It can tie up your stock

LARIAT

["**Hint:** \"Rancher's rope for catching cattle.\"\n\nThis hint guides the solver toward the context of ranching and the tool used to secure livestock, making it easier than the original clue while still requiring some deduction."]

Certainly! Here's a clear and concise explanation of how the clue leads to the answer: **Clue:** "It can tie up your stock" **Answer:** "LARIAT" **Explanation:** The word "lariat" refers to a lasso or a long rope with a noose, commonly used in ranching to catch livestock—including cattle, which are often referred to as "stock." The phrase "tie up your stock" plays on this meaning, as a lariat is literally used to tie up or secure animals. Additionally, "stock" can also refer to financial stocks, but the primary wordplay here leans on the ranching context, making "lariat" the fitting answer. The clue cleverly uses the double meaning of "stock" (livestock vs. financial assets) while relying on the literal function of a lariat to "tie up" animals.