The world of crosswords is a curious place, a delightful arena where language becomes a playground and logic a compass. Every so often, a
crossword clue
emerges that doesn’t just ask for an answer, but demands a moment of silent appreciation, a nod to the brilliant mind that crafted it. These aren’t just questions; they’re miniature puzzles in themselves, designed to make you smile, scratch your head, and then, with a glorious “aha!”, marvel at the elegant solution.
Today, we’re diving into one such gem, a
crossword clue
that perfectly encapsulates the quirky charm and ingenious wordplay we adore: “To dissipate pain, stick out and hold your tongue! (3,1,4,2,2)“. Just reading it aloud, you can almost feel the playful jab, the subtle wink from the setter. It’s a prime example of a
crossword clue
that dances on the line between the literal and the metaphorical, challenging us to look beyond the obvious and delve into the unexpected.
What immediately strikes you about this particular
crossword clue
is its vivid imagery. “Stick out and hold your tongue!” – it conjures a comical, almost childlike picture. But then, the objective: “To dissipate pain.” How do these two seemingly disparate ideas intertwine? This is the heart of what makes a truly great
crossword clue
so captivating. It sets up a scenario that feels familiar, yet utterly alien in the context of a straightforward definition.
The enumeration (3,1,4,2,2) offers another tantalizing hint, steering us away from a single word and towards a multi-part phrase. This structure often points to an idiom, a well-known saying, or a clever play on words that, once revealed, makes perfect sense of the entire clue. It’s the kind of
crossword clue
that forces you to consider not just individual words, but the way they fit together to form a larger, cohesive meaning. You ponder whether “stick out your tongue” is meant literally, or if “hold your tongue” is a separate instruction, or if both combine to form a new, clever instruction. The double interpretation potential is a hallmark of truly masterfully crafted crossword clues.
Solving a
crossword clue
of this caliber isn’t about brute force; it’s about lateral thinking, about playing with sounds and meanings, and about a willingness to explore the less-traveled paths of language. You might start by considering different meanings of “dissipate,” or “pain,” then move on to the curious directives regarding the tongue. Is it about expressing emotion? Or perhaps suppressing it? The beauty lies in the journey of discovery that each excellent
crossword clue
provides.
The ultimate satisfaction comes not just from writing down the correct letters, but from understanding
why
it’s the correct solution, from seeing the elegant connection between the seemingly disparate parts of the
crossword clue
. It’s the moment the lightbulb switches on, and you realize the setter was leading you down a particular garden path, only to reveal a delightful surprise at the end. That’s the enduring allure of a brilliant
crossword clue
– the intellectual exercise, the linguistic gymnastics, and the sheer joy of cracking the code. So, take a moment with this one. Let its words tumble around in your mind. The answer is out there, waiting for that glorious moment of insight.
Available Answers:
PUTASOCKINIT.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Tuesday, 21 October 2025