If you’re tackling today’s New York Times crossword puzzle and are unable to find some of the cleverly disguised clues, then here we are with the solutions. Thursday puzzles often incorporate wordplay that can leave even seasoned solvers scratching their heads. Let’s break down some of the trickier clues from today’s grid.
Today’s Culinary Theme
Food enthusiasts might have an advantage with today’s puzzle, as several clues revolve around culinary terminology with misleading twists. The game cleverly revolves around restaurant types with ambiguous clues that require thinking beyond the obvious.
Explaining Each Crossword Clue
Let me break down each clue from the crossword puzzle you shared:
Across Clues
1. Hit the ___ (go to bed) = SACK
The phrase “hit the sack” is an idiom meaning to go to bed or go to sleep. It’s a casual expression where “sack” historically referred to a mattress that was often filled with straw or other materials.
5. Misleading name for a sub/shish kebab restaurant? = SUSHI
This is a play on words. “SUSHI” sounds similar to both “sub” (as in submarine sandwich) and “shish” (as in shish kebab). Still, it’s a completely different type of food (Japanese cuisine featuring vinegared rice with various toppings, often raw fish). The clue is asking for a misleading restaurant name that sounds like it might serve subs or kebabs but doesn’t.
6. Misleading name for a taco/pasta restaurant? = TAPAS
Similar to the previous clue, “TAPAS” sounds somewhat like “tacos” or “pasta” but refers to Spanish appetizers or small plates. Again, it would be misleading to name a restaurant serving Mexican tacos or Italian pasta as “Tapas.”
7. Certain sports bets = OVERS
In sports betting, particularly in cricket, betting on “overs” means wagering on whether the total score will exceed a specified number. This term is common in cricket betting terminology.
8. Cooped (up) = PENT
When something is “pent up,” it means it’s confined or restricted, similar to being “cooped up.” “Pent” is part of the phrase “pent-up” (as in pent-up emotions or energy).
Down Clues
1. Almost too sophisticated and charming = SUAVE
“Suave” describes someone who is smoothly charming, sophisticated, and confident in a polished way – someone who might be almost too charming or polished.
2. Upscale Colorado skiing destination = ASPEN
Aspen is a well-known luxury ski resort town in Colorado, famous for its upscale accommodations, high-end shops, and celebrity visitors.
3. Word after bar or pie = CHART
Both “bar chart” and “pie chart” are common types of visual data representations used in statistics and data analysis.
4. Smooch = KISS
A straightforward clue – “smooch” is a colloquial term for a kiss.
5. Word on an eight-sided traffic sign = STOP
The classic red octagonal (eight-sided) traffic sign displays the word “STOP,” instructing drivers to come to a complete halt.
Thursday Difficulty Level
Thursday puzzles in the NYT crossword week typically introduce more complex wordplay and trickery than Monday through Wednesday puzzles. Today’s puzzle maintains that tradition with its misleading restaurant clues and clever misdirections.
