December 09, 2023 NYT Clues Solutions | XWordHint

Quick Navigation - Table of Contents

• Puzzle Overview & Difficulty
• Across Clues (33 clues)
• Down Clues (35 clues)
• Category Breakdown
• Complete Puzzle Statistics
• Pro Solving Tips

Puzzle Overview & Difficulty Analysis

Date: Saturday, December 09, 2023

Difficulty Level: Moderate Wednesday Puzzle

Total Clues: 68 (33 Across, 35 Down)

Average Word Length: 5.7 letters

Across Clues Explained - Saturday NYT Crossword December 09, 2023

No.	Clue	Letters
1A	1. "Try not to attract attention"	10
2A	11. This and that	4
3A	15. Geographical inspiration for Strauss	10
4A	16. "Alas!'"	4
5A	17. "100% correct!"	10
6A	18. Tab, essentially	4
7A	19. Safaris, e.g.	5
8A	20. Fish also known as wahoo	3
9A	21. Play again	5
10A	22. Not std.	3
11A	23. Border region along the Rhine	6
12A	25. ___ Championship	3
13A	26. Bit of assistance	4
14A	28. Shell-inspired shade of greenish blue	7
15A	30. Run like a mouse	7
16A	33. Founder of the Shondaland production company	6
17A	34. Defiant declaration popularized by the drag queen Bianca Del Rio	13
18A	36. Most of the English force at Agincourt	6
19A	37. Itchy layers	7
20A	38. "Goddess of the loud hunt," in Homer's "Iliad"	7
21A	40. Safari destinations	4
22A	41. M.M.A. decision	3
23A	42. Pulitzer category	6
24A	44. Part of U.C.S.F.: Abbr.	3
25A	47. Northern lapwing	5
26A	49. Break down, in a way	3
27A	50. Break down, in a way	5
28A	52. Swedish actress Lena	4
29A	53. Chance to start fresh	10
30A	55. Make advances	4
31A	56. 19th-century garb completed by top hats and gloves	10
32A	57. Tense	4
33A	58. "Let's have our cake and eat it, too!"	10

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. "Try not to attract attention""

Quick Info: This answer has 10 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: ACTNATURAL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 2 Across: "11. This and that"

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 agitation resulting from active worry
• Words that mean the same thing: grudge, swither, brood
• 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: STEW

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 3 Across: "15. Geographical inspiration for Strauss"

Quick Info: This answer has 10 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: BLUEDANUBE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 4 Across: "16. "Alas!'""

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: AHME

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 5 Across: "17. "100% correct!""

Quick Info: This answer has 10 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: CANCONFIRM

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 6 Across: "18. Tab, essentially"

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 the state of owing something (especially money)
• 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: DEBT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 7 Across: "19. Safaris, e.g."

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 a journey by ox wagon (especially an organized migration by a group of settlers)
• Words that mean the same thing: trek
• 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: TREKS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 8 Across: "20. Fish also known as wahoo"

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 united states musician (born in japan) who married john lennon and collaborated with him on recordings (born in 1933)
• Words that mean the same thing: Yoko Ono
• 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: ONO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 9 Across: "21. Play again"

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: REAIR

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 10 Across: "22. Not std."

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 a unit of electrical power in an ac circuit equal to the power dissipated when 1 volt produces a current of 1 ampere
• Words that mean the same thing: volt-ampere
• 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: VAR

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 11 Across: "23. Border region along the Rhine"

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 region of northeastern france famous for its wines
• Words that mean the same thing: Elsass, Alsatia
• 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: ALSACE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 12 Across: "25. ___ Championship"

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

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: PGA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 13 Across: "26. Bit of assistance"

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 the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
• Words that mean the same thing: bridge player, pass on, paw
• 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: HAND

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 14 Across: "28. Shell-inspired shade of greenish blue"

Quick Info: This answer has 7 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: DUCKEGG

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 15 Across: "30. Run like a mouse"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that to move about or proceed hurriedly
• Words that mean the same thing: scuttle, scamper, skim
• 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: SKITTER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 16 Across: "33. Founder of the Shondaland production company"

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: RHIMES

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 17 Across: "34. Defiant declaration popularized by the drag queen Bianca Del Rio"

