There are some
crossword clues
that just hit differently. They leap out from the grid, not because they’re obscure or riddled with cryptic misdirection, but precisely because they are so utterly familiar. You see the phrase in everyday conversation, you use it yourself, and yet, when presented as a series of blank squares in your daily
crossword puzzle
, it suddenly becomes a fortress of inscrutability. Today, many a solver will be nodding along with precisely this sentiment when they encounter the
crossword clue
that reads: “Totally done with.”
It’s a deceptively simple
crossword clue
, isn’t it? Three words, packed with meaning, rich with conversational nuance. What does “totally done with” truly imply in the context of a
crossword puzzle
? Are we talking about completing a task, like finally being “totally done with” painting the fence? Or are we leaning into the more exasperated, colloquial sense of being “totally done with” a frustrating situation, a tedious chore, or even a particular person’s shenanigans? This dual interpretation is often where the brilliance – and the challenge – of expert
crossword clue
construction lies.
When you’re staring at this kind of
crossword clue
, your mind naturally races through a spectrum of possibilities. You might first think about synonyms for completion: finished, concluded, wrapped up. Then, your brain might pivot to the emotional state: fed up, exasperated, had enough. Each avenue feels plausible, and that’s the beauty of it. The constructor knows you’ll cycle through these interpretations, each one a red herring or a partial truth until that one perfect fit clicks into place. This is what makes solving
crossword puzzles
such a rewarding mental workout.
To successfully navigate a
crossword clue
like “Totally done with,” a seasoned solver often looks beyond the immediate phrasing. What’s the length of the answer? Does it match any partial letters you’ve already filled in from intersecting words? Is there a particular theme to the overall
crossword puzzle
that might hint at a specific angle? Sometimes, the context of the surrounding words can provide that crucial letter or two, narrowing down the field of possibilities from dozens to just a handful. It’s a dance between deduction and intuition, a process of elimination that feels incredibly satisfying when the right answer finally emerges.
The power of such a straightforward
crossword clue
is that it forces you to think like the constructor. How would they condense this common idiom into a single, elegant word or short phrase that fits perfectly into the grid? It’s not about finding the most complex answer, but often the most direct and fitting one, even if it initially eludes you. The “aha!” moment, when the penny drops and you see the perfect fit for “Totally done with,” is one of the purest joys of daily
crossword
solving. It’s a testament to the fact that even the most common phrases can become formidable opponents when transformed into a
crossword clue
.
So, if you’ve been wrestling with this particular entry in your recent
crossword puzzle
, know that you’re in good company. It’s a fantastic example of a
crossword clue
that uses our everyday language to create a delightful, brain-teasing challenge. Keep those brain cells firing, and happy solving!
Available Answers:
OVER.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: 1121-25 NY Times Crossword 21 Nov 25, Friday