Every now and then, a crossword clue lands on your desk – or, more accurately, pops up on your screen – that makes you pause, scratch your head, and then, perhaps, reach for a fresh cup of coffee. It’s not just difficult; it’s
intriguing
, a puzzle wrapped in an enigma, cloaked in clever wordplay that just screams ‘think outside the box!’
Today, we’re diving into one such gem that truly embodies the spirit of a cryptic challenge: “Somehow bar acid from rum (7)“. Just reading it aloud, you can feel the gears turning, can’t you? This isn’t your everyday ‘flower power (5)’ kind of clue. This is a cryptic crossword clue designed to stretch your grey matter in the most delightful way, demanding more than a simple surface read.
The immediate go-to for many seasoned solvers, when they see ‘somehow’ as a leading word, is to think ‘anagram’. It’s a classic indicator, signalling that the letters in the following phrase are ripe for scrambling. So, our first instinct is to take ‘bar acid from rum’ and try to rearrange its letters into a seven-letter solution. But here’s where the plot thickens, and the real challenge of this particular crossword clue begins.
Count them with me: B-A-R, A-C-I-D, F-R-O-M, R-U-M. That’s a grand total of fourteen letters. Our target word, however, is a mere seven letters long. This immediately tells us a straightforward anagram of the entire phrase isn’t the solution. The clue isn’t asking us to simply reshuffle all the letters. It’s hinting at something more nuanced, a deeper layer of wordplay that elevates it beyond the ordinary.
So, if it’s not a full anagram, what else could “bar acid from rum” be telling us? Is it a definition, slyly suggesting what the answer might be, while ‘somehow’ still points to an anagram of
part
of the phrase? Or is “bar acid from rum” itself an instruction, a verbal blueprint for manipulating letters in a specific, perhaps unconventional, way? This is where the true detective work of a crossword solver comes into play.
Consider the phrase itself. “Bar acid from rum.” On a literal level, what does one do to remove acid from a liquid? Does this chemical process or action relate directly to our seven-letter answer? Or is the phrase a clever misdirection, leading us down a garden path while the true wordplay lies hidden in plain sight, waiting for the astute crossword solver to uncover it? Every element of this crossword clue demands scrutiny.
This type of crossword clue often tests our assumptions. We’re trained to look for definitions, anagrams, reversals, hiddens, and charades. But sometimes, the best clues combine these elements in unexpected ways, or even invent a new twist on an old favorite. Is ‘bar’ here a verb, meaning to obstruct or exclude? Or is it a noun, a physical barrier? And what role does ‘acid’ play beyond just being a collection of letters? And ‘rum’ – is it providing a letter, indicating a reversal, or simply a part of a descriptive scene that sets the stage for the cunning solution? Unpacking each word is crucial to cracking this cryptic crossword clue.
The beauty of a genuinely brilliant cryptic crossword clue lies in its ability to make you re-evaluate every word, every punctuation mark, every potential nuance. “Somehow bar acid from rum (7)” is a prime example of this craft. It forces us to slow down, to break down the phrase into its constituent parts, and to consider multiple avenues of interpretation before arriving at that satisfying ‘aha!’ moment. It’s a delightful brain-teaser that transcends a simple letter-shuffling exercise, demanding a more comprehensive understanding of its linguistic landscape to solve the puzzle.
For those who enjoy a true challenge in their daily crossword, this one delivers in spades. It’s a testament to the creativity of clue-setters and a reminder that even when the rules seem clear, there’s always room for a playful twist. So, before you rush to consult an online solver or a trusty dictionary, take a moment. Pour over “Somehow bar acid from rum (7)” one more time. What hidden gem of wordplay might you uncover?
Available Answers:
BACARDI.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Saturday, 6 September 2025