“This Can’t Be!”: Cracking a Cryptic Crossword Clue
Ah, the cryptic crossword. A delightful beast, simultaneously frustrating and rewarding. Today, we tackle a particularly mischievous clue: “This can’t be!” (2 wds.). Two words, seemingly simple, yet packed with the deceptive charm that makes these puzzles so addictive.
This clue, I suspect, relies heavily on misdirection. The phrase “This can’t be!” immediately evokes a feeling of disbelief, of something unexpected or impossible. This emotional response is precisely the trap the setter has laid. We’re primed to look for a phrase expressing astonishment or incredulity, perhaps something colloquial or dramatic.
But cryptic clues rarely operate at face value. We need to dissect the words, examining each for potential double meanings, anagrams, hidden words, or any other cryptic device. The instruction “2 wds.” suggests a short, punchy answer, making the wordplay even more concise and impactful.
Let’s consider some possible avenues. Is “This” a pronoun, a demonstrative adjective, or something more subtle? Could it be part of a larger phrase cleverly disguised? Similarly, the phrase “can’t be” could be a literal impossibility, or perhaps a cryptic indication of something else entirely. We might need to look for a reversal, a hidden word, or a cleverly concealed anagram within the clue itself.
The exclamation mark is also significant. It heightens the sense of drama and surprise, suggesting the answer might be more emphatic than a simple statement of disbelief. This could hint at a word with a stronger connotation, perhaps one with a more forceful or emphatic meaning.
Could it be a phrase referencing a specific idiom, perhaps one that relates to disbelief or impossibility? Consider common expressions of incredulity. Is there a phrase that fits the two-word requirement and also cleverly incorporates or alludes to the phrase “This can’t be!”? Perhaps there’s a wordplay on “can” itself – is it being used literally, or could it have another meaning altogether?
Remember, the setter wants to challenge us, to make us think outside the box. They’ve deliberately crafted a clue designed to lead us astray, before finally revealing the elegant solution. This is the essence of the cryptic crossword – the satisfying “aha!” moment when the disparate pieces suddenly click into place.
So, put on your thinking cap, sharpen your pencils (or load your favourite crossword solver app!), and let’s see if we can unravel this cleverly crafted clue. Good luck! Let me know your attempts in the comments below – I’m particularly interested to see the different approaches people take to solving this puzzle. Don’t forget to share your own experiences with challenging cryptic crossword clues!
Available Answers:
OH NO.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Daily Celebrity Crossword – 1/31/25 Sports Fan Friday