Slight gripe, so to speak

PEEP

["Here’s a helpful hint for the clue \"Slight gripe, so to speak\":\n\n*\"A tiny sound of complaint, or the letter that might represent one in a text.\"*\n\nThis hint guides the solver toward the idea of a small complaint (\"peep\") and the homophonic connection to the letter \"P\" without giving away the answer directly."]

The clue "Slight gripe, so to speak" leads to the answer "PEEP" through a combination of wordplay and homophonic hinting. 1. **"Slight gripe"** – A "gripe" is a complaint, and "slight" suggests something small or minor. A "peep" can mean a small sound or complaint (e.g., "not a peep of protest"). 2. **"So to speak"** – This phrase signals that the answer is a homophone or sounds like another word or phrase. "Peep" sounds like the letter "P," which is often used in texting or informal speech to mean a slight complaint or annoyance (e.g., "I have a P about this"). Thus, "PEEP" fits as a playful representation of a minor complaint, both in meaning and sound.