The deceptively simple crossword clue “Fly or fish, for example” presents a classic challenge for solvers. It’s the kind of cryptic prompt that, at first glance, seems straightforward, offering two common nouns or verbs, but quickly unfurls into a delightful exploration of language and categorization. This particular crossword clue is a masterclass in elegant brevity, packing layers of potential meaning into just a few words.
When faced with a crossword clue like this, the immediate instinct is often to consider the most obvious interpretations of “fly” and “fish.” We picture the buzzing insect, or the act of soaring through the air. We envision the aquatic creature, or the endeavor of angling. But the “for example” is the crucial flag, telling us we’re not looking for a synonym or a direct definition. Instead, the answer to this particular crossword clue will be a broader category, a unifying concept that comfortably embraces both “fly” and “fish” as members of its group.
The beauty, and sometimes the frustration, of such a crossword clue lies in the multiple lexical pathways presented by each example. “Fly” can be a noun (the insect, a fishing lure, a zipper opening, a baseball hit) or a verb (to move through the air, to hasten). Similarly, “fish” is a prominent noun (the animal, its meat) and a verb (to try to catch fish, to search for something by touch). A skilled crossword setter expertly leverages these ambiguities, forcing the solver to juggle various meanings before landing on the one that creates a shared, overarching category.
To crack this type of crossword clue, one must step back from the individual examples and ask: What
kind
of things are these, collectively? Are they types of animals? Actions? Foods? Sporting activities? Parts of speech? The key often lies in finding the
most encompassing
and
most ambiguous
intersection that still makes perfect sense for both terms. It’s a mental agility test, sifting through the common and the obscure to find the perfectly fitting general term for this word puzzle prompt.
This specific crossword clue often leads solvers down several potential paths. One might initially consider biological classifications, but “fly” and “fish” don’t belong to the same immediate major taxonomic group in a simple way that would typically be a crossword answer. Then, the mind might drift to activities involving them – fishing, for instance, involves both. But does “fly” solely refer to the act of using a fly fishing lure, or the insect
as bait
? And does “fish” refer to the act of fishing, or the creature being caught? The clue’s generality demands a more abstract, yet precise, connection for this solver’s challenge.
The challenge of this crossword clue is not just about vocabulary, but about understanding the setter’s logic. It’s about recognizing that the chosen examples aren’t random; they’re carefully selected to guide, or perhaps misguide, the solver towards a particular conceptual umbrella. The elegance of “Fly or fish, for example” lies in its ability to condense a complex linguistic puzzle into such a short phrase. It’s a testament to the art of crossword construction, where every word matters, and every example serves a purpose. Unraveling such a crossword clue brings a unique satisfaction, a moment of “aha!” when the subtle connection finally clicks into place, revealing the hidden category that binds these seemingly disparate items. It’s a prime example of why so many are captivated by the intellectual pursuit of the daily crossword.
Available Answers:
VERB.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Washington Post Crossword -Tuesday’s Daily By Matthew Stock & Mark Valdez / Ed. Patti Varol