There are some days when a
crossword clue
just leaps off the page, not with an obvious answer, but with a cheeky grin, daring you to unravel its layers. It’s that exhilarating moment when you know you’re in for a true intellectual tussle, a delightful dance of words and logic that transcends the simple filling of a grid. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on just such a
crossword clue
that recently caught my eye and, no doubt, gave many a daily solver a delightful pause for thought.
The
crossword clue
in question? A deceptively simple yet wonderfully intricate piece of wordplay: “Settled little dog, maintaining support (4-2)“.
At first glance, it paints a rather charming picture, doesn’t it? A small, contented canine, perhaps curled up by the fire, lending an air of domestic bliss. But if you’ve spent any time at all wrestling with cryptic crosswords, you’ll know that the surface reading of a
crossword clue
is often just a cunning disguise, a red herring designed to lead you astray from the true path to the solution. The art of the cryptic
crossword clue
lies precisely in this duality: a plausible-sounding sentence that simultaneously acts as a set of instructions for building the answer.
Let’s dissect this particular
crossword clue
. The parenthetical (4-2) is our first concrete piece of information, immediately telling us that the answer is a two-word phrase, with the first word being four letters long and the second, two. This structure often hints at a common idiom, a phrasal verb, or perhaps a descriptive noun and a preposition. It significantly narrows the field of possibilities, which is always a welcome sign when staring down a perplexing
crossword clue
.
Now, consider the individual components. “Settled little dog.” This part feels very much like a definition, a descriptor for something specific. Is “little dog” meant to be taken literally? Or is “dog” being used in another sense – perhaps as a verb meaning to follow persistently, or an informal term for something inferior? And what about “settled”? Does it imply a state of rest, or something fixed in place, or perhaps even a process of coming to terms with something? The beauty of a cryptic
crossword clue
lies in its ability to make common words suddenly seem utterly ambiguous.
Then we have “maintaining support.” This phrase, too, could function in multiple ways. In a literal sense, it could refer to holding something up, or providing emotional sustenance. But in the world of the
crossword clue
, “maintaining” often hints at an enclosure or containment – one word holding another. “Support” could be a synonym for a prop, a foundation, or even a particular type of undergarment (yes, crosswords go there!). The comma separating the two phrases is also noteworthy; it suggests that “Settled little dog” is one component, likely the definition or a significant part of the wordplay, and “maintaining support” is the other, driving the cryptic mechanism.
When faced with such a compelling
crossword clue
, seasoned solvers instinctively begin to cycle through common cryptic techniques. Is it an anagram indicator hiding within “settled”? Perhaps “little dog” needs to be manipulated? Could “maintaining support” be a homophone indicator, or a reversal? Is there a hidden word spanning the two parts? The hyphenated length points less to a straightforward anagram of the entire phrase and more towards a construction where one part might be contained within another, or where elements are combined in a specific order to
support
each other, metaphorically or literally.
This isn’t just about finding the right word; it’s about appreciating the cleverness of the constructor, the wit woven into every letter of the
crossword clue
. It’s about that satisfying click when the layers peel away, revealing the elegant simplicity of the answer hidden beneath the elaborate verbal camouflage. A truly great
crossword clue
doesn’t just provide an answer; it provides an experience, a miniature puzzle within the larger grid that sparks joy and a sense of accomplishment.
So, take a moment with “Settled little dog, maintaining support (4-2)“. Ponder its nuances. Consider the double meanings. Think about how those two seemingly disparate parts could cleverly combine to form a coherent solution. It’s the kind of
crossword clue
that reminds us why we love these daily brain-teasers so much – for the challenge, the charm, and the sheer delight of deciphering the cryptic code.
Available Answers:
PAIDUP.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Wednesday, 16 July 2025