The daily challenge of a good crossword clue is truly one of life’s simple pleasures. Sometimes, a single word clue sends you down a rabbit hole of synonyms and obscure trivia. Other times, it’s a clever pun or a play on words that makes you groan and grin simultaneously. And then there are the conversational phrases, the ones that feel like a snippet of dialogue pulled right from a chat with a friend or a line from a script. Today, let’s delve into one such intriguing entry: “That’s a legitimate reason.”
At first glance, this particular crossword clue might seem deceptively straightforward. It’s a complete sentence, a common affirmation heard in everyday conversation. But in the world of crosswords, nothing is ever quite as simple as it appears. The beauty, and sometimes the frustration, lies in distilling these familiar phrases down to their most concise essence, finding that perfect word or short phrase that captures the entire sentiment.
When you encounter a crossword clue like “That’s a legitimate reason,” the first step is often to consider the core meaning. What is being communicated here? It’s an acknowledgment of validity, an acceptance of an explanation, a declaration that a given justification holds water. The word “legitimate” points to something being lawful, proper, or well-founded. “Reason”, of course, refers to an explanation or a basis for something. So, we’re looking for an answer that validates or confirms the truth or acceptability of an explanation.
This type of crossword clue often tests your ability to think idiomatically. Is the answer a direct synonym for “legitimate reason,” or is it a common response that conveys the same meaning in a more succinct or colloquial way? The length of the answer box is, as always, your silent guide here. A short answer might suggest an interjection or a very common two-word phrase, while a longer one could hint at a more formal or descriptive term.
Consider the various angles. Could it be a single word expressing agreement? Perhaps a word that means “justified” or “acceptable”? Or is it a short phrase, like a common idiom that perfectly encapsulates the idea of something being a valid explanation? This is where the magic of crossword solving truly comes alive – the mental gymnastics of sifting through possibilities, testing synonyms, and trying to anticipate the constructor’s clever twist. Every crossword clue is a mini-mystery waiting to be unraveled.
One common strategy for phrase-based crossword clues like this is to imagine the context. Who would say “That’s a legitimate reason”? In what situation? Would it be a judge, a parent, a friend, a boss? The tone can sometimes guide you. Is it formal, informal, dismissive, accepting? Here, the tone seems to be one of clear acceptance and validation.
Mastering these phrase-based crossword clues often comes down to building a robust mental thesaurus of common expressions and their single-word or short-phrase equivalents. Sometimes, the answer is a simple word you know but just didn’t think of initially. Other times, it’s a brilliant piece of crossword trickery that makes you marvel at the constructor’s ingenuity once you finally see it.
The satisfaction of figuring out a challenging crossword clue, especially one that seemed opaque at first, is what keeps us coming back day after day. It’s that “aha!” moment when the pieces click, and the perfect word slots into place, illuminating not just the answer itself but also the cleverness behind the clue. Keep pondering, keep exploring the nuances of language, and enjoy the journey to that satisfying solution.
Available Answers:
IRESPECTIT.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Universal Crossword – Remote Meetings By Tarun Krishnamurthy