“I can’t get past this witness box!”

As a detective, my first instinct upon seeing the crossword clue ‘I can’t get past this witness box!‘ was to focus on the word ‘witness box‘. I immediately recognized this as a common term in legal proceedings, a place where witnesses give testimony under oath. Next, I considered the first part of the clue, ‘I can’t get past this‘, which suggested an obstacle or barrier. Putting these clues together, I started thinking about legal cases where a witness’s testimony might present a major obstacle for the opposing side.

This led me to the answer ‘STANDSINTHEWAY‘, which perfectly captures the idea of a witness being an obstacle in a legal proceeding. The witness in the witness box literally stands in the way of the opposition’s case, making it difficult or impossible for them to move forward. This answer is cleverly crafted, reflecting the dual meaning of the word ‘stand’ as both physical positioning and intentional resistance.

Overall, solving this crossword required a combination of lateral thinking, creativity, and an ability to read between the lines. By drawing on my experience as a detective, I was able to piece together the clues and arrive at a satisfying conclusion that fit the theme of the puzzle.