Swinging into Saturday with a Tricky Crossword Clue
Alright, crossword aficionados, gather ’round! It’s Saturday, which means the crossword puzzle is officially allowed to be fiendishly difficult. And let me tell you, this week’s offering hasn’t disappointed.
I spent a good hour this morning wrestling with a particularly stubborn clue, and I have a feeling I’m not alone. The source of my agony? A seemingly simple, yet infuriatingly elusive, little stinker.
We’re talking about the clue: “Rappel, in British parlance.”
Now, on the surface, this looks straightforward, right? We all know what rappelling is – that exhilarating, adrenaline-pumping activity of descending a rock face with a rope. We’ve seen it in action movies, maybe even tried it ourselves (or at least considered it while watching
Cliffhanger
).
But the crucial piece of this puzzle lies in the qualifying phrase: “in British parlance.” Suddenly, our American-centric view of the world shrinks considerably. What word do our cousins across the pond use for this gravity-defying feat?
This is where the real mental gymnastics begin. We need to switch gears, ditch the familiar, and start thinking like a Brit. Consider regional dialects, slang terms, and even historical usages. Are there any uniquely British phrases that capture the essence of rappelling?
The challenge is further compounded by the unspoken limitations of a crossword. We know the answer has to fit the specific number of squares allotted in the grid. This narrows down the possibilities significantly, forcing us to abandon potential contenders that, while semantically correct, just don’t fit the length requirement.
I’ve tried everything. I’ve scoured online dictionaries, consulted etymological databases, and even harassed a few British friends (much to their amusement, I’m sure). I’ve considered words related to climbing, descending, ropes, and even the act of being lowered. Nothing seems to perfectly capture the essence of rappelling in a British context while also fitting the frustratingly limited number of squares.
My initial instinct was to focus on words that evoke a sense of downwards movement, but perhaps I’m barking up the wrong tree entirely. Maybe the answer lies in a more obscure, technical term specific to mountaineering or outdoor pursuits. Or perhaps it’s a colloquialism that has fallen out of common usage but still lingers in the collective memory of crossword compilers.
So, I’m throwing it out to you, my fellow word nerds. Has anyone else cracked this confounding clue? What potential solutions have you considered? Any insights, however obscure or seemingly far-fetched, are welcome. Let’s pool our collective knowledge and finally conquer this crossword beast! I am determined to find the answer but would love to have you all join me in this quest to solve the crossword clue.
Available Answers:
ABSEIL.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Washington Post Crossword -Sunday’s Daily By Adam Simpson & Katie Hale / Ed. Patti Varol