Quick Info: This answer has 13 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: NOTTODAYSATAN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 18 Across: "36. Most of the English force at Agincourt"

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 person who is expert in the use of a bow and arrow
• Words that mean the same thing: bowman, archer
• 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 19 Across: "37. Itchy layers"

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 a fabric made from the hair of sheep
• Words that mean the same thing: woolen, woollen, 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: WOOLENS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 20 Across: "38. "Goddess of the loud hunt," in Homer's "Iliad""

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that (greek mythology) the virgin goddess of the hunt and the moon; daughter of leto and twin sister of apollo; identified with roman diana
• Words that mean the same thing: Cynthia
• 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: ARTEMIS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 21 Across: "40. Safari destinations"

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 the address of a web page on the world wide web
• Words that mean the same thing: URL, universal resource locator, uniform resource locator
• 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: URLS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 22 Across: "41. M.M.A. decision"

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 a knockout declared by the referee who judges one boxer unable to continue
• Words that mean the same thing: technical knockout
• 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: TKO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 23 Across: "42. Pulitzer category"

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 literature in metrical form
• Words that mean the same thing: verse, poesy
• 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: POETRY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 24 Across: "44. Part of U.C.S.F.: Abbr."

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

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: CAL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 25 Across: "47. Northern lapwing"

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 small black-headed european gull
• Words that mean the same thing: pewit gull, peewee, blackcap
• 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: PEWIT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 26 Across: "49. Break down, 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 state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor
• Words that mean the same thing: molder, moulder, bunkum
• 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: ROT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 27 Across: "50. Break down, in a way"

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 analyze syntactically by assigning a constituent structure to (a sentence)
• 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: PARSE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 28 Across: "52. Swedish actress Lena"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium 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: OLIN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 29 Across: "53. Chance to start fresh"

Quick Info: This answer has 10 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: TABULARASA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 30 Across: "55. Make advances"

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 bestow a quality on
• Words that mean the same thing: impart, loan, bring
• The opposite would be: borrow
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: LEND

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 31 Across: "56. 19th-century garb completed by top hats and gloves"

Quick Info: This answer has 10 letters. It's a expert 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: OPERACAPES

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 32 Across: "57. Tense"

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 being in a tense state
• Words that mean the same thing: high-strung, overstrung, highly strung
• 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: EDGY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 33 Across: "58. "Let's have our cake and eat it, too!""

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: WHYNOTBOTH

  Great job if you got it right!

NYT Saturday Crossword Down Clues - December 09, 2023 Answers

No.	Clue	Letters
1D	1. Disney channel	5
2D	2. "The Nutcracker" role	5
3D	3. One pulling some strings	5
4D	4. Long part of a bouzouki	4
5D	5. Big deals	4
6D	6. Amy who wrote "The Kitchen God's Wife"	3
7D	7. Played out	8
8D	8. Dig locale	5
9D	9. Not here	6
10D	10. The Eagle, e.g., for short	3
11D	11. First Nigerian-born singer to win a Grammy	4
12D	12. Epithet for Tarzan	9
13D	13. Causes to grow, humorously	9
14D	14. Car-washing equipment	7
15D	21. Locale for Ping-Pong, foosball, dancing, etc.	7
16D	23. U.N. secretary general Guterres	7
17D	24. Quick	7
18D	26. What might be heard before a bust	5
19D	27. Stab	7
20D	29. Toys with strings	5
21D	30. Did some shallow breathing?	9
22D	31. Bootlicker's specialty	9
23D	32. Word with data or deal	3
24D	35. Words to end a play	8
25D	36. Pillar of the superhero community	7
26D	39. Heavenly being	6
27D	43. Maguire of 2009's "Brothers"	5
28D	44. Idaho senator Mike	5
29D	45. It's a good thing	5
30D	46. Spot check?	5
31D	48. Fictional Dr. Jones, familiarly	4
32D	50. Big deal	4
33D	51. Many a North African	4
34D	53. Use a hitch on	3
35D	54. People with a language of the same name	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. Disney channel"

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: ABCTV

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 2 Down: "2. "The Nutcracker" role"

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: CLARA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 3 Down: "3. One pulling some strings"

