Today's Across Crossword NYT January 04, 2026 - Every Horizontal Solution Explained
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 63 Across clues. We have all the horizontal answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: October 30 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | August 18 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | Xwordhint Crossword Answers November 06 |
About Today's Across Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | January 04, 2026 |
| Day of Week | Sunday |
| Total Across Clues | 63 clues |
| Direction | Horizontal (Left to Right) |
| Difficulty | Challenging |
All Across Clues - Complete List
Here are all 63 Across clues for today's puzzle. These go horizontally from left to right.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Across | 1. It protects the heart |
| 2 Across | 8. Egyptian god of the underworld |
| 3 Across | 14. Dr.'s order? |
| 4 Across | 17. Substances found in cured meats and explosives |
| 5 Across | 18. Theme park with attractions like The Count's Splash Castle and Oscar's Rusty Rotten Rockets |
| 6 Across | 21. High marks |
| 7 Across | 22. "That's enough bickering!" |
| 8 Across | 24. Valletta's land |
| 9 Across | 25. Sci-fi protagonist who says "I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life" |
| 10 Across | 27. Max's opposite |
| 11 Across | 28. Morpheus, to 25-Across |
| 12 Across | 29. Good ol' boy |
| 13 Across | 31. Actor Thomas ___ Church |
| 14 Across | 34. Stares stupidly |
| 15 Across | 35. General who crossed the Rubicon |
| 16 Across | 37. Snubs |
| 17 Across | 39. Ultimate end, to Aristotle |
| 18 Across | 40. TV E.T. |
| 19 Across | 41. Secondary list of options |
| 20 Across | 43. ___ Veronese, "The Wedding at Cana" painter |
| 21 Across | 45. Queen ___ Land (region of Antarctica claimed by Norway) |
| 22 Across | 47. Classification that anyone can donate to |
| 23 Across | 48. Got off |
| 24 Across | 49. With warts and all |
| 25 Across | 53. Pesto ingredients |
| 26 Across | 55. Made less angry now |
| 27 Across | 58. Ozone no-no, for short |
| 28 Across | 59. The dash in many an emoticon |
| 29 Across | 60. It's a "tyrannical discipline," said Sylvia Plath |
| 30 Across | 61. Titular role in a 2024 Disney prequel |
| 31 Across | 63. Derived from gold |
| 32 Across | 66. Steals, informally |
| 33 Across | 67. Something a bug produces |
| 34 Across | 68. Certain Army noncom |
| 35 Across | 70. Points to a church? |
| 36 Across | 71. What the 7 may mean in 7/11 |
| 37 Across | 73. Brewed beverage |
| 38 Across | 74. Perseveres |
| 39 Across | 76. Certain drink + what that drink has a lot of = women's lifestyle website |
| 40 Across | 80. "Horsefeathers!" |
| 41 Across | 82. "Fiddlesticks!" |
| 42 Across | 83. Combine using heat without melting, as particles |
| 43 Across | 85. Make a lot, say? |
| 44 Across | 86. Famed firefighter Red |
| 45 Across | 88. "All right, but that's not my opinion" |
| 46 Across | 90. L.A.P.D. unit? |
| 47 Across | 91. The Lamb |
| 48 Across | 93. Devoted effort to looking attractive |
| 49 Across | 96. Leaning |
| 50 Across | 98. Bandage brand |
| 51 Across | 99. Possessed, biblically |
| 52 Across | 100. Word before winner or after Wonder |
| 53 Across | 101. Brick homes |
| 54 Across | 103. Buffalo's home: Abbr. |
| 55 Across | 104. "Sprechen ___ Deutsch?" |
| 56 Across | 106. Eponym of element 96 |
| 57 Across | 109. They'll get there eventually |
| 58 Across | 113. Like the cultivation of land |
| 59 Across | 115. Country whose border shape is the world's roundest |
| 60 Across | 116. Zero |
| 61 Across | 117. Co.'s $$$ head |
| 62 Across | 118. Steal for ransom |
| 63 Across | 119. Whence the phrase "wear one's heart on one's sleeve" |
Detailed Hints and Answers for All Across Clues
Need help? Here are comprehensive hints and answers for each Across clue. Also check these helpful guides:
- All NYT Down Clues October 22 2025 33
- September 27 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- NYT Across Crossword October 28 2025
- NYT Crossword Across November 27 2025
Complete Across Solutions:
1 Across: "1. It protects the heart"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 7 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: R_____E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
RIBCAGE
2 Across: "8. Egyptian god of the underworld"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: O____S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
OSIRIS
3 Across: "14. Dr.'s order?"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 3 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
AMA
4 Across: "17. Substances found in cured meats and explosives"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 8 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: N______S
- Similar words: nitrate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
NITRATES
5 Across: "18. Theme park with attractions like The Count's Splash Castle and Oscar's Rusty Rotten Rockets"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 11 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: S_________E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
SESAMEPLACE
6 Across: "21. High marks"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 8 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: A______S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
