Puzzled by the Crossword Clue? This Pantomimed Object is the Answer!

As a detective tasked with solving the crossword clue, my first instinct was to analyze the action described – extending one’s thumb and pinkie. This immediately brought to mind the universal gesture of miming a phone call. It became clear that the clue was referring to an object that could be represented by this gesture.

Further connecting the dots, I considered words associated with this action. The word “call” emerged, but it didn’t quite fit the length of the word in the puzzle. However, another word encompassing the action and its length stood out: “phone.”

The brilliance of this crossword clue lied in its clever use of pantomime, as pantomiming the act of holding a phone to one’s ear involves extending the thumb and pinkie. By combining this physical motion with a bit of lateral thinking, the solution ‘PHONE’ revealed itself. In the end, it was a matter of keen observation and recognizing the connection between the clue, the gesture, and the object represented.