Locked in Battle: Can You Solve This Crossword Clue?

As a detective solving the mystery of the crossword clue ‘Fight (with)’, my mind immediately begins to create a list of possible answers. I start to think about words that relate to conflict and war. I consider phrases such as “get into a brawl,” “engage in combat,” and “duke it out.” However, the puzzle’s letter count and existing letters lead me to the answer: DOBATTLE.

The clue’s use of the preposition “with” gives me a hint that the answer could be a two-word phrase. The first word “do” is an auxiliary verb that can be used to signify an action. I also know that the answer must be a verb form since the clue is asking for an action. The crossword puzzle’s layout indicates that there are eight letters in total, with four letters in the first word and six letters in the second.

With this understanding, I ponder on words that sound like the answer. Then, I am struck by “dobattle.” The phrase fits the clue’s attributes as it is a verb and sounds identical to a phrase that describes fighting. It completes the puzzle neatly.

Overall, my thought process leading me to the answer DOBATTLE was a combination of deductive reasoning and a process of elimination driven by the existing letters and prepositions. It is so satisfying to solve a puzzle like this and see the pieces connect seamlessly to reveal the solution.