Cut in front of corporal? Crossword Clue

The solution for the clue "Cut in front of corporal?" from Daily Cryptic crossword puzzle is mentioned here below. .

Understanding Today's Crossword Puzzle

The clue "Cut in front of corporal?" leads us to the answer "LANCE."

We can break down the clue and analyze it to understand why "LANCE" is the correct answer:

1. Cut: In crossword puzzles, the word "cut" can often refer to removing or shortening a word. It serves as a hint that we need to shorten a word in this clue.
2. In front of: This phrase indicates that the next component of the answer is placed before something else. In this case, we need to find a word that comes before a particular term.
3. Corporal: "Corporal" is a military rank. This clue suggests that we should look for a word related to the military or comprised of military terminology.

Putting these clues together, we can infer that we need to find a word related to the military that comes before "corporal" in order to solve the puzzle. The answer "LANCE" fits this criteria.

Why is "LANCE" the correct answer for this clue?

1. "LANCE" is a military term referring to a weapon traditionally used in cavalry warfare. It is associated with the military context hinted at by "corporal" in the clue.
2. If we think about the word "LANCE" in relation to the phrase "cut in front of," we can see that the answer "LANCE" fits perfectly. The word "LANCE" can be seen as a shorter version of the phrase "advance in front of." By cutting the word "advance" and taking only the first part, "LANCE" emerges as the answer that matches the clue.

In summary, the clue "Cut in front of corporal?" leads us to the answer "LANCE" because it aligns with the military context provided by "corporal" and the idea of cutting or shortening a word to derive the solution. The word "LANCE" is a military term and can be seen as a shortened version of "advance," satisfying the clues found in the crossword puzzle.

Definition of "LANCE"

a long weapon with a wooden shaft and a pointed steel head, formerly used by a horseman in charging

Example :

the warriors bore lances tipped with iron or steel

abscesses should not be lanced until there is a soft spot in the centre

the prime minister made it one of his priorities to lance the boil of corruption

 The Crossword clue "Cut in front of corporal?" published 3 time/s & has 1 answer/s. 

Crossword	Date	Answer
Daily Cryptic	14 January 2024	LANCE