Diving Deep into the Depths of This Tricky Crossword Clue
Welcome back to the blog, fellow crossword enthusiasts! Today, we’re tackling a particularly slippery little fish – one that requires a bit of lateral thinking and perhaps even a slight detour into the culinary world. We’re focusing our magnifying glasses on the clue: “Fish pong when the head’s removed (5)”.
Right off the bat, we’re presented with a multi-layered challenge. The first part, “Fish,” seems straightforward enough. It signals that we’re looking for a word relating to aquatic creatures, presumably a type of fish itself. But, as any seasoned solver knows, the obvious path isn’t always the correct one in the cryptic realm. It could be a red herring (pun intended!) and the reference to fish might be more figurative or allude to something associated with them.
The second part of the clue, “pong when the head’s removed,” is where things get interesting. “Pong” immediately suggests an unpleasant or offensive smell. This indicates that the fish, or whatever the word represents, emits a foul odor, at least under specific circumstances. However, the critical element is the phrase “when the head’s removed.” This signifies a manipulation of the word itself, a form of wordplay common in crosswords. We must identify a five-letter word, related to fish (or potentially something tangentially related), and then mentally remove the first letter (the “head”) to reveal a word that evokes the idea of a bad smell.
This is where the real mental gymnastics begin. We need to consider various types of fish, both common and obscure. Think about the characteristics associated with each one – their appearance, habitat, and, crucially, their smell, especially when processed or decaying. Brainstorming different species is a good starting point. Could it be a well-known fish like a cod, trout, or salmon? Or something more exotic, such as a tuna, eel, or even a less common species?
Once you have a list of potential fishy candidates, the next step is to apply the “head removal” test. Take each word and mentally chop off the first letter. Does the remaining four-letter word suggest a bad smell, a pong, or any word with a similar meaning? Think about synonyms for bad smells – reek, stink, foul, fetid, off, acrid. Do any of these words jump out at you when you manipulate your list of potential fish?
Remember, the world of crosswords often favors indirect associations and clever puns. The “pong” might not be a direct synonym for a bad smell; it could be something related to the concept of unpleasantness or something that sounds similar to a word describing a foul odor.
Consider also that the word “head” might be acting as something other than the letter at the beginning of the solution. Is there another definition of ‘head’ that leads to a solution?
Don’t be afraid to explore less literal interpretations. Perhaps the fish is a metaphor for something else entirely, and the “pong” refers to a metaphorical stink. The key is to keep an open mind and consider all possibilities.
So, sharpen your pencils, engage your olfactory senses (figuratively, of course!), and dive headfirst into this captivating crossword clue. Good luck, and happy solving!
Available Answers:
TENCH.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Thursday, 27 November 2025