“You predicted that correctly” … or what the ends of 18-, 24-, 48- and 57-Across will yield?
Is there anything more satisfying than that electric “aha!” moment when a crossword puzzle’s theme not only reveals itself but does so with impeccable wit and precision? Today’s grid delivered that feeling in spades, building anticipation with every carefully crafted
crossword clue
and culminating in a reveal that felt both earned and delightfully clever.
We’ve all encountered those puzzles where the theme entries seem to be disparate entities at first glance. You solve one, then another, perhaps noticing a subtle similarity in length or a vague conceptual connection, but the true brilliance remains just out of reach. That’s exactly how today’s journey began. Staring down 18-Across, then moving onto 24-Across, it felt like solving individual islands of wordplay. Each
crossword clue
was solvable on its own merits, offering a satisfying challenge, but the grand design, the overarching narrative, was still obscured by the fog of war – or rather, the fog of pending insight.
As the grid filled and more letters emerged, particularly in those pivotal long answers at 18-, 24-, 48-, and 57-Across, a pattern began to whisper. It’s that familiar, thrilling sensation, isn’t it? The subconscious mind starts connecting dots your conscious brain hasn’t quite registered. You might find yourself re-reading an earlier entry, eyes darting back and forth, looking for a common thread, a shared characteristic that elevates these seemingly random words into a coherent symphony. This particular puzzle, a masterclass in thematic execution, nudged us gently towards that very discovery.
The constructor here played a masterful game, not just with the definitions themselves, but with the very structure of the words. It wasn’t just about what the answers
were
, but about what they
contained
, specifically at their conclusion. This is a classic type of theme, one that rewards careful attention to the final letters of the key entries. Each
crossword clue
for these long answers was a stepping stone, a breadcrumb leading us to the final, unifying concept.
The beauty of such a theme lies in its elegant simplicity once the lightbulb flashes. Before that moment, it’s a delightful enigma. After, it’s an undeniable stroke of genius. It truly embodies the spirit of a well-designed
crossword clue
: challenging, fair, and ultimately rewarding. The journey through the grid, from tackling individual short fill to chipping away at those longer, thematic entries, builds a sense of momentum. And when you finally piece together what the “ends” of 18-, 24-, 48-, and 57-Across truly “yield,” you can’t help but marvel at the constructor’s foresight.
So, did you feel the pieces falling into place? Did that collective ending become clear for you as you solved? We’re about to dive deep into each of those crucial
crossword clue
solutions and unpack the cleverness behind this particular theme. Get ready to confirm your predictions, or perhaps discover the brilliant revelation that awaits!
Available Answers:
GOOD CALL.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: 0610-25 NY Times Crossword 10 Jun 25, Tuesday