That Nursery Rhyme Crossword Clue: A Puzzle Within a Puzzle
There are some crossword clues that stop you in your tracks. You’re sailing smoothly through the grid, filling in the easy three-letter words, feeling like a true wordsmith, and then you hit it. A clue that’s not just a definition, but a riddle, a little story packed into a handful of words. Today, we’re diving into one such gem:
‘Nursery rhyme couple with restricted 23-Downs’
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What a delightful crossword clue. It’s the kind of entry that reminds you why you fell in love with these black and white squares in the first place. The constructor isn’t just asking for a word; they’re inviting you on a miniature intellectual adventure. Any seasoned crossword clue solver knows this feeling well. Your pen hovers, a smile creeps across your face, and the game is truly afoot.
Let’s break down the journey of solving a crossword clue like this. The first part, ‘Nursery rhyme couple,’ is the friendly handshake. It’s the straightforward definition that sends your mind tumbling down the hill of memory. Instantly, a cast of characters appears. Are we talking about the unfortunate duo who went to fetch a pail of water? Or perhaps the picky eaters, one of whom could eat no fat, the other no lean? The mind catalogues these famous pairs, searching for one that fits the letter count provided by the grid. This initial step feels familiar and safe, grounding the puzzle in common knowledge.
But it’s the second half of the clue that elevates it from a simple trivia question to a masterful piece of wordplay. ‘…with restricted 23-Downs.’ This is the twist, the clever wink from the puzzle maker. This is where a tricky crossword clue separates itself from the rest. The word ‘restricted’ is doing some heavy lifting here. It’s a classic crossword misdirection. Is it a thematic restriction, alluding to a diet, as one of our potential couples might suggest? Or is it a structural hint, a signal to the solver that the letters of the answer to 23-Down are somehow contained or limited within our nursery rhyme couple?
This is the core of the challenge. The crossword puzzle clue isn’t a standalone entity. It’s in a relationship with another clue on the board. You can’t fully solve this one without peeking at, and likely solving, 23-Down. It creates a fascinating dependency, forcing you to shift your focus and work on two fronts simultaneously. The answer to one will illuminate the other.
The beauty of this construction is the “Aha!” moment it’s designed to produce. You might be staring at the empty squares for ages, running through rhymes in your head. Then, you solve 23-Down. You look back at our primary clue, and suddenly, ‘restricted’ clicks into place with a new, brilliantly literal meaning. The two disparate pieces of the puzzle snap together, and the answer reveals itself not just as correct, but as elegant and clever. It’s a masterclass in how a great crossword clue can tell a story, play with language, and make the solver feel like a genius for a fleeting, wonderful moment.
Available Answers:
SPRATS.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Washington Post Crossword -Tuesday’s Daily By C.W. Stewart / Ed. Patti Varol