Master the NYT crossword from January 18, 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 (37 clues)
1A: "1. "Off the Court" author"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states tennis player who was the first black to win united states and english singles championships (1943-1993)
- Similar words include: Arthur Robert Ashe, Arthur Ashe
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ASHE
2A: "5. Steer"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight
- Similar words include: buffer, original, airplane pilot
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PILOT
3A: "10. Stagehand"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of grasping
- Similar words include: traveling bag, fascinate, hairgrip
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: GRIP
4A: "14. Condo cousin"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a farm building for housing poultry
- Similar words include: henhouse, cage, hencoop
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: COOP
5A: "15. Plant of the goosefoot family"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various herbaceous plants of the genus atriplex that thrive in deserts and salt marshes
- Similar words include: orache
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ORACH
6A: "16. Pool on a liner"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a recreational facility including a swimming pool for water sports
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LIDO
7A: "17. Savvy"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HORSESENSE
8A: "19. Literary conflict"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a festivity in ancient greece at which competitors contended for prizes
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: AGON
9A: "20. Chore for a farmer"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that store in a silo
- Similar words include: ensile
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ENSILING
10A: "21. Harbinger"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (formal) a person who announces important news
- Similar words include: predecessor, annunciate, trumpeter
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HERALD
11A: "23. Gladden"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fill with high spirits; fill with optimism
- Similar words include: lift up, intoxicate, uplift
- Opposite of: depress
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ELATE
12A: "24. Gdansk native"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
- Similar words include: magnetic pole, perch, punt
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: POLE
13A: "25. London suburb"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ACTON
14A: "27. Dies"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
- Similar words include: cash in one's chips, go, pass
- Opposite of: be born
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PERISHES
15A: "31. Bereft, in times of yore"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LORN
16A: "32. Torment"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that annoy continually or chronically
- Similar words include: molest, provoke, chevy
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HARASS
17A: "34. Eggs, to Cato"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the female reproductive cell; the female gamete
- Similar words include: ovum, egg cell
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: OVA
18A: "35. Sp. women"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SRAS
19A: "36. Papal cape"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ORALE
20A: "37. Seed covering"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fleshy and usually brightly colored cover of some seeds that develops from the ovule stalk and partially or entirely envelopes the seed
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ARIL
21A: "38. Well-known dict."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an unabridged dictionary constructed on historical principles
- Similar words include: Oxford English Dictionary, O.E.D.
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: OED
22A: "39. Undercoats a surface"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a number that has no factor but itself and 1
- Similar words include: prime, peak, blossom
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PRIMES
23A: "40. H.S. test"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PSAT
24A: "41. Property"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that land and the buildings on it
- Similar words include: precede, assumption, premise
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PREMISES
25A: "43. Golf events"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
- Similar words include: open, spread, surface
- Opposite of: fold, close
Click to reveal answer
Answer: OPENS
26A: "44. Serves perfectly"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
- Similar words include: one, virtuoso, adept
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ACES
27A: "45. Earthy deposits"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a loose and crumbling earthy deposit consisting mainly of calcite or dolomite; used as a fertilizer for soils deficient in lime
- Similar words include: marl
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MARLS
28A: "47. Kind of puzzle"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a portable power saw with a reciprocating blade; can be used with a variety of blades depending on the application and kind of cut; generally have a plate that rides on the surface that is being cut
- Similar words include: fretsaw, scroll saw, saber saw
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: JIGSAW
29A: "50. Bent"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
- Similar words include: leaning, disposition, inclination
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TENDENCY
30A: "53. Emend"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that prepare for publication or presentation by correcting, revising, or adapting
- Similar words include: cut, delete, redact
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: EDIT
31A: "54. Oater"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HORSEOPERA
32A: "56. River in Germany"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a river in central europe that arises in northwestern czechoslovakia and flows northward through germany to empty into the north sea
- Similar words include: Elbe River
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ELBE
33A: "57. Actress Massey"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ILONA
34A: "58. Bakery specialist"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that being nine more than ninety
