Takes off, having dusted around and about (7) Crossword Clue
Answer: DEDUCTS (7 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Takes off, having dusted around and about" with 7 letters is "DEDUCTS".Deducts means to subtract or take away an amount, often from a total or sum, and can also refer to removing something, like a part of a salary or a quantity. In this context, it cleverly plays with the idea of "taking off" in terms of reducing or subtracting something, with the word “dusted around and about” suggesting the removal or reduction of something.
Why “Deducts” Fits
The clue asks for a single word (7 letters) meaning “takes off.” The answer, DEDUCTS, fits perfectly:
- Takes off: Deducts means to take away, remove, or subtract an amount — typically from money, numbers, or totals — directly matching the clue’s definition.
- Direct match: With seven letters, deducts fits the provided enumeration exactly.
- Precise meaning: The term conveys the idea of making a reduction, whether literal (as in removing a portion from an account) or figurative (as in lessening a value or score).
The word deducts is rooted in mathematics and finance but appears widely in everyday language:
- Origin and usage: Derived from Latin deducere (“to lead away” or “subtract”), it entered English in the 15th century to describe numerical or logical subtraction.
Contexts:
- Financial: “The company deducts tax from employee salaries.”
- Mathematical: “If you deduct 10 from 60, you get 50.”
- Figurative: Used for abstract reductions — “He deducts time for breaks when calculating efficiency.”
Examples:
- “They deducted points for errors on the form.”
- “The cost of materials will be deducted from the final payment.”
- “After deducting expenses, profits were minimal.”
In quick crosswords like “Takes off, having dusted around and about (7),” solvers should look for both literal meaning and subtle anagram (or indicator) cues:
- Definition: “Takes off” gives the plain meaning of deducts — to remove or take away.
- Wordplay: The clue cleverly hides an anagram signal — “dusted around” — suggesting rearranging the letters of DUSTED plus an extra letter (A for “about”).
Solution breakdown:
“Dusted around” = anagram indicator.
Letters: DUSTED + A (from “about”) → rearranged to form DEDUCTS.
- This dual-layer clue combines straightforward definition and smart construction, typical of quick cryptic-style clues.
