Alright, fellow word enthusiasts and cryptic codebreakers!
There’s nothing quite like that moment when a new daily challenge lands on your virtual or physical desk, brimming with linguistic puzzles and delightful misdirection. Some days, the answers just leap out, almost as if the setter themselves whispered the solution in your ear. Other days, however, a single
crossword clue
arrives, a seemingly innocent string of words that then proceeds to knot your brain into a delightful pretzel. Today, we’re diving headfirst into one of those beautifully challenging moments.
The
crossword clue
that’s captured our attention is:
“Throw ring in, beside pack of cyclists (7)“
.
At first glance, what does this conjure up for you? Perhaps a game of quoits at a cycling event? Or maybe a bizarre relay race where participants are tossing jewellery? This is the charm of a truly great
crossword clue
– its surface reading is often utterly nonsensical or paints a quirky, amusing picture, deliberately drawing our minds away from the logical path to the answer.
But for us seasoned solvers, we know the real fun begins when we peel back that initial layer. Let’s break down this intriguing
crossword clue
piece by cryptic piece.
First, the all-important number in parentheses:
(7)
. This tells us our desired answer is a seven-letter word. Always keep that target length firmly in mind as we explore possibilities. It’s our anchor, ensuring we don’t drift too far off course with longer or shorter solutions.
Next, we look for the definition. In many cryptic clues, one part of the clue acts as the direct, literal meaning of the answer. Often, this is at the beginning or end. “Pack of cyclists” immediately stands out as a strong candidate for our definition. What’s a common, specific term for a “pack of cyclists”? If you’re a fan of cycling, or even just general knowledge, a very specific seven-letter word might already be forming in your mind. This is often the first crucial step in unlocking any tricky
crossword clue
.
Now, for the wordplay – the truly creative part of this
crossword clue
: “Throw ring in, beside”. This is where the setter gets clever, using words in their secondary, less common, or even punning senses.
Let’s dissect this phrase:
“Throw”
: This is a verb, but in cryptic crosswords, words often do double duty. Could it be an anagram indicator? (Unlikely, as there’s no clear fodder for it). Could “throw” itself be a synonym for part of our answer, or an instruction to perform an action with letters? Think about different ways you might “throw” something.
“ring”
: This is a classic cryptic device. “Ring” very frequently points to the letter ‘O’ (as in, a circular shape). It can also refer to the sound of a bell, or even a specific type of group or organisation. Which meaning feels most at home here? Considering the next word, ‘in’, the ‘O’ interpretation is often a strong contender.
“in”
: This little preposition is a workhorse in cryptic clues. It very often indicates insertion – that one set of letters goes
inside
another. So, if “ring” is ‘O’, could we be looking for ‘O’ inserted
into
something?
“beside”
: Another key linking word. “Beside” usually means “next to” or “alongside.” This often signals a “charade” clue, where different word parts are placed consecutively to form the final answer. It could also indicate that one element is placed
next
to the definition, or
next
to another piece of wordplay.
So, how do these elements – “throw,” “ring” (potentially ‘O’), and “in” (potentially insertion) – combine, and then stand “beside” or link up with our definition of “pack of cyclists” to create a single, coherent seven-letter word?
Could a word related to “throw” have ‘O’ inserted into it, and then this resulting combination is placed next to or forms part of the word for “pack of cyclists”? Or is “beside” indicating that two distinct elements, one derived from “throw ring in” and another related to “pack of cyclists,” are simply put together?
This particular
crossword clue
is a masterclass in elegant construction, blending multiple cryptic techniques. It requires us to consider synonyms, letter indicators, and placement instructions all in one neat package.
Take your time with this one. Think about synonyms for “throw,” that common letter for “ring,” and how “in” and “beside” might act as the glue. The satisfaction of unraveling a
crossword clue
like this, without revealing the answer, is a reward in itself. What are your initial thoughts? Don’t hesitate to share your journey of deciphering this fascinating
crossword clue
!
Available Answers:
PELOTON.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Thursday, 17 July 2025