Mystified by This Crossword Clue? Find the Surprising Answer!

As a detective, my first step is to carefully analyze the clue: ‘Deteriorate … as sledders do?‘ The use of ellipsis suggests a wordplay or hidden meaning within the clue. I immediately notice the word “deteriorate” which implies a decline or worsening of something. The phrase “as sledders do” leads me to think that the word we are looking for involves sledding in some way. This prompts me to consider synonyms for deteriorate that may be linked to sledding.

I continue to ponder this clue for a moment and then it hits me – sledders go downhill! It is a eureka moment. To go downhill is to descend downwards, and sledders do this as they slide down a slope or a hill. Thus, the word that accurately fits the description of sledders deteriorating is undoubtedly ‘GODOWNHILL‘. This wordplay is clever, as it plays with the idea of going downhill both in the context of sledding and as a metaphor for deterioration.

With excitement, I jot down the answer, confident that my deduction has successfully solved this crossword clue. Sometimes, the simplest way to uncover the truth is by following a logical thought process, allowing our minds to uncover the hidden connections cleverly embedded in language. As a detective, it’s my job to not just see the words on the surface, but to delve deeper into the layers of meaning within them.