Here's all New York Times Crossword answers for 9 January 2025, Thursday (01-09-25). Find all answers and solutions here.
We've also tries to explain why the answer is the correct solution for each clue.
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Clues and answers
Clues followed by answers and an explanation underneath.
1960s dance craze : WATUSI
The Watusi was a popular dance craze in the 1960s, originating from Africa. It involved swaying your body and moving your arms in a rhythmic motion.
Alpha male (double) : ARTHUR ASHE (Alpha = A)
The answer "ARTHUR ASHE" fits because "Alpha" is represented by the letter "A" in the NATO phonetic alphabet, and "male" is often represented by the word "he." So, "Alpha male" translates to "A he," which sounds like "Arthur Ashe" when said out loud.
At the end of the day : ALL IN ALL
The phrase "all in all" is often used to sum up or conclude a situation, making it a fitting answer for the clue "At the end of the day."
Awesome, in 1990s slang : PHAT
"PHAT" was a slang term in the 1990s meaning excellent or impressive. It is a shortened version of "pretty hot and tempting."
Bit of medieval weaponry : AXE
The answer "AXE" fits the clue "Bit of medieval weaponry" because axes were commonly used as weapons during medieval times. They were a popular choice for soldiers and knights due to their effectiveness in close combat.
Body with many pages : SENATE
The answer "SENATE" fits the clue "Body with many pages" because the Senate is a legislative body that deals with a large amount of written documents and legislation, often contained in many pages.
Bring trouble to : VEX
"VEX" means to bring trouble or distress to someone, making it a suitable answer to the clue "Bring trouble to."
Candy in plastic dispensers : PEZ
PEZ is a type of candy that is often found in plastic dispensers, making it the correct answer to the clue.
Casting director’s offering : PART
In the context of a casting director's offering, the term "part" refers to a role or character in a play, movie, or TV show that an actor can audition for.
Casual greeting : HIYA
The answer "HIYA" is a casual greeting because it is a colloquial way of saying "hi" or "hello". It is commonly used in informal conversations and is a friendly way to greet someone.
Challenge for a skier : ALP
The answer "ALP" is the right solution because it refers to a challenge for a skier as it is a steep mountain slope typically used for skiing.
Charlie horse : CLYDESDALE (Charlie = C)
The answer "CLYDESDALE" fits because "Charlie" is a hint to use the letter "C" in place of "Charlie" in the word "horse," resulting in "CLYDESDALE."
Cold-weather driving hazard : ICE RAIN
Composer Stravinsky : IGOR
IGOR is the first name of the composer Stravinsky, known for his influential works in the 20th century.
Cut some slack? : TAUTEN
"Cut some slack?" is a play on words suggesting the opposite of slack, which is tautness. Therefore, "TAUTEN" is the right solution as it means to make something tight or tense.
Danger in a Wile E. Coyote cartoon : TNT
In Wile E. Coyote cartoons, TNT is often used as a dangerous explosive that the coyote tries to use to catch the Road Runner. It is a common element in the cartoons and fits the clue well.
Dave or Ray of the Kinks : DAVIES
"Davies" is the surname of the brothers Dave and Ray Davies, who were members of the British rock band The Kinks. The clue is asking for the shared surname of the brothers, which is "Davies."
Eat dirt, say : BITE IT
The phrase "BITE IT" is a slang term meaning to endure a difficult situation without complaining. In this context, it fits the clue "Eat dirt, say" as it suggests facing a challenge without backing down or complaining.
Entire, in Italian : TUTTO
"TUTTO" is the Italian word for "entire." In this clue, the phrase "in Italian" indicates that we are looking for the Italian translation of the word "entire," which is "TUTTO."
Fake : ERSATZ
The word "phony" is the right answer because it means "fake" or "not genuine." It is a common synonym for fake and fits the clue perfectly.
Fashion designer’s asset : EYE
The answer "EYE" for the clue "Fashion designer’s asset" refers to the ability to have a good eye for design, style, and aesthetics in the fashion industry. Fashion designers need a keen eye to create visually appealing and innovative clothing and accessories.
