The thrill of cracking a cryptic crossword clue is a unique kind of intellectual high. It’s that satisfying ‘aha!’ moment when seemingly disparate words suddenly snap into a coherent, brilliant solution. And sometimes, a crossword clue comes along that isn’t just a challenge, but a work of art, a mini-masterpiece of linguistic dexterity that reminds you why you fell in love with puzzles in the first place.
Today, we’re shining the spotlight on one such crossword clue that recently captured the imagination of solvers everywhere: ‘Come back, only to let slip untaxed commerce (5,7)‘. Take a moment to read it again. Let its rhythm sink in. Notice the punctuation, the phrasing. It’s designed to mislead, to delight, and ultimately, to make you think.
This isn’t your average, straightforward definition. Far from it. This particular crossword clue is a prime example of why cryptic crosswords are so endlessly fascinating. They aren’t just about knowing vocabulary; they’re about understanding the subtle, often playful, language of the setter. This clue, with its intriguing structure (5,7), hints at a two-word answer, immediately doubling the challenge and the potential for misdirection.
Let’s unpack some of the typical elements that make a crossword clue like this so compelling, without giving away the ghost. The phrase ‘Come back’ is a classic opener in the world of cryptic crosswords. Experienced solvers know that these words often signal a reversal of letters or a subtle indication of an anagram, inviting you to reconsider the order of things. It’s a trick of the trade, designed to prompt a specific mental gymnastics, one that can either unlock the solution or send you down a delightful rabbit hole of possibilities.
Then we have ‘only to let slip’. This part of the crossword clue adds another layer of complexity. Is it an indicator for letters being removed from a word? Or perhaps an instruction for an anagram of the letters that follow, or even a part of the definition itself? Cryptic setters love to use seemingly innocuous phrases to hide crucial instructions, and this one is a particularly cunning example. The word ‘slip’ itself can be a verb suggesting a loss or a revelation, playing on multiple meanings to create ambiguity. It’s this linguistic dance that elevates a mere puzzle into a truly engaging mental exercise, requiring a deep dive into the nuances of language.
Finally, we arrive at ‘untaxed commerce’. This is the definition part of our crossword clue, but as is common in cryptic puzzles, it’s rarely as simple as it appears on the surface. The magic of a well-crafted cryptic definition is its ability to be perfectly accurate while simultaneously being incredibly misleading if you approach it too literally. It demands that you step back and consider the broader implications, the less obvious connections, and the clever ways words can be repurposed. This part of the clue asks you to think about economic concepts, but through a lens of wordplay, a common technique in advanced crossword clues.
The brilliance of this specific crossword clue lies in how all these elements intertwine. The seemingly disparate parts of the clue—the reversal/anagram indicator, the potential for manipulation, and the cleverly disguised definition—all point to a single, elegant solution. It’s an example of an “all-in-one” or “&lit” clue, where the entire clue can also serve as the definition, making it doubly clever and immensely satisfying to decipher. Such clues are the holy grail for many a crossword enthusiast, showcasing the setter’s genius in condensing so much meaning and misdirection into so few words.
For anyone who loves a good mental workout, or who appreciates the artistry behind linguistic puzzles, this crossword clue serves as a prime example of the genre at its very best. It pushes you to think beyond the obvious, to explore synonyms, homophones, and the myriad ways English words can be twisted and turned. It’s a testament to the fact that even within the confines of a grid, there’s boundless room for creativity and intellectual delight.
So, did you manage to crack this fantastic crossword clue? Did the indicators fall into place, or did the clever misdirection send you down a few rabbit holes? Share your thoughts (but no spoilers in the comments, please!). For those still pondering, stick around, because in the rest of this post, we’ll peel back the layers and reveal the ingenious solution to this unforgettable crossword clue.
Available Answers:
BLACKECONOMY.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Wednesday, 11 June 2025