APLUSSES
7 Across: "22. "That's enough bickering!""
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 12 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: S__________O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
STOPITYOUTWO
8 Across: "24. Valletta's land"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: M___A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
MALTA
9 Across: "25. Sci-fi protagonist who says "I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life""
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 3 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'O'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: (used as a combining form) recent or new
- This is Across clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
NEO
10 Across: "27. Max's opposite"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 3 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'N'
- Similar words: Fukkianese, Amoy
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
- This is Across clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
MIN
11 Across: "28. Morpheus, to 25-Across"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: M____R
- Similar words: wise man
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a wise and trusted guide and advisor
- This is Across clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
MENTOR
12 Across: "29. Good ol' boy"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: B___A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
BUBBA
13 Across: "31. Actor Thomas ___ Church"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: H___N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
HADEN
14 Across: "34. Stares stupidly"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: G___S
- Similar words: stumblebum, lump
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an awkward stupid person
- This is Across clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
GAWKS
15 Across: "35. General who crossed the Rubicon"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: C____R
- Similar words: Sidney Caesar, Julius Caesar
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: conqueror of Gaul and master of Italy (100-44 BC)
- This is Across clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
CAESAR
16 Across: "37. Snubs"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 7 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: I_____S
- Similar words: ignore, neglect
- Opposite of: notice
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: refuse to acknowledge
- This is Across clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
IGNORES
17 Across: "39. Ultimate end, to Aristotle"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: T___S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
TELOS
18 Across: "40. TV E.T."
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 3 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'F'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
ALF
19 Across: "41. Secondary list of options"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 7 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'U'
- Word pattern: S_____U
- Similar words: cascading menu
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
SUBMENU
20 Across: "43. ___ Veronese, "The Wedding at Cana" painter"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: P___O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
PAOLO
21 Across: "45. Queen ___ Land (region of Antarctica claimed by Norway)"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 4 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: M__D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
MAUD
22 Across: "47. Classification that anyone can donate to"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: T____B
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
TYPEAB
23 Across: "48. Got off"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 4 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: A__T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
ALIT
24 Across: "49. With warts and all"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 4 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: A__S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
ASIS
25 Across: "53. Pesto ingredients"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 8 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: P______S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
PINENUTS
26 Across: "55. Made less angry now"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 8 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: P______D
- Similar words: gentle, appease
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
- This is Across clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
PLACATED
27 Across: "58. Ozone no-no, for short"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 3 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'C'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
CFC
28 Across: "59. The dash in many an emoticon"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 4 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: N__E
- Similar words: pry, poke
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
NOSE
29 Across: "60. It's a "tyrannical discipline," said Sylvia Plath"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: P____Y
- Similar words: poesy, verse
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: literature in metrical form
- This is Across clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
POETRY
30 Across: "61. Titular role in a 2024 Disney prequel"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: M____A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
MUFASA
31 Across: "63. Derived from gold"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'C'
- Word pattern: A___C
- Similar words: aurous
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: of or relating to or containing or derived from gold
- This is Across clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
AURIC
32 Across: "66. Steals, informally"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 7 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: F_____S
- Similar words: pilfer, pinch
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: make off with belongings of others
- This is Across clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
FILCHES
33 Across: "67. Something a bug produces"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: E___R
- Similar words: mistake, computer error
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
ERROR
34 Across: "68. Certain Army noncom"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'J'
- Word pattern: S____J
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
SGTMAJ
35 Across: "70. Points to a church?"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: S____S
- Similar words: steeple, spire
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
SPIRES
36 Across: "71. What the 7 may mean in 7/11"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 4 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'J' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: J__Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the month following June and preceding August
- This is Across clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
JULY
37 Across: "73. Brewed beverage"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 3 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
ALE
38 Across: "74. Perseveres"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 8 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: P______N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
PUSHESON
39 Across: "76. Certain drink + what that drink has a lot of = women's lifestyle website"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 8 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: P______R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 39
