The Anatomy of an “Aha!” Moment
We’ve all been there. A careless turn, a misjudged doorway, or an unfortunate lean against a hard surface, and then—
ZING!
A bizarre, electric, tingling shockwave shoots from your elbow down to your pinky finger. It’s a sensation that’s both jarring and, in a strange way, deeply comical. You grimace, you shake your arm out, and you might even let out a surprised laugh. It’s the universal, slightly ridiculous experience of hitting your funny bone.
So, when a crossword clue like “Funny bone spot” appears in the grid, it does more than just ask for a word. It taps directly into that shared, sensory memory. This is the kind of crossword clue that delights solvers because it feels less like a trivia question and more like a riddle rooted in everyday life. It’s a perfect example of a constructor using common knowledge to create a satisfying little puzzle.
Let’s break down this puzzle piece. Navigating a daily crossword puzzle means deciphering the unique language of its clues. The beauty of this particular crossword clue lies in its use of a common colloquialism. The term “funny bone” itself is a misnomer, a playful piece of folk anatomy, which is exactly the kind of territory that makes for a great crossword clue. The constructor isn’t asking for a technical anatomical term that would send you scrambling for a medical dictionary. Instead, they are banking on your immediate, intuitive understanding of the phrase.
The second half of the clue, “spot,” is a simple, elegant pointer. It directs your thinking toward a location, a specific place on the body. This is where the solving process truly begins. Your brain immediately jumps to a specific part of the body. You can almost feel the phantom tingling just by reading the words. This crossword clue isn’t about obscure facts; it’s about connecting a familiar phrase to its physical place.
A good crossword clue does more than just point to an answer; it triggers a chain of associations. You start thinking about the joint, the angle, the specific location where that sensitive nerve runs so close to the skin. You might picture an arm, bent or straight. The clue is a breadcrumb trail leading you away from complex scientific terms and toward a simple, common word that fits perfectly. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most challenging part of solving a crossword clue isn’t about what you know, but how you access that knowledge. The answer is often sitting right there, on the tip of your tongue—or in this case, perhaps at the tip of your arm.
Available Answers:
ARM.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Washington Post Crossword -Thursday’s Daily By J.R. Willard & Dena R. Verkuil / Ed. Patti Varol