Lab reports?

ARFS

["Here’s a helpful hint for the clue \"Lab reports?\":\n\n**\"Sounds from a certain canine?\"**\n\nThis hint guides the solver toward thinking of a dog's sound (specifically a \"lab,\" as in Labrador) without directly giving away the answer. It maintains the playful wordplay of the original clue while making it slightly easier to decode."]

The clue "Lab reports?" is a playful example of a homophone-based crossword hint. Here's how it works: 1. **Homophone Play**: The word "Lab" sounds like "lab" (short for laboratory), but it can also be interpreted as the sound a dog makes—"arf" or "woof." The clue is hinting at the latter meaning. 2. **Reports**: In crossword puzzles, "reports" often suggests that the answer is a sound or something spoken. Here, it indicates that the answer is the sound a dog (or "lab," as in Labrador) makes. 3. **Pluralization**: The "S" at the end of "ARFS" is added because the clue is plural ("reports"), implying multiple instances of the sound. So, "Lab reports?" cleverly leads to "ARFS" by combining the homophone for a dog's sound with the idea of spoken reports. It’s a fun example of wordplay in crosswords!