December 23, 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | XWordHint

Quick Navigation - Table of Contents

• Puzzle Overview & Difficulty
• Across Clues (32 clues)
• Down Clues (42 clues)
• Category Breakdown
• Complete Puzzle Statistics
• Pro Solving Tips

Puzzle Overview & Difficulty Analysis

Date: Thursday, December 23, 2021

Difficulty Level: Moderate Wednesday Puzzle

Total Clues: 74 (32 Across, 42 Down)

Average Word Length: 5.1 letters

December 23, 2021 Thursday NYT - Complete Across Solutions

No.	Clue	Letters
1A	1. When said three times, how an overlong comment might be summarized	4
2A	5. Morgan Stanley acquisition of 2020	6
3A	11. Shock, in a way	3
4A	14. Let up	4
5A	15. Get something just right	6
6A	16. Word aptly hidden in "I've got this!"	3
7A	17. Reef deposit hung on the holiday tree?	15
8A	20. Is unobliged to	7
9A	21. Popular web browser	6
10A	22. Something an Australian might throw on the barbie	6
11A	25. Beats (out)	5
12A	26. Heath genus that's also a woman's name	5
13A	29. Certain international soccer championship, familiarly	5
14A	31. Noble gas you can't live without?	10
15A	33. It's 1 for 90°	4
16A	37. Occasion on which to sing the hymn "Up From the Grave He Arose"	6
17A	38. Word with candy or ball	6
18A	40. Things caught at a beach	4
19A	41. Starbucks order for a man's man?	10
20A	45. True	5
21A	46. Essential character	5
22A	47. Cause of the moon hitting your eye like a big pizza pie, in song	5
23A	51. Sugar or flour	6
24A	53. Car model with a musical name	6
25A	55. Miami five	7
26A	59. Buys tickets for a couple of friends for a Polynesian getaway?	15
27A	62. Something it's good to get a hole in?	3
28A	63. Archers	6
29A	64. Trash day reminder	4
30A	65. Passage blocker, maybe	3
31A	66. New citizen, perhaps	6
32A	67. What cynophobia is the fear of	4

Let's Solve the Across Clues Together!

Here are helpful hints to solve each clue. Remember, crossword puzzles are like word games - have fun with them!

Clue 1 Across: "1. When said three times, how an overlong comment might be summarized"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that pompous or pretentious talk or writing
• Words that mean the same thing: claptrap, fustian, bombast
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: BLAH

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 2 Across: "5. Morgan Stanley acquisition of 2020"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ETRADE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 3 Across: "11. Shock, in a way"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a medium clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a sudden event that imparts energy or excitement, usually with a dramatic impact
• Words that mean the same thing: vaporize, nuke, atomise
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ZAP

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 4 Across: "14. Let up"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort
• Words that mean the same thing: repose, relieve, easiness
• The opposite would be: difficulty
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EASE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 5 Across: "15. Get something just right"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: NAILIT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 6 Across: "16. Word aptly hidden in "I've got this!""

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a medium clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that an inflated feeling of pride in your superiority to others
• Words that mean the same thing: self-importance, self, egotism
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EGO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 7 Across: "17. Reef deposit hung on the holiday tree?"

Quick Info: This answer has 15 letters. It's a expert clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _______________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ACHRISTMASCORAL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 8 Across: "20. Is unobliged to"

Quick Info: This answer has 7 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: NEEDNOT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 9 Across: "21. Popular web browser"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that another word for chromium when it is used in dyes or pigments
• Words that mean the same thing: chromium-plate
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: CHROME

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 10 Across: "22. Something an Australian might throw on the barbie"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that disparaging terms for small people
• Words that mean the same thing: prawn, half-pint, runt
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SHRIMP

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 11 Across: "25. Beats (out)"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the boundary of a surface
• Words that mean the same thing: inch, butt, border
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EDGES

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 12 Across: "26. Heath genus that's also a woman's name"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that any plant of the genus erica
• Words that mean the same thing: true heath
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ERICA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 13 Across: "29. Certain international soccer championship, familiarly"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium clue about sports.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the basic monetary unit of most members of the european union (introduced in 1999); in 2002 twelve european nations (germany, france, belgium, luxembourg, the netherlands, italy, spain, portugal, ireland, greece, austria, finland) adopted the euro as their basic unit of money and abandoned their traditional currencies
• Words that mean the same thing: euro
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EUROS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 14 Across: "31. Noble gas you can't live without?"

