Another day, another grid conquered… or at least, almost conquered. There’s nothing quite like the mental workout a good crossword puzzle provides. The subtle wordplay, the ingenious misdirection, the sheer satisfaction of that ‘aha!’ moment when a particularly stubborn clue finally clicks into place. It’s what keeps us coming back, isn’t it? Every morning, the promise of new challenges, new vocabulary to uncover, and new ways to stretch our lateral thinking muscles.
Today’s session, however, threw up a real corker, a
crossword clue
that made me pause, furrow my brow, and truly appreciate the craft of the puzzle setter. It’s a classic example of how a seemingly straightforward phrase can hide a truly brilliant solution, requiring you to think beyond the obvious and dive deep into the nuances of language. We’ve all been there – staring at a string of words, convinced you know what they mean, only for the answer to be something entirely unexpected. That’s the magic of these word puzzles, the delightful frustration that turns into elation.
The specific
crossword clue
that had me pondering was “Price of lousy egg with salt (7)“. At first glance, it feels almost culinary, doesn’t it? You picture a diner, maybe a less-than-stellar breakfast, and the cost associated with it. But as any seasoned solver knows, things are rarely that simple in the world of daily crosswords. The setters are masters of disguise, weaving layers of meaning and potential traps into every phrase.
Let’s dissect this tricky
crossword clue
for a moment,
without
giving anything away, of course. “Price” immediately brings to mind monetary value, a cost. But could it be something more abstract? “Lousy egg” is wonderfully descriptive. “Lousy” itself has multiple connotations – poor quality, bad, or even infested. And an “egg” is, well, an egg. A simple, everyday item. But when you combine “lousy” and “egg,” does it conjure a specific image, or perhaps a different kind of interpretation entirely? This is where the beauty of a cryptic
crossword clue
often lies – in taking common phrases and twisting them just so.
Then there’s “with salt.” Salt is a ubiquitous seasoning, often paired with eggs. Is it a literal addition, suggesting something savory? Or is “salt” being used in a more metaphorical sense? Crossword setters love to play with idioms and expressions where words like ‘salt’ have secondary meanings or contribute to a larger, less direct phrase. The number ‘7’ letters is our key, the constraint that eventually guides us to the right path, eliminating countless other possibilities that might initially seem to fit.
This kind of
crossword clue
is a perfect example of why these puzzles are so engaging. It forces you to step back from the literal, to consider puns, homophones, anagrams, and all the other clever devices at a setter’s disposal. It’s not just about knowing words; it’s about understanding how they can be manipulated and reinterpreted. The journey to solving such a
crossword clue
is often as rewarding as finding the solution itself. It’s about that slow dawning of realization, the mental gymnastics required to bridge the gap between the clue’s surface meaning and its hidden truth.
So, as you ponder this particular gem, think about the different ways these words could be twisted. What does “price” truly imply here? How can “lousy egg” take on a new life? And how does “with salt” add that final, crucial layer to the puzzle? It’s a testament to the brilliance of crossword construction, reminding us why we spend so much time grappling with these delightful brain-teasers. Happy solving!
Available Answers:
NITRATE.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Wednesday, 22 October 2025