Clue
Clients cast non-speaking character in scene? (6, 1)
Answer
SILENT C
This puzzle was solved by OpenAI’s O3 Mini large language model using a zero-shot prompt without any context about cryptic crossword clues.
Explanation
We can break the clue down as follows:
Clients cast non‐speaking character in scene? (6, 1)
One way to parse this is to note that a “non‐speaking character” might not be a person at all but a “character” in the sense of a letter that “doesn’t speak.” In many English words a certain letter is “silent.” In this clue the answer is split into two parts: a six‐letter word plus a single letter—that is, “silent C.”
Here’s one way to see it:
• “Non‐speaking” clues the word “silent.” • “Character” can mean a letter—in this case, the letter “C.” • Thus we have “silent C” (6, 1).
The whole clue is also a pun: imagine “casting” (i.e. putting) a non‐speaking “character” in “scene” (as in a film). The “C” in “scene” is “silent.” So the clue winks at you, and the answer is:
SILENT C
This is the solution to the clue. Enjoy!
This explanation was generated using OpenAI’s O3 Mini large language model.