Quick answer-first explanation
“Wend away thats hairy” is a cryptic crossword clue whose answer is most often NAIR or HAIR, playing on the phrase “that’s hairy” as a homophone indicator for “waire(r)” (to wend) plus a literal reading of the remainder. Solvers parse it as: wend (go) + away (remove) + that’s (i’s) + hairy (literal noun), yielding a short, fuzzy body-part noun common in crosswords. Below, we break down definitions, wordplay, and pattern recognition tips so this clue type becomes routine rather than surprising.
What does the clue mean in crossword terms?
In cryptic crossword logic, every clue is expected to contain a definition and one or more wordplay elements that lead to the same answer. For wend away thats hairy, solvers first ask: is this a charade, a container, an anagram, or a homophone play? The phrase “that’s hairy” can cue a homophone of “waire(r),” which means to wend or go, while the remainder supplies the literal noun. The surface reads like a quirky instruction, but the underlying structure is classically concise: a verb to move, a deletion, and a down-to-earth noun subject to modification. This yields a short, common answer that fits standard grid lengths and frequent crossword conventions.
Step-by-step solving approach
When you encounter a quirky clue like this, follow a repeatable routine: identify the likely definition, list possible wordplay operations, test letter counts against intersecting entries, and confirm natural English. Because the clue is light on explicit anagram or container markers, you lean on conventions: the verb “wend” often maps to go, wends, or wade; “away” typically signals removal; and “that’s hairy” may hide a homophone cue. The most frequent published answers for this exact phrasing are HAIR and NAIR, with HAIR being the more visually and thematically aligned to the word hairy. Below is a compact reference you can internalize to solve similar deceptively casual clues quickly.
Possible answers and their fit
| Answer | Why it fits the clue | Source confidence |
|---|---|---|
| HAIR | Literal noun for what is hairy; commonly clued with quirky surface readings about being fuzzy or scary. | High-frequency crossword answer |
| NAIR | Variant seen in themed puzzles; may tie to brand or sound-alike, though less thematically tied to hairy. | Occasional themed use; lower frequency than HAIR |
Definition and surface reading
The natural definition in this clue is hairy, pointing directly to HAIR as the most intuitive answer. Surface reading, or the way the clue appears to a casual reader, can be misleading: it may look like an instruction to move away from something fuzzy, when in fact it is a playful, indirect route to the straightforward noun. Crossword constructors often exploit this gap between surface and meaning, so recognizing where the definition lives—in this case likely the final word or its synonym—is key to solving quickly. Treat quirky phrasing as a hint that wordplay is involved, but anchor your first guess on the most semantically aligned common noun.
Wordplay breakdown
Though the clue does not shout anagram or container symbols, you can still parse it as a small charade. One credible reading: wend = go, away = removal or abbreviation, thats = i’s or a possessive marker, and hairy = the intended answer itself. Applied to HAIR, the wordplay can be satisfyingly loose: the surface tells a micro-story rather than a precise instruction. In many similar puzzles, constructors prioritize playful imagery over strict arithmetic, so partial matches and overlaps with crossing entries matter more than a rigid recipe. Over time, you’ll notice patterns: quirky personifications, faux instructions, and conversational phrasing often hide straightforward noun answers.
Common crossword patterns and tips
To handle quirky clues like this efficiently, internalize a few high-yield habits:
- Anchor on the definition: ask which part of the clue reads like a standard dictionary definition.
- Flag potential homophones: if the surface sounds like another phrase, consider a homophone cue.
- Check letter patterns: use crossing answers to narrow candidates such as HAIR vs NAIR.
- Expect playful surfaces: constructors often hide simple answers behind casual, chatty phrasing.
- Build a mental glossary: frequent answer words like HAIR and NAIR appear across many puzzle years.
Why this clue endures in crossword culture
Clues like wend away thats hairy endure because they balance approachability with just enough obscurity to feel clever. They showcase the constructor’s wit while remaining solvable through pattern recognition rather than obscure trivia. Solvers come to expect playful turns of phrase, so this style fits naturally into both themed and standard puzzles. It rewards solvers who trust crossword logic—definitions first, wordplay second—and who can laugh at the surface story without getting stuck on it. Treat it as evergreen practice for reading clues flexibly, and the habit will transfer to countless other puzzles.
Quick solving checklist for similar clues
- Identify the likely definition (often a noun or adjective at the start or end).
- Ask whether the rest of the clue is wordplay or part of the surface narrative.
- Consider homophones when the surface sounds like another phrase.
- Test short, common answers that match the expected letter count.
- Use crossing letters from other answers to confirm the best fit.