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 someone who tunes pianos
• Words that mean the same thing: wireless, receiving set, radio 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: TUNER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 4 Down: "4. Long part of a bouzouki"

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 the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
• Words that mean the same thing: neck opening, cervix, make out
• 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: NECK

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 5 Down: "5. Big deals"

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 rapid active commotion
• Words that mean the same thing: stir, fuss, flurry
• 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: ADOS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 6 Down: "6. Amy who wrote "The Kitchen God's Wife""

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 browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun
• Words that mean the same thing: burn, bronze, suntan
• 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: TAN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 7 Down: "7. Played out"

Quick Info: This answer has 8 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that develop or come to a promising stage
• Words that mean the same thing: stretch out, blossom out, unfold
• The opposite would be: fold
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: UNFOLDED

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 8 Down: "8. Dig locale"

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 an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
• Words that mean the same thing: smash, deflower, wrecking
• 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: RUINS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 9 Down: "9. Not here"

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 in a foreign country
• Words that mean the same thing: afield, overseas
• 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: ABROAD

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 10 Down: "10. The Eagle, e.g., for short"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a spacecraft that carries astronauts from the command module to the surface of the moon and back
• Words that mean the same thing: lunar module, lunar excursion module
• 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: LEM

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 11 Down: "11. First Nigerian-born singer to win a Grammy"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about celebrity/entertainment.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that french soldier and writer whose descriptions of sexual perversion gave rise to the term `sadism' (1740-1814)
• Words that mean the same thing: Marquis de Sade, Comte Donatien Alphonse Francois de Sade, de Sade
• 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: SADE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 12 Down: "12. Epithet for Tarzan"

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: THEAPEMAN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 13 Down: "13. Causes to grow, humorously"

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: EMBIGGENS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 14 Down: "14. Car-washing equipment"

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: WETRAGS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 15 Down: "21. Locale for Ping-Pong, foosball, dancing, etc."

Quick Info: This answer has 7 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: RECHALL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 16 Down: "23. U.N. secretary general Guterres"

Quick Info: This answer has 7 letters. It's a hard 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: ANTONIO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 17 Down: "24. Quick"

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 hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
• Words that mean the same thing: perfunctory, casual, passing
• 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: CURSORY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 18 Down: "26. What might be heard before a bust"

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: HITME

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 19 Down: "27. Stab"

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 earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
• Words that mean the same thing: assay, try, set about
• 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: ATTEMPT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 20 Down: "29. Toys with strings"

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 a bank check that has been fraudulently altered to increase its face value
• Words that mean the same thing: kite, kit up, kit
• 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: KITES

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 21 Down: "30. Did some shallow breathing?"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that dive with a snorkel
• Words that mean the same thing: snorkel
• 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: SNORKELED

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 22 Down: "31. Bootlicker's specialty"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that bend the knees and bow in a servile manner
• Words that mean the same thing: truckle, kotow, bootlick
• 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: KOWTOWING

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 23 Down: "32. Word with data or deal"

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 informal terms for nakedness
• Words that mean the same thing: bare-ass, naked as a jaybird, naked
• The opposite would be: cooked
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: RAW

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 24 Down: "35. Words to end a play"

Quick Info: This answer has 8 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: YOURTURN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 25 Down: "36. Pillar of the superhero community"

Quick Info: This answer has 7 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: BATPOLE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 26 Down: "39. Heavenly being"

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 an angel of the first order; usually portrayed as the winged head of a child
• 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: SERAPH

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 27 Down: "43. Maguire of 2009's "Brothers""

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 united states abstract painter influenced by oriental calligraphy (1890-1976)
• Words that mean the same thing: Mark Tobey
• 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: TOBEY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 28 Down: "44. Idaho senator Mike"

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: CRAPO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 29 Down: "45. It's a good thing"

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 a useful or valuable quality
• Words that mean the same thing: plus
• The opposite would be: liability
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ASSET

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 30 Down: "46. Spot check?"

