Okay, so the other day I was totally stumped by a clue in the New York Times crossword. It was “What the puck is going on?” and I was like, seriously, what is going on? I stared at it for a good five minutes, totally blank.
I’m not a hockey expert, though I’ve watched a few games. But I was drawing a complete blank. This happens sometimes, right? You just need a little nudge in the right direction.
My ‘Aha!’ Moment
So, First I tried putting words I knew. It became clear that the answer must have something to do with hockey, obviously, because of the word “puck.” Then, because the crossword clue is a question, so I figured it probably wasn’t a straight * is more likely a metaphor.
I started thinking about common hockey phrases. You know, stuff like “power play,” “face-off,” “slap shot”… nothing seemed to fit. I even tried to visualize a hockey game, hoping something would click. Nope. Still nothing.
Then, it hit me! The phrase “what the puck is going on” is an interjection. It’s like saying “what the heck” or “what the hell” – It means expressing some confusion or surprise, maybe with a bit of frustration. It’s like asking, “What’s happening?!” but in a hockey-themed way.
I filled it to the blank. Boom! The letters fit perfectly, and the crossing words made sense too. It was WHAT THE HECK
Man, it felt good to finally crack that clue. It’s those little victories that make crosswords so addictive, even when they’re driving you crazy!
