Okay, so I saw this phrase “really stand out” in the NYT crossword clues today and thought, “Huh, I should really dig into this.” I mean, I do the crossword every day, but I never really think about the clues themselves, you know?
So, first thing I did was, obviously, try to solve the puzzle. I scribbled down some possibilities, played around with letters, the usual. I’m no crossword expert, but I get by. This one was a bit tricky, though.
My Process
- Tried Some Synonyms: I started brainstorming words that mean “really stand out.” Like, “pop,” “shine,” “excel” – stuff like that. Nothing was immediately clicking.
- Looked at Intersecting Words: I filled in some of the easier clues around it, hoping the crossing letters would give me a hint. This is my go-to strategy when I’m stuck.
- Considered the Theme (if any): Sometimes the crossword has a theme, and knowing that can help crack a tough clue. I tried to see if there was a pattern, but I wasn’t really seeing one this time.
- Got Frustrated:Yep, I hit a wall. Sometimes you just gotta stare at it for a while, or even walk away and come back later.
- A-Ha moment!:Finnaly,with other words,it comes to be very obvious.
It’s all about persistence, really. And sometimes just letting your brain work on it in the background.
