Okay, so I was messing around with the LA Times crossword today, and I got totally stuck on one clue: “Just decide.” It was a seven-letter word, and I was drawing a complete blank. I mean, I stared at it for a good five minutes, trying every combination of letters I could think of.
First, I tried thinking of synonyms for “decide.” You know, like “choose,” “resolve,” “determine”… nothing fit. Then, I started looking at the crossing words, hoping they’d give me a hint. One of them was “OPT,” so I thought, “Maybe it’s something like ‘OPT INTO’?” Nope, too long.
I went back to basics. I started saying the clue out loud, “Just… decide…” Just… hmm. That word “just” kept bugging me. Could it be part of the answer, not just a descriptor? I played around with it in my head a bit, wondering if another wording would help.
- Maybe it is the similar word?
- Could it be multiple words that are abbreviated?
- Perhaps related to the law?
Then, it hit me! It is an “only” meaning! So it must be “SETTLE”! Seven letters, and it fits perfectly! The word settle is a good word to use when it is something that is to be decided, just decide, settle the situation, settle the case, oh it made so much sense now!
The Conclusion
I filled it in, and bam, I was able to finish the whole puzzle. It’s funny how sometimes the simplest clues are the ones that trip you up the most. I guess that’s what makes crosswords so addictive, though. You finally crack that one clue, and it’s like a little victory!
