There’s a certain sound that lives deep in our collective memory. It’s the gentle, definitive
click
of a latch finding its home. It’s not a dramatic slam or a forceful shove, but a simple, necessary action repeated countless times. Imagine a wrought-iron gate at the end of a garden path, its paint slightly weathered by sun and rain. You push it open to leave, and a moment later, you pull it closed behind you. That final motion, that easy swing and quiet confirmation—that’s the heart of today’s crossword clue.
When a crossword clue like this appears in the grid, it feels less like a riddle and more like a gentle observation. It doesn’t rely on clever puns or obscure anagrams. Instead, it taps into a universal experience, a physical motion so common we barely register it. The constructor of the puzzle isn’t trying to trick you; they are offering a small, sturdy foothold. This particular crossword clue is an anchor, a moment of clarity in a sea of potential misdirection. The beauty lies in its simplicity.
The key, of course, is the word “again.” Without it, the clue would be broader, the possibilities more numerous. But that single adverb narrows the focus with beautiful precision. We are not just closing something; we are returning it to a previously closed state. The action implies a cycle: open, then shut. Then, perhaps later, open and shut once more. It speaks of daily routines, of coming and going, of securing a space that was momentarily unsecured.
For the seasoned solver, this type of crossword clue is a welcome sight. It’s a sigh of relief, a guaranteed entry that helps unlock the surrounding fill. It’s the kind of clue that, once solved, makes you nod in appreciation. “Ah, yes. Of course.” It doesn’t dazzle, but it satisfies. It’s the prose of the puzzle, the straightforward sentence that provides context for the more poetic or perplexing entries elsewhere in the grid.
Think about the letters falling into place. They form a word that is as solid and unpretentious as the action it describes. It’s a functional word, a doing word. As you pencil it in, you can almost feel that slight resistance of the gate just before the latch catches. It’s a small moment of certainty, a quiet click in the complex machinery of the crossword puzzle, setting things right and securing a small corner of the grid. This crossword clue reminds us that sometimes, the most elegant answer is also the most obvious one.
Available Answers:
RELATCH.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: 1114-25 NY Times Crossword 14 Nov 25, Friday