The world of cryptic puzzles often serves up a delightful challenge, transforming seemingly straightforward phrases into intricate brain-teasers. A well-crafted
crossword clue
invites solvers to embark on a linguistic treasure hunt, piecing together layers of meaning to uncover the elusive answer. The satisfaction derived from cracking such a code is unparalleled, a true testament to the elegance of wordplay.
Consider a
crossword clue
that recently piqued the interest of many puzzle enthusiasts: “Police chief to pay for some hesitation (12)“. At first glance, this
crossword clue
presents a fascinating blend of the concrete and the abstract, promising a rich decoding experience for anyone familiar with cryptic techniques. The parenthetical (12) immediately informs us of the precise length of our target word, a crucial piece of information in any cryptic
crossword clue
.
Breaking down this
crossword clue
is the first step. Typically, a cryptic
crossword clue
comprises two main parts: a definition and a wordplay element. Identifying which part is which is often the initial hurdle. “Police chief to pay for” appears to be a strong candidate for the definition, describing the answer. The phrase “some hesitation” then naturally becomes the focus of our wordplay analysis.
Let’s delve into the potential definition: “Police chief to pay for”. What kind of individual fits this description? Does it refer to a specific type of police chief, or perhaps a function they perform? The phrase “to pay for” is also intriguing. It could mean to incur a cost, to atone for, to be responsible for, or even to fund something. The ambiguity here is a classic cryptic strategy, designed to make the solver explore multiple avenues of interpretation before landing on the correct one. A police chief might “pay for” their mistakes, their decisions, or even the maintenance of their force. The specific context suggested by the wordplay will often clarify this.
Now, turning our attention to the wordplay: “some hesitation”. This is where cryptic
crossword clue
aficionados might immediately recognise a familiar pattern. “Hesitation” is a term frequently used in cryptic clues to allude to sounds of indecision or pausing in speech, such as ‘ER’ or ‘UM’. The qualifier “some” could be incredibly significant here. Does “some” indicate a portion of a word, a specific letter, or perhaps hint at a different kind of construction altogether? If “hesitation” leads to a common interjection, how does “some” modify it? Could it point to just one such sound, or a collection of them? This precise phrasing is critical to unlocking the wordplay mechanism.
The length, (12), is also vital. A twelve-letter word is substantial, suggesting that the answer might be a compound word, a long single word, or a word built up from several shorter elements (a charade). If “some hesitation” genuinely points to a short sound like ‘ER’, then the remaining ten letters of the answer must be derived from the definition, “Police chief to pay for”. This means we would be looking for a ten-letter word that perfectly defines “Police chief to pay for,” to which an ‘ER’ or similar sound is added, either at the beginning, middle, or end.
Alternatively, could “some hesitation” imply an anagram? While “hesitation” itself is only ten letters, “some hesitation” could be an anagram of those letters plus two more, or a partial anagram of a longer word. However, the use of “some” in this context often nudges solvers towards the ‘sound’ interpretation rather than an anagram. Another possibility is that “some hesitation” refers to a partial word that
means
hesitation, and “some” is an indicator to take only a part of it.
This
crossword clue
beautifully exemplifies the intricate dance between definition and wordplay. The cleverness lies in how “Police chief to pay for” and “some hesitation” coalesce into a single, cohesive twelve-letter word. It requires a nuanced understanding of common cryptic devices, a broad vocabulary, and the ability to think laterally. The joy of solving this kind of
crossword clue
comes from unravelling those layers, and seeing the elegant solution emerge from what initially seems like a jumble of words.
Available Answers:
COMMISSIONER.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Thursday, 17 July 2025