December 27, 2023 NYT Clues Solutions | XWordHint

Quick Navigation - Table of Contents

• Puzzle Overview & Difficulty
• Across Clues (39 clues)
• Down Clues (37 clues)
• Category Breakdown
• Complete Puzzle Statistics
• Pro Solving Tips

Puzzle Overview & Difficulty Analysis

Date: Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Difficulty Level: Moderate Wednesday Puzzle

Total Clues: 76 (39 Across, 37 Down)

Average Word Length: 5.0 letters

December 27, 2023 Wednesday NYT - Complete Across Solutions

No.	Clue	Letters
1A	1. Travel requirement, at times	4
2A	5. Where the 10 countries with the lowest median age are all located	6
3A	11. Sounds of surprise	3
4A	14. Book before Romans	4
5A	15. "King James"	6
6A	16. Word before nail or after steel	3
7A	17. Cluster, as of grass	4
8A	18. Product of volcanic activity	6
9A	19. Certain grueling race, informally	3
10A	20. Factory ___	5
11A	22. Moccasins, but not oxfords	7
12A	24. Voice of doom	8
13A	27. It's a me problem	6
14A	28. End up OK	6
15A	29. Boring bit	5
16A	31. Not forbidden	5
17A	32. "A Doll's House" playwright	5
18A	33. Quattro preceder	3
19A	36. "Joking!"	4
20A	37. Secret traders	5
21A	38. Father on "Modern Family"	4
22A	39. Prof's helpers	3
23A	40. Mary, Queen of ___	5
24A	41. Roman fountain name	5
25A	42. Digital money	5
26A	43. Van Gogh masterpiece	6
27A	44. One dying for a cause	6
28A	47. Leave a mark on?	8
29A	49. Put up	7
30A	51. Japanese exporter of diesel engines	5
31A	52. Coastal inlet	3
32A	53. "___ Fideles"	6
33A	55. Letters that go in both blanks of ___ ___tofferson	4
34A	58. Jug unit: Abbr.	3
35A	59. Comfy shoe	6
36A	60. Bank note made of pure cotton fiber	4
37A	61. Bow-making timber	3
38A	62. "Enthusiasm is the mother of ___": Ralph Waldo Emerson	6
39A	63. One may ask for a dinner preference	4

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. Travel requirement, at times"

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 an endorsement made in a passport that allows the bearer to enter the country issuing 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: VISA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 2 Across: "5. Where the 10 countries with the lowest median age are all located"

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 the second largest continent; located to the south of europe and bordered to the west by the south atlantic and to the east by the indian ocean
• 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: AFRICA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 3 Across: "11. Sounds of surprise"

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 midwestern state in north central united states in the great lakes region
• Words that mean the same thing: Ohio, Buckeye State, OH
• 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: OHS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 4 Across: "14. Book before Romans"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about literature.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a new testament book describing the development of the early church from christ's ascension to paul's sojourn at rome
• Words that mean the same thing: deed, roleplay, number
• The opposite would be: refrain
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ACTS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 5 Across: "15. "King James""

Quick Info: This answer has 6 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: LEBRON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 6 Across: "16. Word before nail or after steel"

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 one of the digits of the foot
• Words that mean the same thing: toenail
• 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: TOE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 7 Across: "17. Cluster, as of grass"

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 bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass
• Words that mean the same thing: tussock
• 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: TUFT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 8 Across: "18. Product of volcanic activity"

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 the commonest type of solidified lava; a dense dark grey fine-grained igneous rock that is composed chiefly of plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene
• 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: BASALT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 9 Across: "19. Certain grueling race, informally"

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

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: TRI

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 10 Across: "20. Factory ___"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium clue about celebrity/entertainment.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that device for resetting instruments or controls
• Words that mean the same thing: readjust
• 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: RESET

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 11 Across: "22. Moccasins, but not oxfords"

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: SLIPONS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 12 Across: "24. Voice of doom"

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 a person who alarms others needlessly
• 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: ALARMIST

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 13 Across: "27. It's a me problem"