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
POPSUGAR
40 Across: "80. "Horsefeathers!""
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 4 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: P__H
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 40
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
PISH
41 Across: "82. "Fiddlesticks!""
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 4 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: D__T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 41
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
DRAT
42 Across: "83. Combine using heat without melting, as particles"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: S____R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 42
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
SINTER
43 Across: "85. Make a lot, say?"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 4 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: P__E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 43
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
PAVE
44 Across: "86. Famed firefighter Red"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: A___R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 44
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
ADAIR
45 Across: "88. "All right, but that's not my opinion""
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 7 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'U'
- Word pattern: S_____U
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 45
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
SAYSYOU
46 Across: "90. L.A.P.D. unit?"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 3 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'S'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 46
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
LOS
47 Across: "91. The Lamb"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'J' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: J___S
- Similar words: Savior, Saviour
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 47
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
JESUS
48 Across: "93. Devoted effort to looking attractive"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 7 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: P_____D
- Similar words: plume, preen
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: clean with one's bill
- This is Across clue number 48
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
PREENED
49 Across: "96. Leaning"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: A____T
- Similar words: obliquely, sloped
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: having an oblique or slanted direction
- This is Across clue number 49
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
ASLANT
50 Across: "98. Bandage brand"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: C___D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 50
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
CURAD
51 Across: "99. Possessed, biblically"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: H___T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 51
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
HADST
52 Across: "100. Word before winner or after Wonder"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: B___D
- Similar words: shekels, lucre
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 52
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
BREAD
53 Across: "101. Brick homes"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: A____S
- Similar words: adobe brick, adobe
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the clay from which adobe bricks are made
- This is Across clue number 53
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
ADOBES
54 Across: "103. Buffalo's home: Abbr."
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 3 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'S'
- Similar words: Empire State, NY
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
- This is Across clue number 54
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
NYS
55 Across: "104. "Sprechen ___ Deutsch?""
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 3 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 55
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
SIE
56 Across: "106. Eponym of element 96"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: C___E
- Similar words: Pierre Curie, Marie Curie
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 56
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
CURIE
57 Across: "109. They'll get there eventually"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 12 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: L__________S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 57
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
LATEBLOOMERS
58 Across: "113. Like the cultivation of land"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 8 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: A______N
- Similar words: agricultural, farming
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: relating to rural matters
- This is Across clue number 58
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
AGRARIAN
59 Across: "115. Country whose border shape is the world's roundest"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 11 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: S_________E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 59
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
SIERRALEONE
60 Across: "116. Zero"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 8 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'G'
- Word pattern: G______G
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 60
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
GOOSEEGG
61 Across: "117. Co.'s $$$ head"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 3 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'O'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 61
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
CFO
62 Across: "118. Steal for ransom"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'K' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: K____P
- Similar words: nobble, snatch
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 62
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
KIDNAP
63 Across: "119. Whence the phrase "wear one's heart on one's sleeve""
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 7 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: O_____O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 63
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
OTHELLO
Expert Strategies for Solving Across Clues
Master the horizontal clues with these professional tips:
Why Start with Across Clues?
- Across clues often provide more letter intersections
- Reading left to right feels more natural
- Many common phrases run horizontally
- Across answers often help solve Down clues
Across Clue Patterns to Recognize
- Fill-in-the-blank clues: These are usually the easiest Across entries
- Common phrases: Many idioms run horizontally
- Abbreviations: Look for clues with "Abbr." or shortened forms
- Plural indicators: Words ending in 'S' are common in Across
- Pop culture references: Names and titles often appear horizontally
Time-Saving Across Techniques
| Technique | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Scan all Across first | Get a mental map of the horizontal flow |
| Fill short Across words | 3-4 letter words are often articles or prepositions |
| Use crossing letters | Down letters help confirm Across answers |
| Look for themes | Related Across answers often share a theme |
Frequently Asked Questions About Across Clues
What are Across clues in crossword puzzles?
Across clues are the horizontal entries in a crossword puzzle that read from left to right. They're numbered and correspond to specific rows in the grid.
Should I solve Across or Down clues first?
Many solvers prefer starting with Across clues because reading left-to-right feels more natural. However, the best approach is to solve the clues you find easiest first, regardless of direction.
How many Across clues are in today's puzzle?
Today's NYT crossword has 63 Across clues.
Are Across clues easier than Down clues?
Neither direction is inherently easier. The difficulty depends on the specific clues and your knowledge. However, Across clues often contain more common phrases and expressions.
How do Across clues interact with Down clues?
Across and Down clues intersect at various points in the grid. Solving one can provide letters that help solve the other, making the puzzle easier as you progress.
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