All NYT Down Clues December 25, 2025 - 37 Vertical Answers with Hints
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 37 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: April 02 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | October 23 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | November 07 2022 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 25, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Thursday |
| Total Down Clues | 37 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 37 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Chillness |
| 2 Down | 2. "Oh me, oh my!" |
| 3 Down | 3. Ready to go |
| 4 Down | 4. "___ the Limit" (posthumous hit for the Notorious B.I.G.) |
| 5 Down | 5. Horses studied by touts |
| 6 Down | 6. Portuguese greeting |
| 7 Down | 7. O'er the fields ___ ... |
| 8 Down | 8. Eurasia or Oceania, in "1984" |
| 9 Down | 9. Like many Mormons |
| 10 Down | 10. The "R" of P.R. |
| 11 Down | 11. Vodka-and-pineapple juice cocktail popularized on "Sex and the City" |
| 12 Down | 15. Sews up |
| 13 Down | 17. Phil of the Grateful Dead |
| 14 Down | 19. Uber-enthusiasts |
| 15 Down | 22. Someone who might ask "Mother, may I?" |
| 16 Down | 27. Zoom call issue |
| 17 Down | 28. "S.N.L." V.I.P. |
| 18 Down | 29. Pilot who shares a tent with Yossarian in "Catch-22" |
| 19 Down | 30. Sides of pie slices, essentially |
| 20 Down | 31. Ballon ___ (soccer star's award) |
| 21 Down | 34. Slangy "dude" |
| 22 Down | 35. White House family of the 1980s |
| 23 Down | 36. Tax dodger's fear |
| 24 Down | 37. Loc. ___ (footnote abbr.) |
| 25 Down | 38. Very in |
| 26 Down | 39. Big name in windows and doors |
| 27 Down | 43. Raider in times past |
| 28 Down | 44. A person |
| 29 Down | 45. Go "Phew!," say |
| 30 Down | 46. "He has my permission" |
| 31 Down | 47. Total slimeball |
| 32 Down | 49. Intl. org. with 12 stars on its flag |
| 33 Down | 52. Halal cart offering |
| 34 Down | 53. Elided farewell |
| 35 Down | 54. Do pretty much nothing |
| 36 Down | 55. Between you and me |
| 37 Down | 58. At whom you might yell "Are we watching the same game?!" |
Detailed Hints and Answers for All Down Clues
Need help? Here are comprehensive hints and answers for each Down clue. Also check these helpful guides:
- November 07 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- February 04 2023 NYT Clues Solutions
- All NYT Across Clues October 12 2025 57
- January 23 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Chillness"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: A____B
- Similar words: cool, sang-froid
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: great coolness and composure under strain
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
APLOMB
2 Down: "2. "Oh me, oh my!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: H____Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HOOBOY
3 Down: "3. Ready to go"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: A____T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALLSET
4 Down: "4. "___ the Limit" (posthumous hit for the Notorious B.I.G.)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: S__S
- Similar words: toss, sky
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SKYS
5 Down: "5. Horses studied by touts"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: N__S
- Similar words: hen-peck, nag
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NAGS
6 Down: "6. Portuguese greeting"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'A'
- Similar words: olla
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OLA
7 Down: "7. O'er the fields ___ ..."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: W__O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WEGO
8 Down: "8. Eurasia or Oceania, in "1984""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: S________E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SUPERSTATE
9 Down: "9. Like many Mormons"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: U___N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
UTAHN
10 Down: "10. The "R" of P.R."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: R__O
- Similar words: RICO Act
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RICO
11 Down: "11. Vodka-and-pineapple juice cocktail popularized on "Sex and the City""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: F______I
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FLIRTINI
12 Down: "15. Sews up"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: E_____S
- Similar words: assure, guarantee
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: make certain of
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ENSURES
13 Down: "17. Phil of the Grateful Dead"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: L__H
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LESH
14 Down: "19. Uber-enthusiasts"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: G___S
- Similar words: geek, oddball
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a carnival performer who does disgusting acts
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GEEKS
15 Down: "22. Someone who might ask "Mother, may I?""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'N'
- Similar words: conical buoy, nun buoy
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a woman religious
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NUN
16 Down: "27. Zoom call issue"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: E__O
- Similar words: reverberate, reverberation
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ECHO
17 Down: "28. "S.N.L." V.I.P."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: H________R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HEADWRITER
