Curb (6) - Crossword Clue
Answer: KIBOSH
Understanding the Crossword Clue: Curb (6)
- KIBOSH is the perfect six-letter answer meaning to curb, restrain, or put an end to something.
- When you need to curb an activity or stop something from happening, you "put the kibosh on it" – a colorful idiom that perfectly captures the act of restraining or preventing something from continuing.
Why KIBOSH Means Curb
- The word kibosh functions as both a noun and verb in English, primarily appearing in the phrase "put the kibosh on."
- To curb something means to restrain, check, or control it, and kibosh delivers exactly this meaning with emphatic finality.
- When you curb enthusiasm, limit actions, or restrain impulses, you're effectively putting the kibosh on those activities.
- This connection makes kibosh an elegant crossword solution – it's precisely six letters, definitionally accurate, and adds linguistic flair to your puzzle-solving vocabulary.
Crossword Solver Tips
- Letter Pattern Recognition: KIBOSH starts with the less-common letter K, which immediately narrows possibilities when you have crossing clues. The pattern K-I-B-O-S-H contains no repeated letters.
- Synonym Awareness: Related crossword clues might use restraint, check, halt, limit, or suppress. Building your mental synonym network helps connect these dots quickly.
- Common Letter Combinations: The OSH ending is relatively distinctive – if you solve crossing clues that give you these letters, KIBOSH becomes much easier to identify.
- Context Clues: Cryptic crosswords might play with the "put the" phrase that typically precedes kibosh, so watch for wordplay around this common construction.
Curb (6) - 7 Little Words - FAQs
Q: Is kibosh used in formal writing?
A: While kibosh is recognized in standard dictionaries, it maintains somewhat informal or colloquial status. You'll find it more frequently in casual speech and journalistic writing than academic papers, though it's perfectly acceptable in most contexts.
Q: Are there other six-letter words meaning curb?
A: Yes! Alternatives include BRIDLE, HAMPER, HINDER, and SUBDUE. However, KIBOSH is distinctively evocative and appears frequently in crossword puzzles due to its useful letter combination.
Q: Can kibosh be used as a noun?
A: Absolutely. You can say "they put the kibosh on it" (where kibosh is a noun) or "they kiboshed the plan" (using it as a verb). Both forms effectively mean to curb or stop something.
Q: Why do crossword setters favor kibosh?
A: The combination of a K, uncommon letter pairings (IB, BO), and clear definition make it an ideal crossword entry. It's recognizable enough to be fair but distinctive enough to challenge solvers, plus it helps when constructing grids that need words starting with K.
Q: Does kibosh always mean complete stopping, or just restraining?
A: While kibosh often implies complete cessation, it can mean restraining or curbing without total elimination. The context determines whether you're completely halting something or merely limiting and controlling it.
