Final act of a play?

BOW

["Here’s a helpful hint for the clue \"Final act of a play?\" with the answer \"BOW\":\n\n**\"It’s a gesture of gratitude at the end of a performance.\"**\n\nThis hint guides the solver toward the idea of a concluding action in theater without directly giving away the answer. It’s easier than the original clue but still requires a small leap to connect it to \"BOW.\""]

The clue "Final act of a play?" leads to the answer "BOW" through a clever play on words. 1. **Literal Meaning**: At the end of a theatrical performance, actors typically take a "bow" as part of the curtain call, acknowledging the audience's applause. This is the "final act" in the sense of the last action performed on stage. 2. **Wordplay**: The word "play" in the clue is a double entendre. It can refer to a theatrical performance (where bowing is common) or to the word "play" as in "to engage in an activity." The answer "BOW" also fits because it is a homophone for "bough," which is a branch of a tree—though this is less relevant here, the primary connection is the theatrical bow. Thus, the clue cleverly hints at the answer by referencing both the literal final act of a play (bowing) and the wordplay inherent in the term "play."