- Similar words include: ic, 99, ninety-nine
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ICER
35A: "59. Look sharply"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
- Similar words include: compeer, match, equal
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PEER
36A: "60. Rob ___ to pay Paul"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that disciple of jesus and leader of the apostles; regarded by catholics as the vicar of christ on earth and first pope
- Similar words include: Simon Peter, Saint Peter, Saint Peter the Apostle
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PETER
37A: "61. Used frugally, with "out""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: EKED
Down Clues - Strategic Hints (37 clues)
1D: "1. Suffer sorely"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain
- Similar words include: pine, languish, smart
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ACHE
2D: "2. Anon"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that in the near future
- Similar words include: before long, presently, shortly
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SOON
3D: "3. Bargain shrewdly"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HORSETRADE
4D: "4. Greek letters"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the 5th letter of the greek alphabet
- Similar words include: epsilon
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: EPSILONS
5D: "5. Assume as fact"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (logic) a proposition that is accepted as true in order to provide a basis for logical reasoning
- Similar words include: submit, situate, fix
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: POSIT
6D: "6. Girl of song"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: IRENE
7D: "7. Director Fritz ___"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LANG
8D: "8. Mil. training program"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: OCS
9D: "9. "___ Mouth," Joyce Cary novel"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: THEHORSES
10D: "10. Glowers"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
- Similar words include: blaze, spotlight, glower
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: GLARES
11D: "11. Capital of Latvia"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a port city on the gulf of riga that is the capital and largest city of latvia; formerly a member of the hanseatic league
- Similar words include: capital of Latvia
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: RIGA
12D: "12. Matinee ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a material effigy that is worshipped
- Similar words include: graven image, perfection, matinee idol
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: IDOL
13D: "13. Golden or Walden"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small lake
- Similar words include: pool
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: POND
14D: "18. Zest"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
- Similar words include: zeal, panache, dash
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ELAN
15D: "22. Site of the first Olympic games"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ELIS
16D: "24. Rembrandt ___, U.S. painter"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PEALE
17D: "25. Journalist Stewart or Joseph"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ALSOP
18D: "26. Kitchen gadget"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a device for removing the core from apples
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: CORER
19D: "27. London buggies"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small vehicle with four wheels in which a baby or child is pushed around
- Similar words include: stroller, pushchair, pram
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PRAMS
20D: "28. Ginger ale-whisky drink"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HORSESNECK
21D: "29. ___- les-Bains, French spa"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: EVIAN
22D: "30. Seasoned seamen"
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: saltiness, salt, SALT
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SALTS
23D: "32. Lash"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a whip for controlling horses
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HORSEWHIP
24D: "33. The Ram of the zodiac"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in aries
- Similar words include: Ram, Aries the Ram
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ARIES
25D: "37. As American as ___"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: APPLEPIE
26D: "39. Twelve-point type"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an eating disorder, frequent in children, in which non-nutritional objects are eaten persistently
- Similar words include: em, genus Pica, pica em
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PICA
27D: "42. Kind of mind or work"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an artist of consummate skill
- Similar words include: master copy, professional, lord
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MASTER
28D: "43. Church calendar"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ORDO
29D: "45. Intervening, in law"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MESNE
30D: "46. Close by, poetically"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ANEAR
31D: "47. General-purpose car"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a car suitable for traveling over rough terrain
- Similar words include: landrover
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: JEEP
32D: "48. Not in use"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling
- Similar words include: dead, loose, unwarranted
- Opposite of: work, run
Click to reveal answer
Answer: IDLE
33D: "49. Taunt"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect
- Similar words include: agree, match, slam
- Opposite of: disagree
Click to reveal answer
Answer: GIBE
34D: "50. Cheating aid"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a slow pace of running
- Similar words include: crib, Trotskyist, clip
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TROT
35D: "51. Actress Summer"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a member of an algonquian people living in central canada
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: CREE
36D: "52. Word with arm or stick"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
- Similar words include: thou, railway yard, pace
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: YARD
37D: "55. Corrida cry"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: OLE
Puzzle Stats
37 Across
37 Down
74 Total