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 restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal
• Words that mean the same thing: tether, triad, deuce-ace
• 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: LEASH

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 31 Down: "48. Fictional Dr. Jones, familiarly"

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: INDY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 32 Down: "50. Big deal"

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 written agreement between two states or sovereigns
• Words that mean the same thing: accord, treaty
• 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: PACT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 33 Down: "51. Many a North African"

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 member of a semitic people originally from the arabian peninsula and surrounding territories who speaks arabic and who inhabits much of the middle east and northern africa
• Words that mean the same thing: Arabian
• 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: ARAB

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 34 Down: "53. Use a hitch on"

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 the act of hauling something (as a vehicle) by means of a hitch or rope
• Words that mean the same thing: towage
• 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: TOW

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 35 Down: "54. People with a language of the same name"

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 member of a buddhist people inhabiting the area of the mekong river in laos and thailand and speaking the lao language; related to the thais
• Words that mean the same thing: Laotian
• 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: LAO

  Great job if you got it right!

Category Breakdown

Category	Number of Clues	Percentage
General Knowledge	52	76.5%
Short Answer	8	11.8%
Celebrity/Entertainment	3	4.4%
Abbreviation	2	2.9%
History	2	2.9%
Sports	1	1.5%

Complete Puzzle Statistics

Metric	Value
Across Clues	33
Down Clues	35
Total Clues	68
Average Answer Length	5.7 letters
Shortest Answer	3 letters
Longest Answer	13 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 Saturday, 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: August 29, 2025 at 03:03 AM

NY Times Crossword Answers July 14, 2020 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

NY Times Crossword Complete Solution: July 14, 2020

Published on Tuesday, July 14, 2020 • Updated daily

Our expert breakdown helps you solve the July 14 NYT crossword while expanding your vocabulary. Learn answer strategies and discover word connections.

Across Clues and Answers (39)

Clue #1: 1. Grant entry to

5-letter answer Answer: LETIN

Clue #2: 6. Things that may be open or folded

4-letter answer Answer: ARMS

Word Help: Synonyms: coat_of_arms, sleeve, subdivision
Antonyms: disarm

Clue #3: 10. "Friends" or "Frasier"

4-letter answer Answer: SHOW

Word Help: Synonyms: exhibit, establish, point
Antonyms: disprove, hide

Clue #4: 14. Pizzeria needs

5-letter answer Answer: OVENS

Word Help: Synonyms: oven

Clue #5: 15. Jacob's first bride

4-letter answer Answer: LEAH

Clue #6: 16. Give a hoot

4-letter answer Answer: CARE

Word Help: Synonyms: tending, precaution, forethought

Clue #7: 17. Super-cold spell on the set of a 1996 Broadway musical?

10-letter answer Answer: RENTFREEZE

Clue #8: 19. What yeast makes dough do

4-letter answer Answer: RISE

Word Help: Synonyms: go_up, jump, uprise
Antonyms: wane, go_to_bed

Clue #9: 20. One of the First Nations of Canada

4-letter answer Answer: CREE

Word Help: Synonyms: Cree

Clue #10: 21. Primates, for humans

5-letter answer Answer: ORDER

Word Help: Synonyms: ordain, orderliness, purchase_order
Antonyms: deregulate, disorderliness

Clue #11: 22. Newsmaking ex-Yankee, informally

4-letter answer Answer: AROD

Clue #12: 23. Have a magnetic effect on

7-letter answer Answer: ATTRACT

Word Help: Synonyms: attract, draw_in, appeal
Antonyms: repel

Clue #13: 25. Gloss targets

4-letter answer Answer: LIPS

Word Help: Synonyms: lip, sass, sassing

Clue #14: 27. Org. concerned with sustainability

3-letter answer Answer: EPA

Word Help: Synonyms: Environmental_Protection_Agency, EPA

Clue #15: 28. Full out

8-letter answer Answer: WHOLEHOG

Clue #16: 32. Waxing crescent, e.g.

5-letter answer Answer: PHASE

Word Help: Synonyms: phase_angle, phase, form

Clue #17: 35. Succumb to pressure

5-letter answer Answer: CRACK

Word Help: Synonyms: check, topnotch, crock_up

Clue #18: 36. Abbr. in a discount bin

3-letter answer Answer: IRR

Clue #19: 37. Tweetstorm, e.g.

