Okay, so the other day, I saw this crossword clue, “Looks behind couches and curtains, say,” in the New York Times Mini. It got me thinking, and I decided to try and solve it myself.
First off, I grabbed my phone and opened up the NYT app. You know how it is, gotta get that daily dose of brain teasers. I started filling in the easy ones, the ones that pop into your head right away. But this one, “Looks behind couches and curtains, say,” that was a bit of a head-scratcher.
I paced around my living room, you know, thinking out loud. I even did what the clue suggested – looked behind my own couch and curtains. Nothing there, of course, just some dust bunnies and a missing sock. This wasn’t a literal thing, obviously. It had to be some kind of wordplay.
Then, I started to brainstorm words that mean looking or searching. “Searches,” “hunts,” “explores“… nothing seemed to fit the bill, or the grid, for that matter. I was getting a little frustrated, I won’t lie. I hate leaving these things unsolved.
So I decided to try a different tactic. I thought about what you do when you’re looking for something that’s hidden, like a lost remote or your keys. You “seek” them out, right? Could that be it? “Seeks“?
I typed it into the grid, and bam! It fit perfectly. “SEEKS” was the answer. It was so simple, but it took me a good while to get there. It’s funny how the mind works sometimes, right? You can overthink things and miss the obvious solution.
After I solved it, I did a little digging online. Turns out, a lot of other folks were also curious about this clue. I found some forums and articles breaking it down. It’s always interesting to see how other people’s minds work and how they approach these puzzles.
- I found a page that listed the answer to this clue.
- Then I checked out some forums where people discuss these crosswords.
- Finally, I read an article that explained the meaning of “seeks.”
Anyway, that’s my little adventure with the “Looks behind couches and curtains, say” crossword clue. It wasn’t a huge deal, but it was a fun little mental exercise. And hey, I learned something new, or at least refreshed my memory on the word “seeks.” Maybe I’ll even use it in a sentence today, just for kicks.
I’m glad I took the time to solve it. It’s those small victories that make your day, right?
How about you?
Have you ever been stumped by a crossword clue? What’s your strategy for solving them? Let me know in the comments!
