…) With This Tricky Crossword Clue
Navigating the cryptic world of crosswords often feels like deciphering ancient hieroglyphics. You stare at the grid, a sea of white squares mocking your intellectual prowess. Then, you come across
that
clue. The one that makes you tilt your head, scratch your chin, and mutter, “Huh?” For me, today’s culprit was “Blah in color.”
Now, ‘blah’ itself is wonderfully evocative. It conjures images of dull meetings, flavorless oatmeal, and that feeling of utter apathy you get when watching the same rerun for the tenth time. It’s the epitome of mediocrity, a verbal shrug encapsulated in four measly letters. But adding “in color” throws a wrench into the whole equation. Suddenly, we’re not just dealing with blandness; we’re dealing with a
pigmented
blandness. And that, my friends, is a puzzle within a puzzle.
My initial instincts led me down the path of literal interpretations. I wracked my brain for colors that sounded boring. Beige? Gray? Khaki? They certainly fit the bill, but none seemed to quite capture the
essence
of ‘blah.’ There’s a certain inherent negativity in the word ‘blah’ that those colors, while undeniably neutral, don’t fully embody.
Then, I started thinking about common phrases, expressions that connected color with a sense of… well, something less than exciting. I considered phrases that implied a lack of vibrancy or excitement. Nothing immediately sprung to mind that fit both the length and the underlying meaning.
Next, I tried a different approach. Could it be a wordplay on the pronunciation of a color? A homophone, perhaps? That avenue proved equally frustrating. Sometimes, crossword clues are deceptively simple, hiding in plain sight. Other times, they are labyrinths designed to test the limits of your vocabulary and your sanity. This one felt firmly in the latter category.
I even considered whether the answer involved a less common color. Perhaps a obscure shade of grey, with a long, cumbersome name. Or maybe the clue was referring to a feeling of indifference, that could be compared to the idea of a color. A long shot, I know!
The beauty of a good crossword clue is that it forces you to think outside the box. It encourages lateral thinking, sparking connections you wouldn’t normally make. You have to be prepared to abandon your assumptions and explore every possible angle. And even when you finally crack the code, there’s a satisfying “aha!” moment that makes all the mental gymnastics worthwhile.
So, I continue to stare at the grid, my mind racing, my fingers tapping. I will get there, I’m sure of it. And when I do, I will let you all know. But for now, I’m leaving you in the dark, grappling with the enigmatic “Blah in color.” Happy solving!
Available Answers:
DRAB.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Universal Crossword – Wheelie? By Zachary David Levy and Katie Hale