4-letter answer Answer: RANT

Word Help: Synonyms: spout, rant, mouth_off

Clue #20: 38. Old piano's sound

5-letter answer Answer: PLONK

Word Help: Synonyms: plunk_down, plump, flump

Clue #21: 39. Christmas ___

4-letter answer Answer: TREE

Word Help: Synonyms: shoetree, tree_diagram, corner

Clue #22: 40. Have title to

3-letter answer Answer: OWN

Word Help: Synonyms: own, have, possess

Clue #23: 41. Concert piano

5-letter answer Answer: GRAND

Word Help: Synonyms: gilded, distinguished, lofty

Clue #24: 42. Trying to look cultured

5-letter answer Answer: ARTSY

Clue #25: 43. Saying "No thanks" to, say

8-letter answer Answer: SKIPPING

Word Help: Synonyms: decamp, jump, vamoose

Clue #26: 45. One of the components of an M.L.B. Triple Crown

3-letter answer Answer: RBI

Word Help: Synonyms: rbi, run_batted_in

Clue #27: 46. Workplace discrimination law enforcer, for short

4-letter answer Answer: EEOC

Clue #28: 47. We two

7-letter answer Answer: YOUANDI

Clue #29: 51. Where to find Amazon's Alexa

4-letter answer Answer: ECHO

Word Help: Synonyms: reverberation, Echo, echo

Clue #30: 53. Modern missives

5-letter answer Answer: EMAIL

Word Help: Synonyms: e-mail, electronic_mail, email
Antonyms: snail_mail

Clue #31: 56. Norse goddess of fate

4-letter answer Answer: NORN

Word Help: Synonyms: Norn, weird_sister

Clue #32: 57. Suds maker

4-letter answer Answer: SOAP

Word Help: Synonyms: easy_lay, lather, grievous_bodily_harm

Clue #33: 58. Positive, albeit terse, review of a 2003 Broadway musical?

10-letter answer Answer: WICKEDGOOD

Clue #34: 60. Like tales you can't believe

4-letter answer Answer: TALL

Word Help: Synonyms: grandiloquent, marvellous, improbable
Antonyms: short

Clue #35: 61. Poker prerequisite

4-letter answer Answer: ANTE

Word Help: Synonyms: ante

Clue #36: 62. Dark, yellowish green

5-letter answer Answer: OLIVE

Word Help: Synonyms: Olea_europaea, European_olive_tree, olive

Clue #37: 63. It keeps the wheels turning

4-letter answer Answer: AXLE

Word Help: Synonyms: axle

Clue #38: 64. Muckraking journalist Jacob

4-letter answer Answer: RIIS

Clue #39: 65. Kind of message made obsolescent by faxes

5-letter answer Answer: TELEX

Word Help: Synonyms: telex, teletypewriter, teletype_machine

Across Clues and Answers (39)

Clue #1: 1. Poet/playwright Federico García ___

5-letter answer Answer: LORCA

Word Help: Synonyms: Lorca, Frederico_Garcia_Lorca, Garcia_Lorca

Clue #2: 2. Chris in the International Tennis Hall of Fame

5-letter answer Answer: EVERT

Word Help: Synonyms: Evert, Chrissie_Evert, evert

Clue #3: 3. Core belief

5-letter answer Answer: TENET

Word Help: Synonyms: dogma, tenet

Clue #4: 4. It may grow via compounding

8-letter answer Answer: INTEREST

Word Help: Synonyms: sake, interest_group, pursuit
Antonyms: bore, uninterestingness

Clue #5: 5. Abbr. on a returned check

3-letter answer Answer: NSF

Word Help: Synonyms: National_Science_Foundation, NSF

Clue #6: 6. Wide-eyed

5-letter answer Answer: ALERT

Word Help: Synonyms: rattling, snappy, zippy
Antonyms: unalert

Clue #7: 7. Plant by a pond

4-letter answer Answer: REED

Word Help: Synonyms: Reed, reed, reed_instrument

Clue #8: 8. Lab rat's challenge

4-letter answer Answer: MAZE

Word Help: Synonyms: snarl, tangle, maze

Clue #9: 9. Genius, informally

8-letter answer Answer: SHERLOCK

Word Help: Synonyms: PI, sherlock, operative

Clue #10: 10. What a bandage may cover

6-letter answer Answer: SCRAPE

Word Help: Synonyms: excoriation, genuflect, scrape

Clue #11: 11. Souvenir from a 1968 Broadway musical?

