There are some crossword clues that just hit different, aren’t there? Those little linguistic puzzles that make you pause, stare at the grid, and feel that satisfying click when the answer finally reveals itself. Today, we’re diving into one such gem, a
crossword clue
that’s been causing quite a stir, blending elegant misdirection with clever wordplay. It’s the kind of brain-bender that exemplifies why we love crosswords so much – a delightful blend of wit, wordplay, and that ‘aha!’ moment.
The clue in question is:
‘Yearly hairdo interrupted by a mad nun (3,5)‘
.
Just reading it aloud, you can feel the layers. It’s the kind of
crossword clue
that immediately flags itself as something more than a straightforward definition. The beauty of cryptic crosswords, and indeed many well-crafted standard clues, lies in their ability to paint a vivid picture that, while entertaining, often serves as a brilliant smokescreen for the actual solution. It’s a testament to the constructor’s art, leading you down a garden path only to reveal a clever linguistic twist.
Let’s unpack this fascinating
crossword clue
a bit, without giving everything away, of course. We start with ‘Yearly hairdo.’ This phrase immediately conjures an image, a tradition perhaps, or a recurring style. In the world of crosswords, especially cryptic ones, such a vivid phrase could be the direct definition, or it could be a highly artful misdirection. The challenge is discerning which role it truly plays. Is it the ‘what’ or merely part of the ‘how’? That’s the initial brain teaser this particular
crossword clue
presents. It asks you to consider both the literal and the figurative, the obvious and the obscure, all within a few compelling words.
Then we hit the core of the wordplay: ‘interrupted by a mad nun.’ This segment is where the magic truly happens, where the constructor’s ingenuity shines. The phrase ‘interrupted by’ is doing some serious work here. It’s a common indicator in many types of
crossword clue
construction, often suggesting an insertion or a particular arrangement of letters. But how exactly is it interrupting? And what is being interrupted by what? These are the questions that spiral through a solver’s mind, pushing you to experiment with different interpretations of the wordplay. The precision of such an indicator is often the key to unlocking the entire puzzle wrapped within the
crossword clue
.
And then, ‘a mad nun.’ Ah, ‘mad.’ When you see ‘mad’ in a
crossword clue
, especially next to other letters, it’s often a bright red flag for a specific type of wordplay. It hints at a scrambling, a rearrangement, or a chaotic transformation of the letters that follow it. So, ‘nun’ itself becomes fodder for our mental gymnastics. What happens when ‘nun’ goes ‘mad’? And how does that ‘mad nun’ then interact with the ‘yearly hairdo’ or the ‘interrupted by’ mechanism? This is where the solving process becomes a delightful dance of possibilities, testing your vocabulary and your ability to spot hidden patterns. Every element of this
crossword clue
works in concert to guide you, or misguide you, to the solution.
Finally, we have the parenthetical (3,5). This structure tells us precisely the length of our target words. Two words, three letters followed by five. This numeric guidance is invaluable. It helps us confirm our suspicions about definitions and wordplay, allowing us to test potential solutions against a very strict framework. It’s the ultimate gatekeeper for our eureka moment, ensuring that whatever brilliant idea we concoct fits perfectly into the grid. It’s the final check, the last piece of the puzzle that confirms you’ve cracked the code of this compelling
crossword clue
.
Tackling a complex
crossword clue
like ‘Yearly hairdo interrupted by a mad nun (3,5)‘ is about embracing the journey. It’s about appreciating the craft, sifting through the layers of meaning, and enjoying the process of deduction. It’s a testament to the fact that even a handful of words can contain a universe of linguistic fun. Keep pondering, keep experimenting, and you’ll find that the satisfaction of cracking such a clever
crossword clue
is truly unmatched.
Available Answers:
PERANNUM.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Wednesday, 8 October 2025