Good morning, fellow word warriors! Ever stare at a crossword clue that just…
gets
you? Not because it’s impossible, but because it’s so perfectly crafted, so deliciously ambiguous, that you can almost
feel
the setter winking at you from across the grid? Today, we’re diving into one of those gems, a real head-scratcher that perfectly encapsulates the brilliance of daily crossword puzzles.
The crossword clue in question? “Someone dealing with a lot of baggage?“. Oh, the layers! The instant thought, for many a puzzle solver, might be the literal kind of baggage. We’ve all been there, wrestling with suitcases at the airport, perhaps a trolley overflowing with travel essentials. You picture a specific kind of professional, someone whose entire existence revolves around the movement and management of those physical containers. This initial interpretation often leads us down a rabbit hole of possible answers, from porters to flight attendants, but a truly great crossword clue often has more up its sleeve.
Because, let’s be honest, ‘baggage’ isn’t
always
about Samsonite and overhead lockers, is it? The beauty of English wordplay, a cornerstone of any challenging crossword clue, lies in its capacity for double meaning. When someone is ‘dealing with a lot of baggage,’ they might also be navigating a complex emotional landscape, carrying burdens from their past, or struggling with unresolved issues. This metaphorical interpretation opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for the astute crossword enthusiast. Are we looking for a therapist? A confessor? Someone burdened by history or personal struggles? The setter’s genius truly shines when they force us to consider both the concrete and the abstract, the obvious and the subtle.
This particular crossword clue is a masterclass in how setters play with our expectations. They present a phrase that is utterly common in everyday conversation but strip it down to its core meaning, then allow its dual nature to confuse and delight us. It’s a classic move in cryptic clues and even in standard crosswords when they aim for a little extra challenge. To crack this specific
crossword clue
, you need to put on your detective hat and decide which ‘baggage’ the setter is hinting at – or perhaps, a clever combination of both.
Thinking about the context of your daily crossword is always key. Is it a themed puzzle? What are the surrounding letters or crossing words suggesting? Are there any less common synonyms for ‘dealing’ or ‘baggage’ that might fit? It’s a fantastic exercise in expanding your vocabulary and lateral thinking. Finding the perfect word for a tricky crossword clue often involves exploring these less obvious avenues.
So, before we delve deeper into the mechanics of this brilliant crossword clue and explore the various avenues to its solution, take a moment. Ponder the possibilities. Which kind of ‘baggage’ resonates most with the tone of your current puzzle? How might a single word capture such a rich, two-fold concept? The answer, as always, is waiting to be uncovered through a bit of careful thought and appreciation for the art of the crossword puzzle. Stick around as we dissect this challenge further and equip you with the tools to solve this, and many more, perplexing crossword clues! Happy solving, everyone!
Available Answers:
BELLHOP.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Washington Post Crossword -Sunday’s Daily By Rafael Musa & Rebecca Goldstein / Ed. Patti Varol