Ah, the deceptively simple five-letter answer that hides behind a curtain of wordplay. Today’s deep dive brings us to a wonderfully crafted little gem: ‘Positions of tourist attractions, reportedly (5)‘. At first glance, it might seem straightforward, asking you to list places where people gather to sightsee, but then that crucial word, ‘reportedly,’ swoops in like a mischievous pixie, entirely changing the landscape of the puzzle.
This isn’t just about knowing your landmarks; it’s about
hearing
them. The ‘reportedly’ tag is the golden ticket, a clear signal from the setter that you’re in homophone territory. And for many a seasoned solver, few things elicit quite the same blend of ‘aha!’ and ‘oh, you clever devil!’ as a well-executed homophone crossword clue. It’s the linguistic equivalent of a magic trick – what you see isn’t quite what you get, but what you
hear
is everything.
When tackling a cryptic crossword clue of this nature, the initial instinct might be to brainstorm actual physical ‘positions’ or ‘locations’ frequented by tourists. Think ‘sites,’ ‘spots,’ ‘venues.’ But the ‘reportedly’ demands a different kind of thought process entirely. You’re not looking for the
meaning
of the words in the conventional sense, but rather for a word that
sounds like
a phrase or concept related to them.
Consider the structure: ‘Positions of tourist attractions’. What are tourist attractions? What do they occupy? What are they called? And then, how would you
say
that concept aloud in a way that, when interpreted as a single five-letter word, perfectly fits the clue’s ‘reportedly’ condition? It’s a delightful dance between the literal and the auditory, a true test of phonetic awareness and vocabulary. This type of crossword clue truly engages multiple parts of your brain.
Many a solver has stared blankly at a crossword clue with ‘reportedly’ or ‘we hear’ for a good few minutes, muttering potential words under their breath, trying out different pronunciations. This particular crossword clue is no exception. It demands a mental agility that can shift from semantic meaning to phonetic representation in an instant. The satisfaction of connecting those dots, of hearing the ‘reportedly’ word click into place, is precisely why we keep coming back to these puzzles. Every challenging crossword clue solved is a small victory.
The beauty of this type of crossword clue lies in its elegance. It’s not overly complex in its components, yet it requires a specific kind of lateral thinking. You’re not just solving a word puzzle; you’re deciphering a sound puzzle, layering meaning onto sound, and sound back onto a single, precise word. The five letters are a constraint, guiding your auditory search. It’s a subtle challenge, one that truly tests your ability to think outside the literal box and delve into the fascinating world of spoken language. Unlocking the logic behind such a clever crossword clue is deeply rewarding.
So, as you ponder this particular crossword clue, take a moment to really
listen
to the phrase ‘positions of tourist attractions’. Say it aloud. Experiment with ways it might be misheard or reinterpreted phonetically. What five-letter word could possibly emerge from that soundscape? It’s a journey, not just to an answer, but into the very fabric of language itself. And that, my friends, is the enduring appeal of a well-crafted crossword clue.
Available Answers:
SITES.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Tuesday, 11 November 2025