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 (ethics) the theory that the pursuit of your own welfare in the basis of morality
• Words that mean the same thing: self-centeredness, egocentrism, self-concern
• The opposite would be: altruism
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EGOISM

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 14 Across: "28. End up OK"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 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: PANOUT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 15 Across: "29. Boring bit"

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 long flexible steel coil for dislodging stoppages in curved pipes
• Words that mean the same thing: gimlet, wimble, plumber's snake
• 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: AUGER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 16 Across: "31. Not forbidden"

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 sanctioned by custom or morality especially sexual morality
• Words that mean the same thing: lawful, legitimate
• The opposite would be: illicit
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: LICIT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 17 Across: "32. "A Doll's House" playwright"

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 realistic norwegian author who wrote plays on social and political themes (1828-1906)
• Words that mean the same thing: Henrik Johan Ibsen, Henrik Ibsen
• 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: IBSEN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 18 Across: "33. Quattro preceder"

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

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: TRE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 19 Across: "36. "Joking!""

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: IKID

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 20 Across: "37. Secret traders"

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 (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
• Words that mean the same thing: undercover agent, snoop, sleuth
• 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: SPIES

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 21 Across: "38. Father on "Modern Family""

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: PHIL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 22 Across: "39. Prof's helpers"

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 hard grey lustrous metallic element that is highly resistant to corrosion; occurs in niobite and fergusonite and tantalite
• Words that mean the same thing: atomic number 73, tantalum, Ta
• 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: TAS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 23 Across: "40. Mary, Queen of ___"

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 the dialect of english used in scotland
• Words that mean the same thing: Scot, Scottish, Scots English
• 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: SCOTS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 24 Across: "41. Roman fountain name"

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: TREVI

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 25 Across: "42. Digital money"

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: ECASH

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 26 Across: "43. Van Gogh masterpiece"

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 plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals
• Words that mean the same thing: iris, iris diaphragm, fleur-de-lis
• 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: IRISES

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 27 Across: "44. One dying for a cause"

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 one who suffers for the sake of principle
• Words that mean the same thing: martyrise, martyrize, sufferer
• 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: MARTYR

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 28 Across: "47. Leave a mark on?"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that add explanatory notes to or supply with critical comments
• Words that mean the same thing: comment, gloss, footnote
• 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: ANNOTATE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 29 Across: "49. Put up"

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 construct, build, or erect
• Words that mean the same thing: rear, set up, erect
• The opposite would be: level
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ERECTED

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 30 Across: "51. Japanese exporter of diesel engines"

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: ISUZU

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 31 Across: "52. Coastal inlet"

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

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: RIA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 32 Across: "53. "___ Fideles""

Quick Info: This answer has 6 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: ADESTE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 33 Across: "55. Letters that go in both blanks of ___ ___tofferson"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a malayan dagger with a wavy blade
• Words that mean the same thing: creese, crease
• 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: KRIS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 34 Across: "58. Jug unit: Abbr."

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that united states liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters
• Words that mean the same thing: gallon
• 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: GAL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 35 Across: "59. Comfy shoe"

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 person who does no work
• Words that mean the same thing: layabout, bum, idler
• 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: LOAFER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 36 Across: "60. Bank note made of pure cotton fiber"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the basic monetary unit of most members of the european union (introduced in 1999); in 2002 twelve european nations (germany, france, belgium, luxembourg, the netherlands, italy, spain, portugal, ireland, greece, austria, finland) adopted the euro as their basic unit of money and abandoned their traditional currencies
• 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: EURO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 37 Across: "61. Bow-making timber"

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 any of various trees of the genus ulmus: important timber or shade trees
• Words that mean the same thing: elmwood, elm tree
• 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: ELM

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 38 Across: "62. "Enthusiasm is the mother of ___": Ralph Waldo Emerson"

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 earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
• Words that mean the same thing: attempt, sweat, drive
• 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: EFFORT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 39 Across: "63. One may ask for a dinner preference"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 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: RSVP

  Great job if you got it right!

