Cryptic crosswords, those fiendish puzzles loved by wordplay enthusiasts, have long been a uniquely human domain. But could artificial intelligence finally be catching up? A fascinating new research paper explores whether AI can not only solve these linguistic riddles but also "prove" their answers in a way that mirrors human reasoning. Unlike regular crosswords, cryptic clues offer a twisted path to the solution, involving wordplay, anagrams, hidden words, and other linguistic trickery. The challenge isn't just finding a word that fits the grid but demonstrating the logical steps that justify it. This research tackles the challenge by using a novel combination of language models (LLMs) and a “proof verifier.” An LLM generates potential answers and the wordplay rationale behind them, while the verifier, acting like a strict crossword judge, checks if the reasoning holds water. The research uses a dataset of cryptic crossword clues along with expert-provided answers and explanations. LLMs are trained to identify the definitions within the often-misleading surface text of the clues and then to dissect the wordplay, generating something akin to a logical proof. This “proof” is then translated into Python code that the verifier can rigorously assess. The results show that the system has a clear preference for correct answers over near-miss candidates, demonstrating its ability to distinguish between truly valid solutions and those that merely seem plausible. However, it’s not foolproof. The research reveals some of the current limitations, such as the system's occasional struggle with disconnected logic or its susceptibility to being “tricked” by cleverly crafted, but ultimately invalid, proofs. The implications of this work extend beyond just cracking crosswords. It offers a valuable new approach to testing and enhancing AI's reasoning abilities, particularly in complex linguistic tasks. While AI crossword solvers might not be ready to dethrone human champions just yet, this research reveals that the day when they can truly understand and explain the intricacies of cryptic clues may be closer than we think.