Working on the 7 Little Words clue “Beat a dead horse perhaps”? Below you’ll find hints, a spoiler-protected reveal, and a full explanation of the idiomatic wordplay behind this one. For more daily help and puzzle insights, visit Clue of the Day.
Hints (no spoilers)
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Why “BURY” Fits This Clue
The clue “Beat a dead horse perhaps” takes an idiomatic phrase and asks solvers to think literally. Instead of interpreting it as “doing something pointless,” the puzzle playfully points toward a real-world action one might take regarding an actual horse that has died — to BURY it.
These “perhaps” clues in 7 Little Words usually indicate a pun, twist, or literal interpretation. The humor lies in flipping a familiar phrase into its factual scenario. Once you imagine the literal meaning, the answer almost reveals itself.
The answer BURY is a neat, compact word that perfectly matches both tone and length — simple, yet clever.
Strategy: Watch for “Perhaps”
When a clue ends with “perhaps,” “maybe,” or “say,” it’s often a signal to take the surface reading lightly — the puzzle might be asking for a literal twist or an example of the phrase. Use this as a cue to reimagine idioms literally.