Down Clues Decoded - Wednesday NYT Crossword December 27, 2023

No.	Clue	Letters
1D	1. Acid container, maybe	3
2D	2. Hosp. area	3
3D	3. Friar known for his patronage of animals	9
4D	4. What had a major impact on this puzzle's theme?	8
5D	5. Notwithstanding	6
6D	6. Guinness records, typically	5
7D	7. Some handoff recipients in football, for short	3
8D	8. Some investments, in brief	4
9D	9. Boston, Amherst and others	8
10D	10. Immune response trigger	7
11D	11. "Great" 10th-century emperor	5
12D	12. Features of many ceratopsians	5
13D	13. Something possibly triggered during a mass extinction event	5
14D	21. Blue material	4
15D	23. "___ favor"	3
16D	24. Accelerated H.S. English course	5
17D	25. First dog on an orbital spaceflight	5
18D	26. Novelist King who wrote "Caretakers" and "One on One"	7
19D	30. Applications	4
20D	32. Some W.S.J. topics	4
21D	33. Writer's reference … or what each row of shaded letters is missing?	9
22D	34. It helps keep a tight ship tight	5
23D	35. Beethoven's "Für ___"	5
24D	37. Spooked by	8
25D	38. Annual architecture award	8
26D	40. Ancient method of encipherment with a message wrapped around a cylinder	7
27D	41. Pants, but half off?	4
28D	42. List follower	3
29D	43. Newspaper supplement	6
30D	44. Come together	5
31D	45. Common typeface	5
32D	46. Ruler's dimensions?	5
33D	48. Crystalline mineral deposits in some caves	5
34D	50. Like Beethoven, by his mid-40s	4
35D	54. West Coast airport code	3
36D	56. Music producer Gotti who worked with Ja Rule and J.Lo	3
37D	57. Soak (up)	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. Acid container, maybe"

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 tax levied on the difference between a commodity's price before taxes and its cost of production
• Words that mean the same thing: value-added tax, ad valorem tax, tub
• 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: VAT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 2 Down: "2. Hosp. area"

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 hospital unit staffed and equipped to provide intensive care
• Words that mean the same thing: intensive care unit
• 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: ICU

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 3 Down: "3. Friar known for his patronage of animals"

Quick Info: This answer has 9 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: STFRANCIS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 4 Down: "4. What had a major impact on this puzzle's theme?"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that any of numerous small celestial bodies composed of rock and metal that move around the sun (mainly between the orbits of mars and jupiter)
• Words that mean the same thing: star-shaped
• 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: ASTEROID

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 5 Down: "5. Notwithstanding"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 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: ALBEIT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 6 Down: "6. Guinness records, typically"

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 notable achievement
• Words that mean the same thing: effort, exploit, feat
• 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: FEATS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 7 Down: "7. Some handoff recipients in football, 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 soft silvery metallic element of the alkali metal group; burns in air and reacts violently in water; occurs in carnallite and lepidolite and pollucite
• Words that mean the same thing: Rb, rubidium, atomic number 37
• 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: RBS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 8 Down: "8. Some investments, in brief"

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 militant organization of irish nationalists who used terrorism and guerilla warfare in an effort to drive british forces from northern ireland and achieve a united independent ireland
• Words that mean the same thing: Provisional Irish Republican Army, wrath, IRA
• 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: IRAS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 9 Down: "9. Boston, Amherst and others"

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 the body of faculty and students of a college
• Words that mean the same thing: college
• 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: COLLEGES

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 10 Down: "10. Immune response trigger"

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 any substance (as a toxin or enzyme) that stimulates an immune response in the body (especially the production of antibodies)
• 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: ANTIGEN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 11 Down: "11. "Great" 10th-century emperor"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium 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: OTTOI

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 12 Down: "12. Features of many ceratopsians"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium clue about history.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it
• Words that mean the same thing: trump, hooter, saddle horn
• 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: HORNS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 13 Down: "13. Something possibly triggered during a mass extinction event"

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 shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity
• Words that mean the same thing: temblor, earthquake, quake
• 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: SEISM

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 14 Down: "21. Blue material"

