A clue in a crossword puzzle that suggests a pleasant auditory experience associated with deliciousness often points to a sound that, when articulated consecutively, evokes the sensation of something appealing to the palate. One instance is “yum,” where the duplication, “yum yum,” reinforces the expression of enjoyment related to the taste or anticipation of food.
The prevalence of such clues in puzzles highlights the universal connection between sound, language, and the sensory experience of eating. Crossword designers frequently leverage this association to engage solvers and provide satisfying, accessible solutions. This type of clue relies on the human understanding of onomatopoeia and its cultural association with pleasure. These types of crossword clues have been used since the inception of modern crossword puzzles, as they offer clever and often straightforward solutions that rely on wordplay.