Welcome back, fellow word-smiths and cryptic enthusiasts! There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of cracking a truly clever
crossword clue
, is there? That moment when the penny drops, and a seemingly impenetrable phrase transforms into a perfectly logical answer, it’s pure linguistic magic. Today, we’re diving headfirst into one such gem that recently caught my eye and, frankly, played a delightful game of hide-and-seek with my brain:
“Mountain range is rare, perhaps (6)“
At first glance, this
crossword clue
seems straightforward enough. “Mountain range” gives us a category, “rare” implies a certain quality, and “perhaps” whispers a hint of uncertainty. But as any seasoned solver knows, in the world of cryptic crosswords, almost every word is a potential breadcrumb, or a cunning misdirection.
Let’s dissect this fascinating
crossword clue
piece by piece, as we often do when tackling a particularly stubborn puzzle. The number in parentheses, “(6),” is our invaluable length indicator, telling us our solution must be exactly six letters long. This immediately narrows down the field considerably, an essential first step in any
crossword puzzle
strategy.
Now, consider the definition: “Mountain range.” This is what we’re looking for – a six-letter word that fits this description. But hold on, it’s rarely that simple in a cryptic
crossword clue
. “Mountain range” could be a specific range, a geological term for a type of range, or even just a component of one. The vastness of geography means our minds immediately start scanning for all sorts of candidates, from the famous to the obscure.
Next, we move to “is rare, perhaps.” Ah, “perhaps”! This little word is a classic, almost unmistakable, signal in cryptic crosswords. It’s an
anagram indicator
, a delightful invitation to shuffle some letters around. Whenever you see words like “perhaps,” “possibly,” “could be,” “rearranged,” “mixed up,” or “confused,” your anagram antennae should start twitching. They’re telling you that the letters in a preceding phrase need to be jumbled to form the answer.
So, if “perhaps” is our anagram indicator, what letters are we meant to be rearranging? The phrase immediately before it is “is rare.” Let’s count those letters: I-S-R-A-R-E. That’s six letters exactly! What a coincidence, or is it? In cryptic
crossword clues
, coincidences are almost always by design. The six letters from “is rare” perfectly match the six-letter length of our answer. This strongly suggests that our solution is an anagram of the letters found in “IS RARE.”
This is where the real fun begins. We have our definition (“Mountain range”), and we have our anagram fodder (“IS RARE”), along with its indicator (“perhaps”) and the length (6). Our task now is to take those six letters – I, S, R, A, R, E – and rearrange them to form a six-letter word that means “mountain range.” It’s a fantastic example of elegant wordplay, combining general knowledge with linguistic dexterity.
These types of
crossword clues
truly test your vocabulary and your ability to see beyond the surface meaning of words. It’s not just about knowing geographical terms; it’s about recognizing patterns in language and applying cryptic crossword conventions. The beauty of it lies in the way the clue guides you, almost playfully, to the solution without giving anything away directly.
Did this particular
crossword clue
send your mind racing through alpine peaks and desert ranges, trying to fit the pieces together? Or did the anagram leap out at you immediately? Share your experiences with challenging clues like this one in the comments below! What other tricks do you look for when an anagram indicator like “perhaps” makes an appearance? The more we discuss our solving strategies, the better we all become at conquering these delightful daily brain teasers. Keep those pencils sharp, and happy solving!
Available Answers:
SIERRA.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Sunday, 19 October 2025