Demystifying the “Pay As A Bill” Crossword Clue

Crossword puzzles are a fun and engaging way to pass the time, challenge your knowledge, and maybe even learn something new But sometimes a tricky clue can leave you stumped The cryptic crossword clue “Pay as a bill” has likely perplexed many solvers over the years. This comprehensive guide will demystify the clue, explain common solver strategies, and help you arrive at the correct solution.

Understanding the Clue Structure

Let’s break down the structure of the “Pay as a bill” crossword clue:

• Pay – The action verb indicates this is something being done
• As – This preposition implies a metaphor or non-literal meaning
• A bill – The noun we need to associate with “pay” in some figurative way

The clue is using “bill” in a non-literal way We don’t actually mean paying a financial bill It’s hinting at a homophone – a word that sounds the same as “bill” but has a different meaning that makes sense with “pay”,

Brainstorming Potential Homophones

Our first step should be brainstorming words that sound like “bill” that could fit with the action of “pay”. Here are some options:

• Bill (beak) – a bird’s beak
• Billed – wearing a billed cap
• Bill – a banknote or cash money
• Bill – a written invoice for payment

Using Crossword Solver Resources

If brainstorming leaves you stuck, use online crossword solver resources to research the clue. Sites like WordPlays and Crossword Solver collect data on crossword clues to provide answer frequency information.

For pay as a bill, these sites show that the most common answer is FOOT, with 2095% of the answers being correct.

Understanding the Solution: FOOT

With “FOOT” identified as the highly probable solution we now need to understand why it fits the clue

• Foot sounds the same as “bill”
• To “foot” a bill means to pay the bill

The homophone meaning reveals how “foot” logically fits with “pay” in the clue. When you “foot” the bill, you pay for it!

Tips for Solving Cryptic Clues

Keep these tips in mind when tackling other cryptic crossword clues:

• Identify puns, homophones, and non-literal meanings
• Brainstorm all associative words, don’t limit yourself
• Break down the clue structure and meaning
• Use online resources to check answer frequencies
• Always reason through why the solution fits

With practice, you’ll get better at parsing the layered meanings and misdirection in cryptic clue structures. Keep puzzling!