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 black colloidal substance consisting wholly or principally of amorphous carbon and used to make pigments and ink
• Words that mean the same thing: lampblack, crock, smut fungus
• 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: SMUT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 15 Down: "23. "___ favor""

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

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: POR

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 16 Down: "24. Accelerated H.S. English course"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium 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: APLIT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 17 Down: "25. First dog on an orbital spaceflight"

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: LAIKA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 18 Down: "26. Novelist King who wrote "Caretakers" and "One on One""

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

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: TABITHA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 19 Down: "30. Applications"

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 the act of using
• Words that mean the same thing: practice, utilize, economic consumption
• 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: USES

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 20 Down: "32. Some W.S.J. topics"

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 corporation's first offer to sell stock to the public
• Words that mean the same thing: initial offering, IPO, initial public offering
• 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: IPOS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 21 Down: "33. Writer's reference … or what each row of shaded letters is missing?"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a book containing a classified list of synonyms
• Words that mean the same thing: synonym finder
• 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: THESAURUS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 22 Down: "34. It helps keep a tight ship tight"

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 ornament consisting of a circular rounded protuberance (as on a vault or shield or belt)
• Words that mean the same thing: concentrate, centre, stud
• 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: RIVET

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 23 Down: "35. Beethoven's "Für ___""

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: ELISE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 24 Down: "37. Spooked by"

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: SCAREDOF

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 25 Down: "38. Annual architecture award"

Quick Info: This answer has 8 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: PRITZKER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 26 Down: "40. Ancient method of encipherment with a message wrapped around a cylinder"

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: SCYTALE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 27 Down: "41. Pants, but half off?"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 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: TROU

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 28 Down: "42. List follower"

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

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: ETC

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 29 Down: "43. Newspaper supplement"

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 a folded section placed between the leaves of another publication
• Words that mean the same thing: cut-in, enclose, inclose
• 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: INSERT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 30 Down: "44. Come together"

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 mix together different elements
• Words that mean the same thing: unite, combine, mix
• The opposite would be: disunify
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: MERGE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 31 Down: "45. Common typeface"

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: ARIAL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 32 Down: "46. Ruler's dimensions?"

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 a domain in which something is dominant
• Words that mean the same thing: land, region, kingdom
• 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: REALM

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 33 Down: "48. Crystalline mineral deposits in some caves"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about history.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that (kno3) used especially as a fertilizer and explosive
• Words that mean the same thing: saltpeter, potassium nitrate, saltpetre
• 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: NITER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 34 Down: "50. Like Beethoven, by his mid-40s"

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 people who have severe hearing impairments
• Words that mean the same thing: deafen, indifferent
• The opposite would be: hearing
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: DEAF

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 35 Down: "54. West Coast airport code"

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

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: SFO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 36 Down: "56. Music producer Gotti who worked with Ja Rule and J.Lo"

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

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: IRV

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 37 Down: "57. Soak (up)"

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 piece of solid food for dipping in a liquid
• Words that mean the same thing: souse, drench, soak through
• 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: SOP

  Great job if you got it right!

Category Breakdown

Category	Number of Clues	Percentage
General Knowledge	50	65.8%
Short Answer	13	17.1%
History	6	7.9%
Literature	3	3.9%
Abbreviation	2	2.6%
Celebrity/Entertainment	1	1.3%
Music	1	1.3%

Complete Puzzle Statistics

Metric	Value
Across Clues	39
Down Clues	37
Total Clues	76
Average Answer Length	5.0 letters
Shortest Answer	3 letters
Longest Answer	9 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 Wednesday, 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 28, 2025 at 04:47 PM

February 08, 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | XWordHint

Quick Navigation - Table of Contents

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

Related Puzzles

Check out these other crossword solutions and helpful guides:

• January 04 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
• August 18 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
• June 19 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
• April 25 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
• November 20 2021 NYT Clues Solutions

Puzzle Overview & Difficulty Analysis

Date: Saturday, February 08, 2020

Difficulty Level: Moderate Wednesday Puzzle

Total Clues: 68 (35 Across, 33 Down)

