Unpacking the Mystery of a Cryptic Crossword Clue: ‘Large number with open secret (6)‘
There’s nothing quite like the satisfying ‘aha!’ moment when a particularly fiendish crossword clue finally clicks into place. Today, we’re diving deep into one that truly exemplifies the brilliance of cryptic wordplay: ‘Large number with open secret (6)‘. This isn’t just any crossword clue; it’s a masterclass in misdirection and witty construction, leaving many a solver scratching their heads in delightful confusion.
At first glance, this 6-letter crossword clue seems straightforward enough. We’re looking for a ‘large number’. Easy, right? Think ‘thousand’, ‘million’, ‘billion’… except none of those fit the six-letter count. And then there’s the second, seemingly unrelated phrase: ‘open secret’. Immediately, your brain should be signaling a potential pun, an idiom, or a clever twist on words. This is where the true fun of a challenging crossword clue begins.
The beauty of this particular crossword clue lies in how it seamlessly merges two distinct concepts into a single, elegant solution. Is the ‘large number’ a literal quantity, or does it refer to something immense in a less numerical sense? And how does ‘open secret’ play into it? Is the answer something that is widely known yet somehow remains private, or does the phrase hint at the
structure
of the word itself? Perhaps the ‘secret’ part is hidden, but ‘openly’ accessible? These are the kinds of questions that make tackling a great crossword clue so rewarding.
Solving a crossword clue like this requires more than just a good vocabulary; it demands a flexible mind, ready to pivot between literal interpretations and figurative meanings. You need to consider synonyms for ‘large’, idioms related to ‘secret’, and then, crucially, filter all those possibilities through the lens of a six-letter word. It’s a delightful mental workout that reminds us why we love these puzzles so much. The ingenuity behind such a well-crafted crossword clue is truly something to admire.
The ‘open secret’ aspect is particularly intriguing. It’s a common idiom, suggesting something that everyone knows but isn’t officially acknowledged. How does a ‘large number’ fit that description? The magic often lies in a single word that manages to satisfy both parts of the clue simultaneously, perhaps through a double definition or a clever play on phonetics or structure. It’s about finding that one elusive word that ties everything together perfectly, transforming a puzzling crossword clue into a moment of pure clarity.
We won’t be revealing the answer to this brilliant crossword clue here today, but we encourage you to spend some time mulling it over. Share your thoughts on what makes a great crossword clue, or perhaps other examples that have stumped or delighted you. The journey to the solution is often as much fun as the ‘aha!’ moment itself. Happy puzzling!
Available Answers:
COVERT.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Sunday, 15 June 2025