18 Down: "29. Pilot who shares a tent with Yossarian in "Catch-22""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'R'
- Similar words: Robert Orr, Bobby Orr
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: Canadian hockey player (born 1948)
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ORR
19 Down: "30. Sides of pie slices, essentially"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: R___I
- Similar words: spoke, r
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RADII
20 Down: "31. Ballon ___ (soccer star's award)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'R'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DOR
21 Down: "34. Slangy "dude""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: B__H
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BRAH
22 Down: "35. White House family of the 1980s"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: R_____S
- Similar words: Reagan, Ronald Reagan
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: 40th President of the United States (1911-2004)
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
REAGANS
23 Down: "36. Tax dodger's fear"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: I______T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IRSAUDIT
24 Down: "37. Loc. ___ (footnote abbr.)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'T'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CIT
25 Down: "38. Very in"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: spicy, red-hot
- Opposite of: cold
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HOT
26 Down: "39. Big name in windows and doors"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: P___A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PELLA
27 Down: "43. Raider in times past"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'N'
- Similar words: Krauthead, Jerry
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HUN
28 Down: "44. A person"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: E__H
- Similar words: to each one, from each one
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: (used of count nouns) every one considered individually
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EACH
29 Down: "45. Go "Phew!," say"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: E____E
- Similar words: emanate, expire
- Opposite of: inhale
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: expel air
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EXHALE
30 Down: "46. "He has my permission""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: L____M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LETHIM
31 Down: "47. Total slimeball"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: S____O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SLEAZO
32 Down: "49. Intl. org. with 12 stars on its flag"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'U'
- Word pattern: T___U
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
THEEU
33 Down: "52. Halal cart offering"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: G__O
- Similar words: gyroscope
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GYRO
34 Down: "53. Elided farewell"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: G__E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GBYE
35 Down: "54. Do pretty much nothing"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'F'
- Word pattern: L__F
- Similar words: linger, loll
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LOAF
36 Down: "55. Between you and me"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: O__S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OURS
37 Down: "58. At whom you might yell "Are we watching the same game?!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'F'
- Similar words: referee
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
REF
Expert Strategies for Solving Down Clues
Master the vertical clues with these professional tips:
Why Start with Down Clues?
- Down clues often reveal key letters for intersecting words
- Vertical patterns can unlock difficult sections
- Many prefixes and suffixes run vertically
- Down answers often help solve Across clues
Down Clue Patterns to Recognize
- Fill-in-the-blank clues: These are usually the easiest Down entries
- Prefixes and suffixes: Common word parts often run vertically
- Abbreviations: Look for clues with "Abbr." or shortened forms
- Plural indicators: Words ending in 'S' are common in Down
- Pop culture references: Names and titles often appear vertically
Time-Saving Down Techniques
| Technique | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Scan all Down first | Get a mental map of the vertical flow |
| Fill short Down words | 3-4 letter words are often prefixes or connectors |
| Use crossing letters | Across letters help confirm Down answers |
| Look for themes | Related Down answers often share a theme |
Frequently Asked Questions About Down Clues
What are Down clues in crossword puzzles?
Down clues are the vertical entries in a crossword puzzle that read from top to bottom. They're numbered and correspond to specific columns in the grid.
Should I solve Down or Across clues first?
Many solvers alternate between Down and Across clues to build momentum. Down clues can help unlock difficult sections by providing key intersecting letters. The best approach is to solve the clues you find easiest first, regardless of direction.
How many Down clues are in today's puzzle?
Today's NYT crossword has 37 Down clues.
Are Down clues easier than Across clues?
Neither direction is inherently easier. The difficulty depends on the specific clues and your knowledge. However, Down clues often contain helpful prefixes, suffixes, and word parts that can be easier to guess.
How do Down clues interact with Across clues?
Down and Across 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.
