Officially inducted, in mob lingo

Officially inducted, in mob lingo: A Crossword Conundrum

Ah, the world of crossword clues. Sometimes they’re straightforward, sometimes they’re tricky, and sometimes they’re just plain baffling. Today’s clue falls into that last category:

Officially inducted, in mob lingo

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This clue has me scratching my head, and I know I’m not alone. It’s a combination of a relatively simple concept (“officially inducted”) with a decidedly underworld twist (“mob lingo”). This kind of clue requires a bit of lateral thinking and a touch of criminal-minded imagination.

So, where do we even begin to unravel this puzzle? The phrase “officially inducted” usually suggests some sort of formal ceremony or ritual. However, the “mob lingo” part tells us we’re dealing with something more sinister.

We need to consider the ways in which a mob might “officially induct” a new member. What terms might they use? Is it a specific ritual, a code phrase, or something else entirely?

This clue is a real head-scratcher, but I’m confident with a little bit of deduction and a touch of creativity, we can crack this one wide open.

Stay tuned for my solution, and let me know in the comments if you’ve already solved this one!

Available Answers:

MADE.

Last seen on the crossword puzzle: NY Times Crossword 5 Jul 24, Friday