9-letter answer Answer: HAIRSHIRT

Clue #12: 12. Estimator's phrase

4-letter answer Answer: ORSO

Clue #13: 13. Gardener's bane

4-letter answer Answer: WEED

Word Help: Synonyms: grass, smoke, sess
Antonyms: cultivated_plant

Clue #14: 18. Almond ___ (candy brand)

4-letter answer Answer: ROCA

Clue #15: 24. Something studied by a primatologist

3-letter answer Answer: APE

Word Help: Synonyms: copycat, emulator, aper

Clue #16: 26. Sort

3-letter answer Answer: ILK

Word Help: Synonyms: ilk, like

Clue #17: 28. All wet

5-letter answer Answer: WRONG

Word Help: Synonyms: unseasonable, incorrectly, awry
Antonyms: correctly, right

Clue #18: 29. Unit in the measure of a horse's height

4-letter answer Answer: HAND

Word Help: Synonyms: bridge_player, paw, hired_hand

Clue #19: 30. Miners' finds

4-letter answer Answer: ORES

Word Help: Synonyms: ore

Clue #20: 31. Jennifer of "Dirty Dancing"

4-letter answer Answer: GREY

Word Help: Synonyms: grizzly, Grey, greyness

Clue #21: 32. Reasons to do something

4-letter answer Answer: PROS

Word Help: Synonyms: professional, pro
Antonyms: con, amateur

Clue #22: 33. War supporter

4-letter answer Answer: HAWK

Word Help: Synonyms: monger, pitch, war_hawk
Antonyms: dove

Clue #23: 34. Performance venue for a 1977 Broadway musical?

9-letter answer Answer: ANNIEHALL

Clue #24: 35. Extended family

4-letter answer Answer: CLAN

Word Help: Synonyms: tribe, kinship_group, kin

Clue #25: 38. Conflict helpful to customers

8-letter answer Answer: PRICEWAR

Clue #26: 39. Word with love or right

8-letter answer Answer: TRIANGLE

Word Help: Synonyms: Triangulum, trigon, triangle

Clue #27: 41. Collector of letters: Abbr.

3-letter answer Answer: GPO

Word Help: Synonyms: US_Government_Printing_Office, United_States_Government_Printing_Office, GPO

Clue #28: 42. "Aladdin" monkey

3-letter answer Answer: ABU

Clue #29: 44. Sexiest Man Alive magazine

6-letter answer Answer: PEOPLE

Word Help: Synonyms: citizenry, the_great_unwashed, hoi_polloi

Clue #30: 45. Auditioner's desire

4-letter answer Answer: ROLE

Word Help: Synonyms: character, purpose, use

Clue #31: 47. "Aiiieee!"

5-letter answer Answer: YIKES

Clue #32: 48. Dieter's food request, maybe

5-letter answer Answer: NOOIL

Clue #33: 49. Motored

5-letter answer Answer: DROVE

Word Help: Synonyms: repulse, get, force
Antonyms: attract

Clue #34: 50. End of many a nonfiction book

5-letter answer Answer: INDEX

Word Help: Synonyms: indicator, exponent, indicant

Clue #35: 51. ___ noche (tonight: Sp.)

4-letter answer Answer: ESTA

Clue #36: 52. Sweet-talk

4-letter answer Answer: COAX

Word Help: Synonyms: palaver, sweet-talk, coaxial_cable

Clue #37: 54. ___ Cooper

4-letter answer Answer: MINI

Word Help: Synonyms: mini, miniskirt
Antonyms: midi

Clue #38: 55. Broadway opening?

4-letter answer Answer: ACTI

Clue #39: 59. Pointillism unit

3-letter answer Answer: DOT

Word Help: Synonyms: scatter, dit, point

Expert Solving Strategies

• Look for fill-in-the-blank clues first (they're often easiest)
• Watch for question marks indicating wordplay
• Check vowel patterns in partially solved words

Related Search Terms

NYT Crossword Help, Daily Puzzle Solutions, Crossword Answer Finder, July Crossword Answers