Quick Info: This answer has 10 letters. It's a expert clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: __________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: VITALARGON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 15 Across: "33. It's 1 for 90°"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that ratio of the length of the side opposite the given angle to the length of the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle
• Words that mean the same thing: sin
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SINE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 16 Across: "37. Occasion on which to sing the hymn "Up From the Grave He Arose""

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a christian celebration of the resurrection of christ; celebrated on the sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox
• Words that mean the same thing: east wind, easterly
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EASTER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 17 Across: "38. Word with candy or ball"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state
• Words that mean the same thing: cotton plant, cotton fiber, cotton wool
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: COTTON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 18 Across: "40. Things caught at a beach"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a column of light (as from a beacon)
• Words that mean the same thing: electron beam, light beam, ray
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: RAYS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 19 Across: "41. Starbucks order for a man's man?"

Quick Info: This answer has 10 letters. It's a expert clue about celebrity/entertainment.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: __________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: CAFFEMACHO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 20 Across: "45. True"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a easy clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that steadfast in allegiance or duty
• Words that mean the same thing: firm, patriotic, fast
• The opposite would be: disloyal, unpatriotic
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: LOYAL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 21 Across: "46. Essential character"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that (anthropology) the distinctive spirit of a culture or an era
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ETHOS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 22 Across: "47. Cause of the moon hitting your eye like a big pizza pie, in song"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about music.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: AMORE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 23 Across: "51. Sugar or flour"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that (usually plural) a necessary commodity for which demand is constant
• Words that mean the same thing: basic, raw material, staple fibre
• The opposite would be: unstaple
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: STAPLE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 24 Across: "53. Car model with a musical name"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a hard clue about music.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a musical composition of 3 or 4 movements of contrasting forms
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SONATA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 25 Across: "55. Miami five"

Quick Info: This answer has 7 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: THEHEAT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 26 Across: "59. Buys tickets for a couple of friends for a Polynesian getaway?"

Quick Info: This answer has 15 letters. It's a expert clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _______________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: TAKESTWOTOTONGA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 27 Across: "62. Something it's good to get a hole in?"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a hard clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
• Words that mean the same thing: i, unity, unitary
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ONE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 28 Across: "63. Archers"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a person who is expert in the use of a bow and arrow
• Words that mean the same thing: archer, bowman
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: BOWMEN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 29 Across: "64. Trash day reminder"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that any property detected by the olfactory system
• Words that mean the same thing: olfactory perception, olfactory property, olfactory sensation
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ODOR

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 30 Across: "65. Passage blocker, maybe"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a medium clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that not this merely but also; not only so but
• The opposite would be: yea
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: NAY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 31 Across: "66. New citizen, perhaps"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that someone who leaves one country to settle in another
• Words that mean the same thing: emigrant, outgoer, emigree
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EMIGRE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 32 Across: "67. What cynophobia is the fear of"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a member of the genus canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
• Words that mean the same thing: tag, track, andiron
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: DOGS

  Great job if you got it right!