Average Word Length: 5.6 letters

Across Clues Explained - Saturday NYT Crossword February 08, 2020

No.	Clue	Letters
1A	1. Modest qualifier, online	4
2A	5. Sling	4
3A	9. Where it's at	4
4A	13. Easy kill in Fortnite, say	4
5A	14. ___ days	5
6A	16. Nabe	4
7A	17. Problems with pay or paper	4
8A	18. Information in a shopping guide	10
9A	20. End of some business names	5
10A	22. Media pro	8
11A	23. Rides into battle	6
12A	25. Grease	5
13A	26. Bratty kid	4
14A	27. Bomb	4
15A	28. U.N. agcy. headquartered in Geneva	3
16A	31. Many a staffer for a late-night show	10
17A	34. "Keen!"	4
18A	35. Musical alter ego of Donald Glover	15
19A	37. Minute	4
20A	38. Relatives of water skis	10
21A	39. Go soft, in a way	3
22A	40. Rocker Joan	4
23A	41. Lights or darks, e.g.	4
24A	42. One way to take stock?	5
25A	43. Gardeners' tools	6
26A	46. Beer with an astronomical name	8
27A	49. What Brits call a "saloon"	5
28A	50. Cookout option for a vegetarian	10
29A	53. Last option on a survey	4
30A	54. Corvine : crows :: strigine : ___	4
31A	55. Word said with a handshake	5
32A	56. Lip, in slang	4
33A	57. When doubled, "I heard you the first time"	4
34A	58. Cartoonish wail	4
35A	59. Hullabaloo	4

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. Modest qualifier, online"

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: IMHO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 2 Across: "5. Sling"

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 the act of flipping a coin
• Words that mean the same thing: slash, thresh, thresh 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: TOSS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 3 Across: "9. Where it's at"

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 piece of land on which something is located (or is to be located)
• Words that mean the same thing: website, place, internet site
• 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: SITE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 4 Across: "13. Easy kill in Fortnite, say"

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: NOOB

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 5 Across: "14. ___ days"

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 food mixtures either arranged on a plate or tossed and served with a moist dressing; usually consisting of or including greens
• 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: SALAD

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 6 Across: "16. Nabe"

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 an aggressive and violent young criminal
• Words that mean the same thing: bonnet, toughie, thug
• 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: HOOD

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 7 Across: "17. Problems with pay or paper"

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 share of the profits
• Words that mean the same thing: gash, cut down, slash
• The opposite would be: expand, switch on
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: CUTS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 8 Across: "18. Information in a shopping guide"

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: PRICERANGE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 9 Across: "20. End of some business names"

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: ANDCO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 10 Across: "22. Media pro"

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: PRPERSON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 11 Across: "23. Rides into battle"

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 (literary) a spirited horse for state or war
• Words that mean the same thing: steed
• 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: STEEDS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 12 Across: "25. Grease"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 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: OILUP

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 13 Across: "26. Bratty kid"

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 person regarded as arrogant and annoying
• Words that mean the same thing: snob, snoot, prig
• 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: SNOT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 14 Across: "27. Bomb"

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 an arithmetic operation performed on floating-point numbers
• Words that mean the same thing: dud, fall flat, collapse
• 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: FLOP

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 15 Across: "28. U.N. agcy. headquartered in Geneva"

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 united nations agency to coordinate international health activities and to help governments improve health services
• Words that mean the same thing: World Health Organization
• 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: WHO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 16 Across: "31. Many a staffer for a late-night show"

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: JOKEWRITER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 17 Across: "34. "Keen!""

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 clean or organized
• Words that mean the same thing: refined, corking, nifty
• 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: NEAT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 18 Across: "35. Musical alter ego of Donald Glover"

Quick Info: This answer has 15 letters. It's a expert clue about music.

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: CHILDISHGAMBINO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 19 Across: "37. Minute"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a easy clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• Words that mean the same thing: flyspeck, midget, diminutive
• 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: TINY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 20 Across: "38. Relatives of water skis"

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: KNEEBOARDS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 21 Across: "39. Go soft, in a way"

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

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: SOG

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 22 Across: "40. Rocker Joan"

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: JETT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 23 Across: "41. Lights or darks, e.g."

