Speaks roughly

RASPS

["**Hint:** \"It's a harsh sound, like a file on metal, or a voice that's gravelly.\"\n\nThis hint guides the solver toward the idea of a rough, grating noise or speech without directly giving away the answer. It connects to both the literal and wordplay aspects of the clue."]

Certainly! Here's a clear and concise explanation for the crossword clue and answer: **Clue:** "Speaks roughly" **Answer:** "RASPS" **Explanation:** The clue uses a double meaning to lead to the answer. "Speaks roughly" can be interpreted in two ways: 1. **Literal meaning:** "Rasps" refers to a harsh, grating sound, which can describe rough speech (e.g., a raspy voice). 2. **Wordplay:** The word "rasps" is also the third-person singular form of the verb "rasp," meaning to speak in a harsh or grating manner. Thus, the answer "RASPS" fits both the definition and the wordplay implied by the clue.