Does Paper Work? Cracking a Cryptic Clue
This week’s crossword puzzle threw me for a loop. I stared at the grid, my trusty pen hovering over the blank square, a single word haunting my thoughts: “Paper.” A straightforward clue? Maybe. But, as a seasoned crossword solver, I know that deceptive simplicity can often mask a cryptic riddle.
The clue itself was frustratingly vague. “Does paper work?” It could mean anything! Is it a question about paper’s utility? Is it a pun about office work? Or something entirely different?
The surrounding clues offered no obvious hints. I tried working backward, analyzing the intersecting letters, hoping to decipher a pattern, but to no avail. It felt like I was trapped in a labyrinth of words, each turn leading to a dead end.
This, my friends, is the beauty and the frustration of cryptic crosswords. A seemingly simple clue can trigger a mental tug-of-war, a battle of wits between you and the setter. You must dissect the words, analyze the grammar, and tap into your inner wordplay wizard to find the solution.
So, join me as we unravel the mystery of this elusive clue. Let’s break down the wordplay, analyze the possible meanings, and hopefully, with a bit of deduction and a dash of luck, crack this cryptic puzzle.
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Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Thomas Joseph – King Feature Syndicate Crossword – Jun 27 2024