Master the NYT crossword from January 25, 1990 with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun.
Puzzle Difficulty: Moderate
Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!
Across Clues - Strategic Hints (35 clues)
1A: "1. Ma Bell's boy"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ALEX
2A: "5. Intimate"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
- Similar words include: chum salmon, pal, brother
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: CHUM
3A: "9. Cob or pen"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult
- Similar words include: swear, wander, tramp
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SWAN
4A: "13. Hop stem"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that european twining plant whose flowers are used chiefly to flavor malt liquors; cultivated in america
- Similar words include: European hop, common hop, common hops
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: BINE
5A: "14. Forfeits"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
- Similar words include: suffer, misplace, fall behind
- Opposite of: keep, gain
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LOSES
6A: "16. "For ___ jolly ... ""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HESA
7A: "17. Start of a quip"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: BEINGOVERWEIGHT
8A: "20. Sanctioned"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that be behind; approve of
- Similar words include: support, back, endorse
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ENDORSED
9A: "21. Wadi's kin"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a stream or brook
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ARROYO
10A: "22. Fellow citizen"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
- Similar words include: equal, match, compeer
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PEER
11A: "23. Noisy disagreement"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a quarrel about petty points
- Similar words include: spatter, tiff, ptyalize
- Opposite of: boo
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SPAT
12A: "24. Seamlike joining, in anatomy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a ridge that forms a seam between two parts
- Similar words include: rhaphe
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: RAPHE
13A: "27. Domino spots"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a disease of poultry
- Similar words include: spot, rack up, worst
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PIPS
14A: "28. Dax or Ems"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a health resort near a spring or at the seaside
- Similar words include: watering place, resort hotel, health spa
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SPA
15A: "31. Part of N.A.M."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ASSOC
16A: "32. November tally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a choice that is made by counting the number of people in favor of each alternative
- Similar words include: voter turnout, balloting, voting
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: VOTE
17A: "33. Strikebreaker"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike
- Similar words include: blackleg, strikebreaker, rat
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SCAB
18A: "34. Middle of quip"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MAYBEHEREDITARY
19A: "37. Formerly"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that on one occasion
- Similar words include: in one case, at one time, one time
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ONCE
20A: "38. Approaching 100"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that people who are old collectively
- Similar words include: senior, of age, older
- Opposite of: rejuvenate, young
Click to reveal answer
Answer: AGED
21A: "39. Rx items"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a substance that is used as a medicine or narcotic
- Similar words include: do drugs, drug, dose
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: DRUGS
22A: "40. Breezy turndown"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: NAH
23A: "41. Pleased"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of numerous plants of the genus gladiolus native chiefly to tropical and south africa having sword-shaped leaves and one-sided spikes of brightly colored funnel-shaped flowers; widely cultivated
- Similar words include: sword lily, beaming, happy
- Opposite of: sad
Click to reveal answer
Answer: GLAD
24A: "42. Sounds of alarm"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that bark in a high-pitched tone
- Similar words include: yelp, yap, yip
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: YIPES
25A: "43. Blokes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an informal term for a youth or man
- Similar words include: ridicule, poke fun, guy wire
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: GUYS
26A: "44. Converse"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an exchange of ideas via conversation
- Similar words include: blab out, tattle, peach
- Opposite of: keep quiet
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TALK
27A: "46. ___ Madre"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a range of mountains (usually with jagged peaks and irregular outline)
- Similar words include: Scomberomorus sierra
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SIERRA
28A: "49. Is devious"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that lead someone in the wrong direction or give someone wrong directions
- Similar words include: lead astray, misdirect, misguide
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MISLEADS
29A: "53. End of quip"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ASYOURJEANSSHOW
30A: "55. F.F.V. folks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the sediment from fermentation of an alcoholic beverage
- Similar words include: Richard Henry Lee, Robert Edward Lee, Robert E. Lee
- Opposite of: windward
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LEES
31A: "56. Raison ___"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: DETRE
32A: "57. Annapolis inst."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: USNA
33A: "58. Koppel and Knight"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tough youth of 1950's and 1960's wearing edwardian style clothes
- Similar words include: Ted, Teddy boy
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TEDS
34A: "59. Make strips"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the lacrimal glands
- Similar words include: snap, displume, rip
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TEAR
35A: "60. After: Prefix"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
- Similar words include: position, office, situation
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: POST
Down Clues - Strategic Hints (39 clues)
1D: "1. Chanteuse Lane"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a french abbot
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ABBE
