Unlocking the secrets of cryptic crosswords is a rewarding journey, a daily dance between wit and words. Each
crossword clue
presents a miniature puzzle, inviting you to decipher its layers of meaning and clever misdirection. Today, we’re diving into a particularly intriguing one that recently caught our eye: “Girl conceals gold raid (5)“.
At first glance, this
crossword clue
might seem straightforward, but as seasoned solvers know, cryptic clues are rarely what they appear. Let’s break down this five-letter marvel and explore the avenues of thought it opens up for the dedicated solver.
Deconstructing the Clue: “Girl conceals gold raid (5)“
Every cryptic
crossword clue
has two main parts: a definition and the wordplay. The definition gives you the straightforward meaning of the answer, while the wordplay provides a cryptic hint on how to construct it. And, of course, the number in parentheses tells us exactly how many letters our solution will have – in this case, a neat five.
1.
The Definition: “Girl”
This is our starting point. We’re looking for a five-letter word that can be defined as a “girl.” This could be a generic term, a specific name, a mythical figure, or even a dated term. Keep a mental list of all five-letter “girl” words you can think of. This is crucial for narrowing down the possibilities once we tackle the wordplay.
2.
The Wordplay: “conceals gold raid”
Now, for the fun part – the cryptic hint. The phrase “conceals gold raid” is where the true challenge lies. Let’s consider the word “conceals.” In the world of cryptic crosswords, this verb is a common indicator, and it can suggest several things:
A Container Clue:
Often, “conceals” implies that one word (or part of it) is hidden
inside
another. So, our five-letter “girl” word might contain elements from “gold raid,” or perhaps even “gold raid” itself, if interpreted in a specific, shorter way.
A Hidden Word Clue:
Sometimes, the answer itself is literally hidden within the letters of the clue’s wordplay. For example, “Lion hides in CaliforNIA DAre” for NAIAD. Is “Girl” hidden directly in “gold raid”? A quick scan might tell you one way or another.
An Action Verb:
The word “conceals” could also describe an action that the “girl” (our answer) performs. Could the answer be a type of girl who
does
conceal things, perhaps specifically something related to a “gold raid”? This requires thinking about synonyms for “girl” that also carry a connotation of secrecy or illicit activity.
3.
Analyzing “gold raid”
The phrase “gold raid” is ripe for cryptic interpretation.
“Gold”:
Could this refer to the precious metal itself? Or its chemical symbol, ‘Au’? Or perhaps it’s simply hinting at the color?
“Raid”:
This could be interpreted literally as an attack or a sudden incursion. It could also suggest an anagram or a jumbling of letters, though “conceals” isn’t a direct anagram indicator.
Together:
What happens when “gold” and “raid” are combined? Does it suggest a specific type of event, or a set of letters to be manipulated?
Putting It All Together
With a five-letter answer constrained by the definition “Girl,” your task is to figure out how “conceals gold raid” cleverly leads to that specific word. Think about which interpretation of “conceals” (container, hidden word, or action verb) seems most plausible given the elements of “gold raid.”
Cryptic clues are famous for their misdirection, so consider all angles. Does “gold raid” break down into smaller components? Are there common abbreviations or symbols at play?
This particular
crossword clue
is a fantastic example of the layers of thought required in cryptic puzzles. Don’t be afraid to jot down ideas, try different combinations, and consider less obvious meanings for each word. The satisfaction of cracking a clue like this is immense, revealing the constructor’s cleverness and honing your own word-sleuthing skills. Happy solving!
Available Answers:
FORAY.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Wednesday, 6 August 2025