Hey there, fellow word wizards and puzzle fanatics! Gather ’round because today we’re diving headfirst into a truly delightful, delightfully devious crossword clue that crossed my path recently. You know those clues that initially make you scratch your head, then slowly, wonderfully, unravel into a brilliant “aha!” moment? Well, this is one of them. It’s the kind of cryptic gem that makes you appreciate the art of crossword construction and the sheer joy of the solve.
So, let’s get straight to the star of today’s show. The clue in question, and the subject of much contemplation over my morning coffee, is:
Religious man cut tail off bunny (5)
Five letters. Just five little letters to unlock what initially seems like a bizarre, almost nonsensical scenario. A religious man? Cutting a tail off a bunny? My initial thought was, “Is this some kind of macabre ancient ritual I’m unaware of?” But, as any seasoned solver knows, a crossword clue is rarely what it seems on the surface. That’s the magic, isn’t it? Every word, every comma, every number in a
crossword clue
is a potential hint, a misdirection, or a key.
When I first encountered this particular
crossword clue
, my mind immediately went into its usual diagnostic mode. “Religious man” – could that be an abbreviation? A common synonym? Are we talking about a priest, a monk, a rabbi? The possibilities felt endless. Then there’s “bunny.” A sweet, innocent creature, seemingly dragged into a most unholy act. And the phrase “cut tail off”? That’s where the real wordplay usually resides in such a
crossword clue
. It screams “letter removal,” “truncation,” or perhaps a hidden instruction to manipulate the letters of another word.
This isn’t your average fill-in-the-blank
crossword clue
. Oh no. This one demands a bit more finesse, a sprinkle of lateral thinking, and a good understanding of common crossword mechanics. Is it an anagram? A clever double definition? A charade? Or perhaps a bit of all three, expertly woven together? The five-letter constraint is also a crucial piece of information. It narrows down the field considerably, but you still need to land on precisely the right combination of letters that fit the definition
and
the wordplay.
I spent a good few minutes staring at it, letting my brain churn through common associations. I considered different words for “religious man,” tried lopping off various letters from “bunny” and its synonyms, and even contemplated if “cut tail off” might be a clever sound-alike. The beauty of a challenging
crossword clue
like this is the journey itself – the mental gymnastics, the dead ends, the sudden flashes of insight. It’s a mini-mystery in itself.
And then, it clicked. That beautiful, satisfying click that makes all the previous head-scratching worthwhile. The kind of moment that reminds you why you love deciphering every
crossword clue
you encounter. It’s elegant, it’s succinct, and it uses all parts of the clue perfectly. The solution isn’t just a word; it’s the culmination of intelligent wordplay and a clever interpretation of the English language.
If you’ve been stumped by this
crossword clue
before, or if you’re trying to solve it right now as you read this, I applaud your dedication! These are the puzzles that truly test our linguistic mettle and make us better solvers. Stick around, because we’re about to break down exactly how this particular
crossword clue
comes together, piece by glorious piece. Get ready to have your mind blown (in the best possible crossword-solving way, of course!).
Available Answers:
RABBI.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Sunday, 20 July 2025