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 weight to be borne or conveyed
• Words that mean the same thing: lode, burden, stretch
• 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: LOAD

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 24 Across: "42. One way to take stock?"

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 belgian composer (1532-1594)
• Words that mean the same thing: rope, reata, riata
• 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: LASSO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 25 Across: "43. Gardeners' tools"

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 a person who puts finishing edges on a garment
• Words that mean the same thing: edger
• 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: EDGERS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 26 Across: "46. Beer with an astronomical name"

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: BLUEMOON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 27 Across: "49. What Brits call a "saloon""

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 car that is closed and that has front and rear seats and two or four doors
• Words that mean the same thing: saloon, sedan chair
• 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: SEDAN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 28 Across: "50. Cookout option for a vegetarian"

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: BOCABURGER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 29 Across: "53. Last option on a survey"

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 canonical hour that is the ninth hour of the day counting from sunrise
• 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: NONE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 30 Across: "54. Corvine : crows :: strigine : ___"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
• Words that mean the same thing: bird of night, bird of Minerva, owl
• 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: OWLS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 31 Across: "55. Word said with a handshake"

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 state of peace agreed to between opponents so they can discuss peace terms
• Words that mean the same thing: armistice, cease-fire
• 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: TRUCE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 32 Across: "56. Lip, in slang"

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: TUDE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 33 Across: "57. When doubled, "I heard you the first time""

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that not only so, but
• Words that mean the same thing: yea
• 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: YEAH

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 34 Across: "58. Cartoonish wail"

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: YEOW

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 35 Across: "59. Hullabaloo"

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 a prominent or sensational but short-lived news event
• Words that mean the same thing: flurry, shake, agitate
• 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: STIR

  Great job if you got it right!

Down Clues Decoded - Saturday NYT Crossword February 08, 2020

No.	Clue	Letters
1D	1. Worshipers of the rain god Illapa	5
2D	2. Knight's need	5
3D	3. Office-sharing system, in modern lingo	10
4D	4. To an excessive degree	9
5D	5. One-sixth of a fl. oz.	3
6D	6. One might make a splash	3
7D	7. Possible insight for a psychologist	15
8D	8. Irreverence	9
9D	9. Exactly	5
10D	10. Sci-fi beam makeup	4
11D	11. Packed with plasticware, perhaps	4
12D	12. The plot of Genesis?	4
13D	15. Deserving of condemnation	10
14D	19. Extend, as an employment contract	4
15D	21. "Bridesmaids" co-star Chris	5
16D	24. Tries and fails	10
17D	28. Getting a strange vibe	10
18D	29. Helper	4
19D	30. Plains people	4
20D	31. Hwy. crossings	4
21D	32. North/South divide, with "the"	4
22D	33. Feels no remorse	9
23D	34. They get big bucks from big Bucks	9
24D	36. Climates	5
25D	40. Part of a frame job?	4
26D	42. Pet peeve?	5
27D	44. Businesswoman Zuckerberg, sister of Mark	5
28D	45. Not look so good?	5
29D	46. Break-dancer, in slang	4
30D	47. Home-improvement chain eponym	4
31D	48. Where Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played college ball	4
32D	51. Prefix with system	3
33D	52. Counterpart of FF	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. Worshipers of the rain god Illapa"

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 a ruler of the incas (or a member of his family)
• Words that mean the same thing: Inka, Inca, Incan
• 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: INCAS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 2 Down: "2. Knight's need"

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 lightweight horse kept for riding only
• Words that mean the same thing: rise, backing, ride
• The opposite would be: wane, hop out
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: MOUNT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 3 Down: "3. Office-sharing system, in modern lingo"

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: HOTDESKING

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 4 Down: "4. To an excessive degree"

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 to an obscene degree
• Words that mean the same thing: lewdly
• 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: OBSCENELY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 5 Down: "5. One-sixth of a fl. oz."

