Every now and then, a particular crossword clue lands on your grid and immediately catches your eye. It’s not just a filler; it’s a tiny puzzle within the larger puzzle, begging to be unravelled. These are the clues that linger, prompting a furrowed brow, a knowing smile, or perhaps a sudden “aha!” moment that feels incredibly satisfying. Today, we’re diving into one such captivating cryptic crossword clue: “Stone pillar is grabbed by drunken bloke (7)“.
This isn’t just any regular crossword clue; it’s a beautifully constructed piece of wordplay that exemplifies the cleverness and wit we’ve come to adore in our daily crosswords. At first glance, the imagery it evokes is rather amusing – a ‘drunken bloke’ struggling with a ‘stone pillar’. But as seasoned solvers know, the surface reading is often a delightful distraction from the true path to the solution. The art of solving a great crossword clue lies in peeling back these layers, separating the misdirection from the core components.
When approaching a crossword clue like this, the first step is always to identify the two main parts: the definition and the wordplay. The definition will give us the meaning of the answer, while the wordplay provides a cryptic instruction on how to construct or deduce that answer. For “Stone pillar is grabbed by drunken bloke (7)“, one part clearly points to a type of architectural support, a structure that stands tall and firm. This is our semantic anchor, guiding us towards the kind of word we’re looking for.
Then comes the more intricate part of this particular crossword clue: “is grabbed by drunken bloke”. This is where the cryptic genius shines. The word “drunken” is a classic indicator in cryptic crosswords, frequently signalling that an anagram is at play. It suggests that the letters of another word or phrase are ‘mixed up’ or ‘jumbled’. The challenge then becomes identifying what exactly is being ‘drunken’ or rearranged. Is it “bloke” itself? Or is “bloke” part of a larger anagram fodder? And what about “grabbed by”? This phrase could suggest an inclusion, where one set of letters is placed inside another, or perhaps even a charade where components are joined together. The beauty of a well-crafted crossword clue is its ability to suggest multiple avenues of thought, demanding careful consideration of each element.
The letter count, (7), is also a crucial piece of information. It acts as a constraint, narrowing down the possibilities once we start hypothesising potential definitions and working through the wordplay. Any potential answer must fit both the definition of ‘stone pillar’ and be constructible from the wordplay mechanism suggested by ‘is grabbed by drunken bloke’, all while precisely matching the seven-letter length.
Breaking down a tricky crossword clue like this one is incredibly rewarding. It’s a testament to the setter’s skill in weaving together a coherent surface story with a perfectly logical cryptic construction underneath. It’s a prime example of why cryptic crosswords remain a beloved pastime for so many – they challenge the mind, spark creativity, and offer a miniature intellectual adventure with every single clue. So, take a moment with this intriguing crossword clue, ponder its parts, and see if you can unravel the mystery hidden within its clever construction.
Available Answers:
OBELISK.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Saturday, 23 August 2025