Navigating a Tricky Crossword Clue: Unpleasant Driving Conditions Ahead
There are certain crossword clues that instantly paint a picture in your mind. You read the words, and you’re no longer just staring at a black-and-white grid; you’re transported. You can feel the chill in the air, hear the rhythmic thump of windshield wipers, and see the faint glow of headlights cutting through the gloom. This is exactly the kind of sensory experience we’re dealing with when we encounter the crossword clue: ‘Created unpleasant driving conditions, in a way’.
At first glance, this seems straightforward. Our minds immediately jump to the usual suspects. Rain, snow, fog—all of these certainly create unpleasant driving conditions. A solver might pencil in RAINED or SNOWED if the letter count fits. But the brilliance of a well-crafted crossword clue often lies in its final few words, and in this case, that crucial phrase is “in a way.”
Those three little words are a signal from the puzzle constructor. They’re a wink and a nod, telling us to look past the obvious. It’s not just about the weather itself, but about a specific action or a particular type of phenomenon. The clue isn’t asking “What is a type of bad weather?” It’s asking for a verb, a past-tense action that
resulted
in a treacherous commute. The word “Created” firmly places this clue in the realm of actions.
So, let’s put on our thinking caps and steer away from the initial, more common answers. What does “in a way” suggest? It implies a nuance, a specific manner. It’s not just that precipitation fell from the sky; it’s about the
state
in which it arrived and the effect it had upon contact with the ground. Think about the most frustrating, slick, and hazardous road conditions. They’re often not caused by fluffy snow or a simple downpour. They’re caused by something more insidious, something that coats surfaces in a thin, dangerous veneer.
This crossword clue challenges us to be more precise in our vocabulary. We need a word that captures the idea of precipitation turning the world into a slick, treacherous surface. It’s an interesting puzzle because the answer is a common enough word, yet it might not be the first, second, or even third word that comes to mind when thinking about winter weather. The beauty of this particular crossword clue is how it forces the solver to refine their thinking, moving from a general category (bad weather) to a very specific, and descriptive, action. It’s a perfect example of how a simple qualifier can transform a straightforward clue into a delightful little conundrum.
Available Answers:
SLEETED.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: 1114-25 NY Times Crossword 14 Nov 25, Friday