How to Solve: Apparel Store Discounting Item of Clothing with Odd Scent

Cryptic crossword clues require you to think beyond literal definitions. This puzzle combines wordplay, letter selection, and clever misdirection to lead you to the answer: CLOSET.

Understanding the Clue Structure

Every cryptic clue has three essential components:

• Definition: 'Apparel store' — a synonym for the answer
• Indicators: 'discounting' and 'odd' — instructions on how to manipulate the fodder
• Fodder: 'item', 'clothing', and 'scent' — the words we'll manipulate

The question mark at the end signals a punny or stretched definition, hinting that 'apparel store' isn't being used in its traditional sense.

Decoding the Indicators

The two indicators work differently:

• 'Odd' is a selection indicator — extract letters at odd positions (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.)
• 'Discounting' is a deletion indicator — remove or ignore certain fodder

Working Through the Solution

Step 1: Select odd letters from 'scent'

Apply the 'odd' indicator to the word 'scent':

• S (position 1) ✓
• c (position 2)
• E (position 3) ✓
• n (position 4)
• T (position 5) ✓

Result: SET

Step 2: Discount one fodder word

The 'discounting' indicator tells us to delete one of the remaining fodder words. We need to find a substitute or drop one word. 'Clothing' can be replaced or removed — in this case, we'll use CLO from 'clothing' (removing the remaining letters).

Step 3: Combine the parts

Put together CLO (from 'clothing') + SET (from 'scent'): CLOSET

Why This Works as 'Apparel Store'

A closet is where you keep clothes — it's literally a storage space for apparel. The pun is that a 'closet' isn't a traditional 'store' in the commercial sense, but it stores your clothing. The question mark signals this clever twist.

Key Takeaways

• Identify indicators that guide letter selection or deletion
• Extract letters strategically using position-based indicators like 'odd'
• Consider multiple meanings of words, especially with punny clues
• The definition may not be literal — look for creative connections

With practice, recognizing these patterns becomes second nature. Happy solving!