There’s a unique brand of joy that washes over a crossword solver when they encounter a clue that’s not just solvable, but brilliantly crafted. It’s that moment of delightful perplexity, a mental tug-of-war between the obvious and the obscure, before the pieces click into place. Every seasoned cryptic crossword enthusiast lives for these moments, and some
crossword clues
stand out as perfect examples of this masterful wordplay.
Take, for instance, the recent gem that landed on my puzzle board: “One fly squashed – it’s a crime (6).” At first glance, it might seem like a simple phrase, perhaps even a macabre one, but for those of us who regularly grapple with cryptic crosswords, it immediately signals something far more intricate. This isn’t just about a six-letter word; it’s about the journey to unearth it. This particular
crossword clue
embodies the essence of what makes cryptic puzzles so endlessly fascinating and, at times, infuriatingly brilliant.
The beauty of a well-constructed cryptic
crossword clue
lies in its duality. It presents a surface reading that often makes perfect sense as a mini-narrative, yet beneath that innocent façade lies the true path to the solution. When you stare at “One fly squashed – it’s a crime (6)“, your brain naturally tries to piece together an image of a tiny insect meeting an unfortunate end. But the seasoned solver knows better. We understand that this vivid imagery is a masterful misdirection, designed to lead the casual reader astray while simultaneously providing all the necessary components for the answer.
The first step in decoding such a
crossword clue
is always to identify the definition. In this case, “it’s a crime” fairly shouts its function. This tells us what our target word means, anchoring us in a sea of potential six-letter possibilities. Knowing that our answer must relate to a criminal act narrows the field significantly. This leaves the first part, “One fly squashed,” to perform the magical transformation that will lead us directly to those elusive letters.
And what a transformation it suggests! The word “squashed” itself is a powerful indicator, a verb that often hints at the manipulation of letters, suggesting they might be stirred, jumbled, or rearranged. This is where the true artistry of the
crossword clue
shines. It invites you to consider the components within “One fly” and think about how they might be “squashed” together, or rather, reconfigured, to form a word that fits our criminal definition. The elegance isn’t just in finding the solution, but in appreciating how the setter has cleverly disguised the instruction within the seemingly mundane action of “squashing.”
This kind of ingenious wordplay is what keeps us coming back for more. It’s the mental workout, the satisfaction of seeing through the veil of misdirection, and the pure thrill of the “aha!” moment when the entire
crossword clue
snaps into focus. It’s a testament to the setter’s skill in weaving together a plausible narrative with precise instructions, ensuring that every element of the
crossword clue
plays its part in guiding the solver to the correct, six-letter destination. Tackling a cryptic
crossword clue
like this isn’t just about filling in blanks; it’s an exercise in lateral thinking, vocabulary, and sheer pattern recognition. And it’s why the world of crossword puzzles remains such an enduring and captivating challenge for so many.
Available Answers:
FELONY.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Monday, 22 September 2025