No stamp? Problematic for him! (7) Minute Cryptic Crossword Clue
Searching for the answer to “No stamp? Problematic for him! (7) ” in today’s Minute Cryptic Crossword? Look no further! We’ve provided the solution to help you finish the puzzle and make the most of your crossword-solving experience.
Hints
'Problematic' is our anagram indicator — it tells us to mix up some neighbouring letters.
Our fodder is 'No stamp' — we'll use these letters as the indicator directs.
The definition of this clue is kind of the whole surface. You could say that the definition is just 'for him', but it borrows the context of the whole surface - for whom would 'no stamp' be problematic? This technique is called a partial &lit - where the whole clue is the definition, but only part of the clue is the wordplay.
The answer to "No stamp? Problematic for him! (7)" is POSTMAN.
The answer to the clue "No stamp? Problematic for him! (7)" is "POSTMAN. A postman is someone whose job is to deliver mail, and the absence of a stamp on a letter is indeed problematic for him—because a letter without proper postage cannot legally be delivered, creating an issue the postman must resolve.
The clue works in two ways: the direct definition refers to the postman being "problematic" when delivering unstamped letters, while the cryptic clue plays on the fact that "No stamp" means mail delivery can't happen, causing trouble for the postman. In summary, the postman is the person negatively affected by the absence of a stamp, making the answer fit both the definition and the wordplay elements of the clue.
Minute Cryptic
A Minute Cryptic is a type of crossword puzzle that focuses on very short, often tricky clues that require quick and sharp thinking. These puzzles typically feature concise clues that challenge solvers to think outside the box and consider alternative meanings, wordplay, or indirect references.
Unlike traditional cryptic clues, which may have more detailed explanations, Minute Cryptics are designed to be solved in a very short amount of time, often making them ideal for quick bursts of mental exercise. They tend to require both a good understanding of wordplay and a high level of familiarity with common crossword conventions, but their brevity makes them a fun and engaging challenge for puzzle enthusiasts.
