Are you currently staring at your grid, hovering your pen over five empty squares? It happens to every enthusiast eventually. Whether you are tackling a cryptic puzzle or a standard daily, hitting a wall is part of the experience. Today, we are breaking down a specific, elegant
crossword clue
that has been popping up in various publications:
“Finished on time, that’s plain to see (5).”
When you are looking for a
crossword clue solver
or trying to deconstruct a puzzle on your own, the first step is to identify the type of clue you are dealing with. This particular example is a classic “charade” clue—a staple of the
crossword clue
world where two smaller pieces of information are pushed together to form a complete word.
Analyzing the Clue Structure
In this
crossword clue
, the wordplay is divided into two distinct parts that lead to a single definition. The trick is to figure out where the wordplay ends and the definition begins.
1.
“Finished”:
In the lexicon of the
crossword clue
, the word “finished” is a very common indicator. It often points toward synonyms like “ended,” “done,” or “over.” When you see a five-letter requirement and the word “finished” is involved, your brain should immediately start testing four-letter synonyms that might need one extra letter to complete the set.
2.
“On time”:
This is a clever bit of shorthand. In many puzzles, the word “time” is represented by its scientific or standard abbreviation. Think about how time is noted in physics equations or general notations. This single letter is frequently used as a building block in a
crossword clue
.
Identifying the Definition
The final part of the clue,
“that’s plain to see,”
serves as the definition. When searching for the right
crossword clue
answer, you need a five-letter word that means “obvious,” “not hidden,” or “manifest.”
If you take a common four-letter word for “finished” and append the standard abbreviation for “time” to the end of it, you create a word that perfectly matches the definition of being unconcealed or “plain to see.” It is a satisfying “aha!” moment that demonstrates why this specific
crossword clue
is so well-regarded by constructors.
Tips for Future Solving
If you want to improve your speed without constantly relying on a
crossword clue solver
, keep these strategies in mind:
Look for Abbreviations:
Time (T), Loud (F), Quiet (P), and Direction (N, S, E, W) are almost always hidden in plain sight within the clue text.
Split the Clue:
Most clues have a “break point.” Try reading the clue from both ends to see which part feels like a definition and which part feels like a set of instructions.
Check the Count:
For a five-letter
crossword clue
, look for 4+1 or 3+2 combinations in the wordplay.
Understanding how “finished” and “time” interact in this context will help you unlock similar puzzles in the future. Once you see the logic behind combining these elements, the answer becomes—appropriately enough—plain to see. Happy puzzling!
Available Answers:
OVERT.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Thursday, 1 January 2026