The quiet hum of the morning, a fresh cup of coffee, and a brand-new cryptic crossword. For many of us, this is the perfect start to the day. But then, there are
those
clues. The ones that stare back at you, seemingly nonsensical, daring you to unravel their intricate layers. They’re the puzzles within the puzzle, the ones that make you question everything you thought you knew about language and logic. Today, we’re diving into one such deceptively simple yet utterly brilliant example that has been sparking conversation across the solving community: “Twice exclude Olympic finalists? That’s cruel (8)“.
At first glance, this particular
crossword clue
might seem like a bizarre non-sequitur. What do Olympic finalists have to do with being cruel? And “twice exclude”? Is that a grammatical error, or a cryptic command? This is precisely where the magic of cryptic crosswords lies – in their ability to twist conventional phrases and common knowledge into a linguistic maze. Every word, every punctuation mark, every subtle hint is placed with deliberate intent, designed to both guide and mislead.
The art of solving a cryptic
crossword clue
isn’t just about knowing definitions; it’s about understanding the subtle signals embedded within the phrasing. A good cryptic clue typically has two main components: a definition, which is a straightforward synonym for the answer, and wordplay, which could be an anagram, a charade, a homophone, or a hidden word. The challenge, of course, is discerning which part is which, and how the various elements of the wordplay combine to form the elusive solution.
Let’s dissect “Twice exclude Olympic finalists? That’s cruel (8)” just a little, without, of course, giving away the game. The “That’s cruel” part is generally a strong candidate for the definition. It’s direct, it’s declarative, and it provides a clear target for the eight-letter answer we’re seeking. So, we’re looking for a word that means ‘cruel’. Simple enough, right? Not so fast. The real brain-teaser, and the core of the cryptic fun, lies in the first part of this
crossword clue
.
“Twice exclude Olympic finalists?” This is where the true ingenuity of the clue setter shines. Is “twice exclude” a literal instruction to perform an action twice? Or is it a clever play on words involving prefixes or roots? Could “Olympic finalists” be a reference to a specific group, their attributes, or even a sound-alike? The beauty of such a
crossword clue
is that it forces you to think outside the box, to consider homophones, hidden words, or even a charade where different parts of the clue stack up to form the answer.
Many solvers find themselves initially stumped by clues like this because they approach them too literally. The trick is to identify the elements that seem out of place or unusually phrased and then consider how they might be reinterpreted in a cryptic context. What if “exclude” itself holds a double meaning? What if “Olympic finalists” isn’t about athletes at all, but about a common phrase or concept associated with them? The elegance of this particular
crossword clue
comes from how it subtly steers your mind away from the obvious and towards a less common, but perfectly valid, interpretation.
Pondering a
crossword clue
like this one is a truly rewarding experience. The initial frustration gives way to a delightful “aha!” moment when the intricate mechanism of the clue finally clicks into place. It’s a testament to the setter’s skill in crafting a seemingly impenetrable puzzle that, once solved, feels perfectly logical and utterly brilliant. Take your time with this one. Look at each word, consider its potential double meanings, and think about how seemingly disparate concepts might be cleverly interwoven. The solution, when it arrives, will feel incredibly satisfying.
Keep those thinking caps on, and enjoy the journey of discovery that this captivating
crossword clue
offers.
Available Answers:
BARBARIC.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Friday, 18 July 2025