Hold back, as the tide
Hold Back, As The Tide: Cracking the Crossword Clue
Ah, the crossword puzzle. A beloved pastime for millions, a mental workout for the brain, and a source of both satisfaction and frustration. But sometimes, even the most seasoned solver can hit a wall. Those seemingly simple clues can turn into cryptic riddles, leaving us staring blankly at the grid.
Today’s challenge:
“Hold back, as the tide.”
This clue is a classic example of a figurative clue, relying on a metaphorical understanding to unveil the answer. It’s a clue that requires us to think outside the box, to consider the literal action of the tide and translate it into a more abstract concept.
Unveiling the Clues:
Let’s break down the clue to get a better grasp of its components:
Hold back:
This phrase implies a resistance, a force preventing something from advancing.
As the tide:
This tells us we’re looking for an action or a force that acts similarly to the tide.
The tide, in its most literal sense, represents the cyclical rise and fall of the ocean waters. But in a metaphorical sense, the tide can symbolize many things:
The ebb and flow of life:
Just as the tide rises and falls, life has its ups and downs, its moments of progress and stagnation.
Change and progress:
The tide’s constant movement represents the ever-changing nature of the world, the forces that push us forward or hold us back.
Influences and pressures:
Just as the tide exerts its influence on the coastline, external forces can shape our lives, our decisions, and our actions.
Unveiling the Answer:
Now, armed with this understanding, we must search for a word that embodies the concept of holding back, of resisting the tide’s influence. We need a word that captures the essence of staying anchored, of resisting the pull of change or progress.
Take your time, let your mind wander through the possibilities. The answer might be a verb, an adjective, or even a noun. Remember, the key is to focus on the metaphorical meaning of the tide and how it relates to the concept of holding back.
Good luck, fellow crossword enthusiasts! Let’s conquer this clue and unlock the joy of completing the grid.
Available Answers:
STEM.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: NY Times Crossword 9 Jul 24, Tuesday