Crossword puzzles can often be tricky, especially when the clues are clever wordplay requiring more than straightforward knowledge. One such clue is: “When doubled, a mild reprimand.” In this article, we will break down how to approach this clue, explain the wordplay behind it, and finally provide a simple crossword answer.
Understanding the Clue: A Breakdown
To solve the clue “When doubled, a mild reprimand”, let’s first look at the individual components:
- Mild Reprimand:
- A mild reprimand is a gentle or soft scolding that is not harsh or severe. It’s often used when someone disapproves of something in a non-threatening way.
- Common mild reprimands include words like “tsk,” “shh,” or “nah.”
- In crossword puzzles, “tsk” is often used to represent a light reprimand or a sound of disapproval, making it a good candidate for our answer.
- When Doubled:
- The word “doubled” in crossword clues suggests that you must repeat a word or sound.
- In this case, doubling the word “tsk” would give us the answer “tsks.”
The Simple Answer: TSKS
The crossword clue “When doubled, a mild reprimand” cleverly refers to the act of repeating the word “tsk,” a common mild reprimand. Doubling “tsk” gives us “tsks,” which fits the clue perfectly.
- “Tsk” is a sound made to express mild disapproval or disappointment.
- When you double it, you get “tsks,” which is also a mild reprimand used in similar situations.
The Wordplay Behind the Clue
Understanding the wordplay behind crossword clues is what makes solving them so fun and rewarding. In this case, the clue uses double meaning:
- “Mild reprimand” refers to the word “tsk.”
- “When doubled” refers to repeating “tsk” to form the plural “tsks.”
The clue is simple yet creative because it uses repetition in a very literal sense, doubling the word to get the answer.
Why “TSKS” Is the Correct Answer
- Tsk is widely used in English to express disapproval in a mild and non-aggressive way. It’s an expression that can be heard in various contexts, like when someone does something that is mildly annoying or when a situation doesn’t go as expected.
- When doubled, “tsk” becomes “tsks”, which is just a pluralized form of the expression.
| Clue Component | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Mild Reprimand | “Tsk” is an onomatopoeic word used to express mild disapproval. |
| When Doubled | Doubling the word “tsk” gives us “tsks,” which is simply the repeated form of the reprimand. |
| Answer | “Tsks” is the correct answer, as it fits both the wordplay and the meaning of a mild reprimand. |
Further Examples of Wordplay in Crosswords
Crossword puzzles are full of clever tricks like this. Here are a few more examples of how wordplay is used in crossword clues:
- “A feline’s purr repeated”: The answer could be “meowmeow,” where the word “meow” (a sound a cat makes) is repeated.
- “A loud exclamation doubled”: This could lead to an answer like “wowwow” or “heyhey,” where the exclamation is doubled.
These clues all follow a similar format, where repetition is used to create the answer.
Key Points to Remember
- Clue: “When doubled, a mild reprimand.”
- Solution: TSKS (double the mild reprimand “tsk”)
- Wordplay: “Tsk” (a mild reprimand) is doubled to form “tsks.”
| Clue Part | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Mild reprimand | “Tsk” is a common expression of disapproval. |
| When doubled | Repeating the word “tsk” gives “tsks.” |
| Answer | “Tsks” is the answer to the crossword clue. |
Conclusion
The clue “When doubled, a mild reprimand” is an example of the playful and clever nature of crossword puzzles. By breaking down the clue into its parts and understanding the wordplay involved, we can easily arrive at the answer “tsks.” This clue shows how crosswords can take a simple idea—like a mild reprimand—and turn it into a fun and rewarding puzzle to solve. Keep practising and exploring wordplay techniques like this, and you’ll become a crossword pro in no time!
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