Steaming Kettle, Missing Socks: A Dive into a Tricky 5-Letter Crossword Clue
Okay, puzzle fiends, crack your knuckles and sharpen your pencils, because today we’re tackling a five-letter crossword clue that’s got layers like an onion: “Hotter, yet without odds, colder (5)”.
Immediately, the word “hotter” and “colder” in the same clue is a head-scratcher. It’s a classic crossword technique: throwing seemingly contradictory concepts at you to force you to think outside the box, and beyond the literal meaning of the words. We’re not talking about the weather forecast here, folks. We’re talking about the internal logic of the puzzle, the hidden wordplay that’s the bread and butter of any good cryptic crossword.
The first part of the clue, “hotter,” suggests some kind of comparative. We’re looking for something that
is
hotter, presumably than something else. The five-letter constraint immediately eliminates many obvious words. We can’t just slap in “heated” or “burning,” as those don’t fit the length requirement. This suggests that we’re dealing with a more nuanced definition of “hotter.” Perhaps it’s a degree of hotness, or a more metaphorical meaning of the term – maybe relating to popularity, intensity, or excitement.
Now comes the curveball: “yet without odds.” This is where the real puzzle-solving begins. The phrase “without odds” hints at the removal of something, specifically “odds.” This almost certainly is referencing the odd-numbered letters of a word or sequence. The clue writer is telling us to manipulate something, to extract something, to leave something
behind
. Think about what happens when you take away the odd letters from a word. What are you left with?
This is a crucial part of the puzzle. Understanding the relationship between “without odds” and the first word “hotter” is key to solving this. Is “hotter” the word we’re taking odd letters from? Or is it a different word entirely, one that relates to “hotter” somehow? Could it be related to the answer? The key is to figure out what sequence of letters we’re supposed to manipulate.
Finally, we have “colder (5)”. The five-letter length is a constant reminder, a parameter that keeps us grounded while we explore the metaphorical possibilities. The word “colder,” like “hotter,” adds another layer of complexity. It’s a contrast, an opposition. How does this play into the “without odds” instruction? Does removing the odd letters make something “colder”?
Consider different meanings of “colder.” Is it literal cold? Is it a less emotional feeling? The connection between “hotter” and “colder” might involve a transformation. If we start with something “hotter”, manipulate it per the instructions, it ends as “colder”.
This is where you, the solver, need to put your thinking cap on. Break down the clue into its component parts, consider the possible meanings of each word, and play around with different letter combinations and manipulations.
Remember, the best clues are those that are both challenging and fair. They offer a clear path to the solution, but that path may be cleverly disguised. Don’t be afraid to try different approaches, to think laterally, and to embrace the ambiguity. That’s the joy of the crossword! So, give this one a good think. Happy puzzling!
Available Answers:
ICIER.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Monday, 7 July 2025