Left the French without flying relief (11) – A Cryptic Crossword Challenge
Ah, the cryptic crossword. A delightful, yet often perplexing, puzzle that tests your vocabulary, logic, and ability to think outside the box. Today, we’re tackling a particularly intriguing clue that has left many solvers scratching their heads: “Left the French without flying relief (11)“.
This clue is a real gem, combining wordplay, a bit of geography, and a touch of whimsy. It’s a classic example of a cryptic clue where the surface reading – “Left the French without flying relief” – is a complete red herring. We need to unravel the layers of meaning to find the hidden solution.
Let’s break it down:
“Left”
: This could indicate a direction, a position, or perhaps even a verb.
“The French”
: Could be a reference to the French language, a specific French person or group, or even the country itself.
“Without flying”
: This could be a literal statement about a lack of flight, or it could be a clue about something else entirely.
“Relief”
: This could be a physical object that provides comfort, or it could be a more abstract concept.
The number “11” tells us that the answer is an eleven-letter word. This is a helpful starting point, but it doesn’t tell us much about the word itself.
So, how do we go about finding the solution? This is where the fun of cryptic crosswords comes in! We need to look for hidden clues within the surface reading, decode any wordplay, and consider potential synonyms and homophones.
I’m not going to spoil the answer just yet, but I’ll offer a few hints to get you started:
Think about how “left” could be used in a different context.
“Flying relief” could be referring to a specific type of aid.
Consider how a word can be changed by removing a letter or letters.
Ready to put your cryptic skills to the test? Grab a pen and paper (or your favorite crossword app), and see if you can solve this delightful little puzzle. Good luck!
Available Answers:
ALLEVIATION.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Wednesday, 23 October 2024