Leaps about, only to backslide (5) Crossword Clue
Answer: LAPSE (5 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Leaps about, only to backslide" with 5 letters is "LAPSE".Lapse refers to a temporary failure or backslide, often in behavior, judgment, or memory. It can describe a momentary error or decline, such as when someone temporarily loses focus or slips from a previous standard or condition.
Why “Lapse” Fits
The clue asks for a single word (5 letters) meaning “backslide.” The answer, LAPSE, fits perfectly:
- Backslide: Lapse means to slip, decline, or fall from a previous level of achievement, standard, or behaviour — exactly matching the clue’s definition.
- Direct match: With five letters, lapse fits the clue’s enumeration precisely.
- Precise meaning: The term conveys a loss of control, focus, virtue, or discipline — either temporarily or through neglect — aligning seamlessly with “backslide.”
The word lapse reflects a sense of gradual decline or momentary failure:
- Origin and usage: From Latin lapsus (“a fall”), derived from labi meaning “to slide” or “to slip.” It entered Middle English in the 15th century, retaining its connection to moral or situational decline.
Contexts:
- Behavioural: “He lapsed into old habits after months of improvement.”
- Moral or ethical: “A momentary lapse of judgment led to the mistake.”
- Time-related: “The contract lapsed after the deadline.”
Examples:
- “She faced criticism for a lapse in concentration.”
- “His interest in reading lapsed over time.”
- “The company’s insurance policy lapsed last month.”
In quick crosswords like “Leaps about, only to backslide (5),” the clue combines definition and wordplay for added depth:
- Definition: “Backslide” provides the direct meaning, pointing to lapse.
- Wordplay: The phrase “leaps about” signals an anagram indicator, as “about” suggests rearrangement.
- The letters of LEAPS, when rearranged (“about”), form LAPSE.
- Thus: LEAPS → LAPSE.
- The clue’s construction is elegant—using a lively surface reading that evokes movement (“leaps about”) juxtaposed with the slower action of “backsliding,” making the resolution both literal and satisfying.
