There’s a particular kind of thrill that washes over a crossword solver when confronted with a clue that, at first glance, seems utterly straightforward, perhaps even a bit mundane, only to reveal layers of delightful wordplay beneath its surface. It’s the linguistic equivalent of finding a hidden passage in a familiar room. These are the moments that transform a casual pastime into a truly engaging mental workout, a testament to the brilliance of crossword puzzle constructors. Today, we’re diving deep into one such gem: the deceptively simple, yet brilliantly crafted, crossword clue, “They may wind up in the kitchen.”
This particular crossword clue is a masterclass in ambiguity, leveraging a common phrase with multiple meanings to send solvers down fascinating, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately rewarding paths. When you first read “They may wind up in the kitchen,” your mind might immediately gravitate to the most obvious interpretation of “wind up”—to eventually end up or reside in a particular place. If that’s your initial thought, you’d start brainstorming all the myriad things that could plausibly find their way into a kitchen. Dishes, certainly. Groceries, naturally. Perhaps even a lost pet or a wandering toddler, depending on the day! But the beauty of a truly great crossword clue lies in its ability to bend and twist language, forcing us to consider every nuance.
The cleverness of this specific crossword clue truly shines when you start to explore the second, and arguably more pertinent, meaning of “wind up.” Think about objects that are literally “wound up.” What comes to mind? Clocks? Toys? Springs? Now, take that concept and fuse it with the “in the kitchen” constraint. This is where the magic happens. The puzzle setter isn’t just asking about what
ends up
in a kitchen; they’re hinting at something within that culinary domain that might actually
be wound
, or possesses a mechanism that involves winding. This shift in perspective is often the key to unlocking these types of tricky crossword clues.
The plural “They” is another vital piece of information. It immediately tells us we’re looking for more than one item, or a collective noun for items, that fit the dual criteria. This small detail prevents us from fixating on singular objects and broadens the scope of our internal kitchen inventory. As you sift through your mental Rolodex of kitchen implements and accoutrements, you begin to discard items that simply “end up” there and instead focus on those that involve some form of coiling, tightening, or spring-loading. It’s a process of elimination guided by a profound understanding of wordplay and context.
The challenge of such a crossword clue isn’t just about vocabulary; it’s about lateral thinking, about pushing past the obvious to uncover the ingenious wordplay. It’s about recognizing when a constructor has deliberately chosen a phrase with multiple interpretations to create a moment of genuine “aha!” The satisfaction derived from deciphering a clue like “They may wind up in the kitchen” is immense because it requires more than just recalling facts; it demands an active engagement with language itself. Every solver cherishes these moments, where a seemingly impenetrable phrase suddenly snaps into crystal-clear focus, illuminating the path to the solution. It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of the crossword puzzle, a daily brainteaser that continues to delight and challenge us with its linguistic gymnastics.
Available Answers:
EGGTIMERS.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Washington Post Crossword -Saturday’s Daily By Rebecca Goldstein & Rafael Musa / Ed. Patti Varol