Understanding Today's Crossword Puzzle
The clue "Aired ham?" leads us to the answer "RADIOAMATEUR." Let's break down the clue and explain why it points to this particular answer.
- Aired: In this context, "aired" is a clever play on words. Normally, "aired" refers to something being broadcasted or made public. However, in this clue, it is used as a homophone for "err'd" (meaning made a mistake). This misdirection is a common technique used in crossword puzzles.
- Ham: In the context of crosswords, "ham" frequently refers to an amateur, someone who is not a professional in a particular field. In this case, "ham" specifically refers to "RADIOAMATEUR," as amateur radio operators are commonly known as "hams."
Putting these two separate parts of the clue together, we get "Aired ham?" which is a clever way of indicating "RADIOAMATEUR." The clue tricks us into thinking about a ham that's being broadcasted, but the answer reveals that it's actually referring to an amateur radio operator.
Crossword puzzles often use wordplay, misdirection, and clever clues to challenge solvers. In this case, the clue "Aired ham?" effectively leads to the answer "RADIOAMATEUR" by utilizing the homophone "aired" and the slang term "ham" for an amateur. By understanding these wordplay techniques, crossword enthusiasts can improve their solving skills.
The Crossword clue "Aired ham?" published 1 time/s & has 1 answer/s.
Crossword | Date | Answer |
The Guardian Cryptic | 8 February 2019 | RADIOAMATEUR |