NYT Thursday Crossword Down Clues - December 23, 2021 Answers

No.	Clue	Letters
1D	1. Black-eyed pea, technically	4
2D	2. Get ready to skate, with "up"	4
3D	3. Lead-in to a Southern "-ville"	4
4D	4. Tries to wrangle the unwrangleable	9
5D	5. "Christ's Entry Into Brussels in 1889" artist	5
6D	6. More ragged	7
7D	7. ___ shot	3
8D	8. In the way of	3
9D	9. 45, e.g.	4
10D	10. Does some cave art	6
11D	11. Free-fall phenomenon, informally	5
12D	12. Good thing to bring to the field	5
13D	13. North and South, but not East or West	5
14D	18. Gobble down	6
15D	19. Chicago airport code	3
16D	23. ___ shot	3
17D	24. For	3
18D	26. At all	4
19D	27. Org. that gives out "gold" but fights pirates	4
20D	28. Teeny-tiny	4
21D	30. "Kiss her ___ for me" ("A Holly Jolly Christmas" lyric)	4
22D	32. Western gas brand	4
23D	33. District of Columbia advocacy subject	9
24D	34. Hankering	4
25D	35. N.Y.C. neighborhood next to the Bowery	4
26D	36. Great-great-great-great-great grandfather of Noah	4
27D	39. Dish that may be served folded	6
28D	42. Old-timey agreements	3
29D	43. Like Santa, in traditional depictions	3
30D	44. Butter up, say	7
31D	45. Doesn't disturb	6
32D	47. Start of an English auto name	5
33D	48. 2016 animated film with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda	5
34D	49. Pitch-perfect	5
35D	50. Explorer John	3
36D	52. Give a buzz	5
37D	54. Small thing	4
38D	56. Opposite of exo-	4
39D	57. Full of anticipation	4
40D	58. Besmirches	4
41D	60. Historical event given its current name in 1939: Abbr.	3
42D	61. "!!!"	3

Now Let's Solve the Down Clues!

Down clues go from top to bottom. Use the letters from your across answers to help!

Clue 1 Down: "1. Black-eyed pea, technically"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that any of various edible seeds of plants of the family leguminosae used for food
• Words that mean the same thing: edible bean, attic, noggin
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: BEAN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 2 Down: "2. Get ready to skate, with "up""

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment)
• Words that mean the same thing: fortify, lace up, intertwine
• The opposite would be: untwine
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: LACE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 3 Down: "3. Lead-in to a Southern "-ville""

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that united states tennis player who was the first black to win united states and english singles championships (1943-1993)
• Words that mean the same thing: Arthur Ashe, Arthur Robert Ashe
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ASHE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 4 Down: "4. Tries to wrangle the unwrangleable"

Quick Info: This answer has 9 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: HERDSCATS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 5 Down: "5. "Christ's Entry Into Brussels in 1889" artist"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ENSOR

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 6 Down: "6. More ragged"

Quick Info: This answer has 7 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that showing signs of wear and tear
• Words that mean the same thing: gimcrack, tacky, tatty
• The word looks like this: _______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: TATTIER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 7 Down: "7. ___ shot"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the shape of a raised edge of a more or less circular object
• Words that mean the same thing: brim, flange, lip
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: RIM

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 8 Down: "8. In the way of"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a medium clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ALA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 9 Down: "9. 45, e.g."

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that sound recording consisting of a disk with a continuous groove; used to reproduce music by rotating while a phonograph needle tracks in the groove
• Words that mean the same thing: magnetic disk, phonograph recording, disk
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: DISC

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 10 Down: "10. Does some cave art"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that make an etching of
• Words that mean the same thing: etch, engrave
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ETCHES

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 11 Down: "11. Free-fall phenomenon, informally"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ZEROG

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 12 Down: "12. Good thing to bring to the field"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: AGAME

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 13 Down: "13. North and South, but not East or West"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
• Words that mean the same thing: celestial pole, magnetic pole, Pole
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: POLES

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 14 Down: "18. Gobble down"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that draw deep into the lungs in by breathing
• Words that mean the same thing: breathe in, inspire
• The opposite would be: exhale
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: INHALE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 15 Down: "19. Chicago airport code"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ORD

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 16 Down: "23. ___ shot"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the quantity that can be held in a mug
• Words that mean the same thing: sucker, smiler, mark
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: MUG