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

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: TSP

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 6 Down: "6. One might make a splash"

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 an implement used to propel or steer a boat
• 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: OAR

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 7 Down: "7. Possible insight for a psychologist"

Quick Info: This answer has 15 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: SLIPOFTHETONGUE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 8 Down: "8. Irreverence"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that blasphemous behavior; the act of depriving something of its sacred character
• Words that mean the same thing: profanation, blasphemy, desecration
• 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: SACRILEGE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 9 Down: "9. Exactly"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a easy clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a musical notation indicating one half step higher than the note named
• Words that mean the same thing: crisp, acuate, tart
• The opposite would be: dull, flat
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SHARP

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 10 Down: "10. Sci-fi beam makeup"

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 particle that is electrically charged (positive or negative); an atom or molecule or group that has lost or gained one or more electrons
• Words that mean the same thing: ion
• 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: IONS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 11 Down: "11. Packed with plasticware, perhaps"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a republic on the western coast of africa on the gulf of guinea; formerly under french control
• Words that mean the same thing: Togolese Republic
• 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: TOGO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 12 Down: "12. The plot of Genesis?"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
• Words that mean the same thing: Shangri-la, paradise, promised land
• 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: EDEN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 13 Down: "15. Deserving of condemnation"

Quick Info: This answer has 10 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that bad; unfortunate
• Words that mean the same thing: vicious, lamentable, distressing
• 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: DEPLORABLE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 14 Down: "19. Extend, as an employment contract"

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: REUP

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 15 Down: "21. "Bridesmaids" co-star Chris"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 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: ODOWD

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 16 Down: "24. Tries and fails"

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: STRIKESOUT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 17 Down: "28. Getting a strange vibe"

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: WEIRDEDOUT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 18 Down: "29. Helper"

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 the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
• Words that mean the same thing: helping hand, pass on, hired hand
• 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 19 Down: "30. Plains people"

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 the siouan people inhabiting the valleys of the platte and missouri rivers in nebraska
• Words that mean the same thing: Oto, Otoe
• 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: OTOS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 20 Down: "31. Hwy. crossings"

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: JCTS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 21 Down: "32. North/South divide, with "the""

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 midwestern state in north central united states in the great lakes region
• Words that mean the same thing: Buckeye State, OH, Ohio River
• 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: OHIO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 22 Down: "33. Feels no remorse"

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: ISNTSORRY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 23 Down: "34. They get big bucks from big Bucks"

Quick Info: This answer has 9 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: NBAAGENTS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 24 Down: "36. Climates"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a easy clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
• Words that mean the same thing: mood, temper, climate
• 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: MOODS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 25 Down: "40. Part of a frame job?"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that upright consisting of a vertical side member of a door or window frame
• 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: JAMB

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 26 Down: "42. Pet peeve?"

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: trey, 3, ternion
• 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 27 Down: "44. Businesswoman Zuckerberg, sister of Mark"

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: RANDI

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 28 Down: "45. Not look so good?"

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 a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls
• Words that mean the same thing: leer
• 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: SNEER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 29 Down: "46. Break-dancer, in slang"

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: BBOY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 30 Down: "47. Home-improvement chain eponym"

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: LOWE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 31 Down: "48. Where Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played college ball"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 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: UCLA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 32 Down: "51. Prefix with system"

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

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: ECO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 33 Down: "52. Counterpart of FF"

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

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: REW

  Great job if you got it right!

Category Breakdown

Category	Number of Clues	Percentage
General Knowledge	59	86.8%
Short Answer	6	8.8%
Music	1	1.5%
History	1	1.5%
Celebrity/Entertainment	1	1.5%

Complete Puzzle Statistics

Metric	Value
Across Clues	35
Down Clues	33
Total Clues	68
Average Answer Length	5.6 letters
Shortest Answer	3 letters
Longest Answer	15 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!

More Crossword Resources

Explore more crossword solutions and helpful guides to improve your solving skills:

• August 18 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
• April 25 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
• May 26 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
• August 12 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
• All NYT Down Clues September 16 2025 41
• January 04 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
• April 03 2023 NYT Clues Solutions
• August 28 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
• November 20 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
• August 05 2020 NYT Clues Solutions

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: September 27, 2025 at 06:27 AM