“Gun lad waves about one without enthusiasm (7)“
There are some crossword clues that, at first glance, paint an incredibly vivid, almost cinematic scene in your mind. This particular crossword clue, “Gun lad waves about one without enthusiasm (7),” is a prime example. You might instantly conjure an image: a young, perhaps slightly reckless, individual, idly toying with something, displaying a distinct lack of zeal. It’s a compelling, almost narrative opening to a puzzle.
But then, the bracketed (7) at the end pulls you back, reminding you that this isn’t a film script, but rather the elegant, often mischievous world of cryptic crosswords. The real challenge, and indeed the true beauty of such a crossword clue, lies in dissecting that engaging surface reading to uncover the hidden linguistic gymnastics at play.
Every element of a well-crafted cryptic crossword clue is there for a reason, designed either to define the answer or to act as a pointer towards its construction. In this seven-letter gem, we have phrases that could be definitions, and others that strongly hint at various wordplay mechanics. Does “Gun lad” refer to a specific person or a component? Does “waves about” indicate an anagram, a reversal, or something else entirely? And what about “one” – is it the number, the letter ‘I’, or something more abstract?
Decoding a complex crossword clue like this requires a shift from literal interpretation to a playful, analytical mode. It’s about recognizing the familiar patterns that setters employ, the cunning misdirections, and the clever double meanings that transform everyday language into a brain-teasing puzzle. This is the art of the cryptic crossword clue, transforming a descriptive sentence into an intricate code waiting to be cracked. It’s a journey from initial imagery to the satisfying click of a perfectly formed solution.
Available Answers:
LANGUID.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Wednesday, 15 October 2025