There’s a unique thrill that comes with the morning paper, or perhaps a freshly loaded app, presenting a new grid of linguistic puzzles. For many of us, it’s not just a pastime; it’s a daily mental workout, a delightful dance with words and wit. And then, there are those specific
crossword clues
that, even before you’ve settled into your coffee, demand your full attention. They stand out, not just for their cleverness, but for the way they invite you into a mini-mystery all their own.
Today’s particular gem, the
crossword clue
we’re diving into, is ‘Point to drink, my it looks hot (6)‘. At first glance, it might seem straightforward, a simple directive. But as any seasoned solver knows, cryptic
crossword clues
are rarely what they appear on the surface. That innocent-looking punctuation, the seemingly straightforward verbs and nouns – they often hide layers of misdirection, clever wordplay, and sometimes, a delightful “aha!” moment waiting to be unearthed. This particular
crossword clue
has all the hallmarks of a setter having a grand old time teasing our brains.
Consider the elements presented in this intriguing
crossword clue
. ‘Point’ is a word with a multitude of meanings: a geographical direction, a sharp end, a crucial idea, or even a verb indicating direction. Then we have ‘to drink’ – another seemingly simple phrase that could refer to a beverage, the act of imbibing, or perhaps something entirely different in a cryptic context. And finally, ‘my it looks hot’. This phrase, uttered as an exclamation, immediately evokes a sense of intense heat, perhaps even discomfort or a strong impression. The entire phrase rolls off the tongue with a certain dramatic flair, creating a very vivid surface reading, almost like a mini-story about a scorching day.
The beauty of such a
crossword clue
lies in its ability to paint one picture while subtly guiding you towards another. The setter isn’t just asking for a definition; they’re presenting a mini-narrative, a linguistic riddle wrapped in an engaging sentence. The trick, as always, is to separate the ‘fodder’ (the words that form the surface reading) from the ‘definition’ (the part of the clue that directly defines the answer) and the ‘wordplay’ (the mechanism – be it an anagram, a charade, a hidden word, a reversal, or a homophone – that leads you to the solution). Every element in this specific
crossword clue
has a role to play, whether in misdirection or in pointing towards the eventual answer.
When faced with a cryptic
crossword clue
like ‘Point to drink, my it looks hot (6)‘, the initial instinct might be to brainstorm types of points, kinds of drinks, or synonyms for ‘hot’. And while that’s a good starting point for any logical puzzle, the true magic of cryptics often lies in deconstructing the grammar, looking for unusual phrasing, and considering every possible interpretation of each word. Is ‘Point’ a compass direction? Is ‘drink’ an instruction to combine letters? Does ‘my it looks hot’ hint at a sound-alike word or a specific type of reaction? The possibilities, as you can imagine, are numerous, making the pursuit of the correct answer all the more satisfying. It’s a wonderful example of a challenging
crossword clue
that truly makes you think.
It’s this very intricate dance between surface meaning and hidden instruction that makes solving a challenging
crossword clue
so incredibly rewarding. It’s a testament to the setter’s skill and a delightful challenge for the solver. So, before we delve deeper into the mechanics of this particular clue, take another moment to let it marinate. Feel the subtle pull of its constituent parts. What initial thoughts does this intriguing
crossword clue
spark for you? The journey to the solution is often as enjoyable as the ‘aha!’ moment itself.
Available Answers:
STEAMY.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Monday, 29 September 2025