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 17 Down: "24. For"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that an athlete who plays for pay
• Words that mean the same thing: professional
• The opposite would be: con, amateur
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: PRO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 18 Down: "26. At all"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that at any time
• Words that mean the same thing: e'er, always, of all time
• The opposite would be: never
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EVER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 19 Down: "27. Org. that gives out "gold" but fights pirates"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: RIAA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 20 Down: "28. Teeny-tiny"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a easy clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ITSY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 21 Down: "30. "Kiss her ___ for me" ("A Holly Jolly Christmas" lyric)"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that on one occasion
• Words that mean the same thing: erst, erstwhile, at one time
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ONCE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 22 Down: "32. Western gas brand"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that (of instruments in the violin family) to be played with the bow
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ARCO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 23 Down: "33. District of Columbia advocacy subject"

Quick Info: This answer has 9 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: STATEHOOD

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 24 Down: "34. Hankering"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a easy clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a contagious skin infection caused by the itch mite; characterized by persistent itching and skin irritation
• Words that mean the same thing: scratch, spoil, itchiness
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ITCH

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 25 Down: "35. N.Y.C. neighborhood next to the Bowery"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: NOHO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 26 Down: "36. Great-great-great-great-great grandfather of Noah"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ENOS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 27 Down: "39. Dish that may be served folded"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a hard clue about food & drink.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that beaten eggs or an egg mixture cooked until just set; may be folded around e.g. ham or cheese or jelly
• Words that mean the same thing: omelette
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: OMELET

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 28 Down: "42. Old-timey agreements"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: AYS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 29 Down: "43. Like Santa, in traditional depictions"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a medium clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a soft greasy substance occurring in organic tissue and consisting of a mixture of lipids (mostly triglycerides)
• Words that mean the same thing: fatten up, fertile, fatty
• The opposite would be: thin, leanness
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: FAT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 30 Down: "44. Butter up, say"

Quick Info: This answer has 7 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that praise somewhat dishonestly
• Words that mean the same thing: prostrate, matte, vapid
• The opposite would be: contrasty, natural
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: FLATTER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 31 Down: "45. Doesn't disturb"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: LETSBE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 32 Down: "47. Start of an English auto name"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about celebrity/entertainment.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ASTON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 33 Down: "48. 2016 animated film with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about music.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: MOANA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 34 Down: "49. Pitch-perfect"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a easy clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ONKEY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 35 Down: "50. Explorer John"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: RAE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 36 Down: "52. Give a buzz"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
• Words that mean the same thing: earpiece, headphone, telephone set
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: PHONE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 37 Down: "54. Small thing"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that (physics and chemistry) the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element
• Words that mean the same thing: particle, molecule, speck
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ATOM

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 38 Down: "56. Opposite of exo-"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ENDO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 39 Down: "57. Full of anticipation"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that highly excited
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: AGOG

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 40 Down: "58. Besmirches"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a easy clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that any of various dark heavy viscid substances obtained as a residue
• Words that mean the same thing: old salt, Jack, seaman
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: TARS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 41 Down: "60. Historical event given its current name in 1939: Abbr."

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a medium clue about history.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: WWI

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 42 Down: "61. "!!!""

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: OMG

  Great job if you got it right!

Category Breakdown

Category	Number of Clues	Percentage
General Knowledge	53	71.6%
Short Answer	13	17.6%
Music	3	4.1%
Celebrity/Entertainment	2	2.7%
Sports	1	1.4%
Food & Drink	1	1.4%
History	1	1.4%

Complete Puzzle Statistics

Metric	Value
Across Clues	32
Down Clues	42
Total Clues	74
Average Answer Length	5.1 letters
Shortest Answer	3 letters
Longest Answer	15 letters

Fun Tips to Solve Crossword Puzzles!

• Start with short words first - they're usually easier!
• Look for clues with blanks to fill in - these are like fill-in-the-blank questions at school
• When letters cross, they must be the same in both words - this helps you check if you're right!
• Today is Thursday, and these puzzles are usually moderate level
• Most clues today are about general knowledge
• The average word today has about 5 letters
• Remember: It's okay to take breaks and come back later with fresh eyes!
• Ask someone for help if you need it - crosswords are more fun with friends!

Disclaimer: Crossword clues are property of The New York Times. This educational content is designed to help puzzle enthusiasts improve their solving skills.

Last Updated: September 12, 2025 at 11:17 PM