2D: "2. Title encumbrance"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the right to take another's property if an obligation is not discharged
- Similar words include: spleen
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LIEN
3D: "3. Writer Bagnold"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a town in north central oklahoma
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ENID
4D: "4. He fears strangers"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: XENOPHOBE
5D: "5. By a whisker"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the temporal end; the concluding time
- Similar words include: closely, secretive, confining
- Opposite of: distant, far
Click to reveal answer
Answer: CLOSE
6D: "6. Hummingbird verb"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
- Similar words include: brood, bulk large, vacillate
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HOVER
7D: "7. Exploited"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
- Similar words include: utilise, put-upon, secondhand
- Opposite of: misused
Click to reveal answer
Answer: USED
8D: "8. Mal de ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that denoting a quantity consisting of 1,000 items or units
- Similar words include: one thousand, 1000, m
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MER
9D: "9. Blouse"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a garment worn on the upper half of the body
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SHIRT
10D: "10. "And away ___!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: WEGO
11D: "11. Pallid"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that of a light grey
- Similar words include: ash-gray, ash-grey
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ASHY
12D: "12. Western pact"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an international organization created in 1949 by the north atlantic treaty for purposes of collective security
- Similar words include: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: NATO
13D: "15. Exchanged"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that exchange or give (something) in exchange for
- Similar words include: switch, swop, trade
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SWAPPED
14D: "18. Land of feta"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a republic in southeastern europe on the southern part of the balkan peninsula; known for grapes and olives and olive oil
- Similar words include: Hellenic Republic, Ellas
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: GREECE
15D: "19. Points in time"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
- Similar words include: geological era, earned run average, era
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ERAS
16D: "23. Located"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that assign a location to
- Similar words include: sit down, posture, ride
- Opposite of: arise, stand
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SITED
17D: "24. Actor Novarro"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: RAMON
18D: "25. Yoga posture"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (hinduism) a posture or manner of sitting (as in the practice of yoga)
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ASANA
19D: "26. Prepare oneself mentally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PSYCH
20D: "27. Studied in depth"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that direct one's attention on something
- Similar words include: center, pore, rivet
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PORED
21D: "28. Wild duck"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that diving ducks of north america having a bluish-grey bill
- Similar words include: scaup duck, broadbill, bluebill
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SCAUP
22D: "29. Coat with plaster"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PARGE
23D: "30. Ocean deep"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)
- Similar words include: abysm
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ABYSS
24D: "32. "Las ___ Lady," 1976 film"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that prolific spanish playwright (1562-1635)
- Similar words include: Lope de Vega, Lope Felix de Vega Carpio, Vega
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: VEGAS
25D: "33. Begins to play a song"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: STRIKESUP
26D: "35. Flagpole rope"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a rope for raising or lowering a sail or flag
- Similar words include: halliard
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HALYARD
27D: "36. "The ___ of the King": Tennyson"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an episode of such pastoral or romantic charm as to qualify as the subject of a poetic idyll
- Similar words include: bucolic, eclogue, idyl
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: IDYLLS
28D: "41. Revered leader"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a hindu or buddhist religious leader and spiritual teacher
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: GURU
29D: "43. Offensive"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that twelve dozen
- Similar words include: crude, revenue, sodding
- Opposite of: net
Click to reveal answer
Answer: GROSS
30D: "44. Headgear for a princess"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a jeweled headdress worn by women on formal occasions
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TIARA
31D: "45. "Lou Grant" star"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ASNER
32D: "46. Mariner"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
- Similar words include: common salt, salinity, Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SALT
33D: "47. Conversation filler"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ISEE
34D: "48. Took a look"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that having an eye or eyes or eyelike feature especially as specified; often used in combination
- Similar words include: eye, eyeball
- Opposite of: eyeless
Click to reveal answer
Answer: EYED
35D: "49. Dish out"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a line that indicates a boundary
- Similar words include: borderline, delimitation, border
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: METE
36D: "50. Phrase for Mr. Moto"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: AHSO
37D: "51. Puts on"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a spanish gentleman or nobleman
- Similar words include: assume, father, get into
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: DONS
38D: "52. Thwack"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sharp blow
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SWAT
39D: "54. Concorde, for one"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an airplane powered by one or more jet engines
- Similar words include: jet-propelled plane, reverse lightning, sooty
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: JET
Puzzle Stats
35 Across
39 Down
74 Total