Fictional thief Lupin : ARSENE
The answer is "ARSENE" because the clue refers to a fictional thief named Arsène Lupin, a character created by French author Maurice Leblanc.
Film writer/director Goldberg : EVAN
Evan Goldberg is a well-known film writer and director in Hollywood, making "EVAN" the correct answer to the clue "Film writer/director Goldberg."
Golf course : GAZPACHO (Golf = G)
Groucho Marx specialty : QUIP
"Groucho Marx specialty" refers to the quick, witty remarks he was known for in his comedy performances. The word "QUIP" is a synonym for a clever or witty remark, making it the right solution for this clue.
Grp. whose alphabet is used eight times in this puzzle : NATO
NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and its alphabet is used eight times in the puzzle because the letters N, A, T, and O appear in the answers to eight different clues.
Harbor markers : BUOYS
The answer "BUOYS" is correct because buoys are floating markers used to indicate navigational hazards, channels, or the location of a harbor.
Haunted house feeling : FEAR
This is the right solution because the feeling of fear is commonly associated with being in a haunted house.
Info at JFK or LAX : ETA
The answer "ETA" stands for Estimated Time of Arrival, which is information commonly found at airports like JFK or LAX to let people know when a flight is expected to land.
Info in a job posting : SALARY
"SALARY" is the right answer because job postings often include information about the salary or pay that the position offers.
Italian for “baked” : COTTA
"Cotta" is the Italian word for "baked." This makes it the correct answer to the clue "Italian for 'baked'."
Kind of lens for long-distance shots : TELEPHOTO
The answer "TELEPHOTO" is correct because a telephoto lens is specifically designed for capturing distant subjects, making it ideal for long-distance shots in photography.
Knight of film : JEDI
The answer "JEDI" fits the clue "Knight of film" because Jedi are knights in the Star Wars film series, known for their skills in using the Force and lightsabers to uphold peace and justice.
Leader of Germany? : SOFT G
"Leader of Germany?" is a wordplay clue where "Leader" refers to the first letter of a word. In this case, the first letter of "Germany" is G. Adding the word "soft" before G gives us "SOFT G," which sounds like "Sophie," a common female name in Germany.
Links figures : PARS
"PARS" is the right solution because in golf, "PAR" is the standard number of strokes that a skilled golfer is expected to take to complete a hole or a round. So "PARS" refers to figures related to golf, specifically the expected number of strokes.
Lob in the direction of : TOSS TO
The clue "Lob in the direction of" indicates an action of tossing something to a specific target or location. The answer "TOSS TO" fits this description perfectly as it implies the act of throwing or lobbing something in a particular direction.
Long, long time : AEON
The answer "EON" is the right solution because an eon is a unit of time that represents an extremely long period. It is used to describe a time span that is beyond our normal perception of time.
Longtime Ford S.U.V. : BRONCO
The answer is "BRONCO" because the Ford Bronco is a well-known and long-running SUV model produced by Ford Motor Company.
Longtime wire service inits. : UPI
The answer "UPI" stands for United Press International, which is a longtime wire service.
More than a few : SEVERAL
"More than a few" implies a moderate amount, which can be described as "SEVERAL." It is a term used to indicate a number that is not just a couple or a few, but a bit more than that.
Mystery writer, in brief? : ANON
"ANON" is a common abbreviation for "anonymous," which is often used to refer to mystery writers who choose to remain unidentified.
Notable site of enlightenment : BODHI TREE
The Bodhi Tree is a notable site where Buddha attained enlightenment. It is a significant symbol in Buddhism, making it the right answer for the clue "Notable site of enlightenment."
Off-line, to those online : IRL
The answer "IRL" stands for "In Real Life," which is the opposite of being offline to those online. It is a common internet abbreviation used to refer to interactions or activities that occur in the physical world rather than online.
One image on a Monopoly board : JAIL
The answer is "JAIL" because one of the spaces on a Monopoly board is the "Jail" space where players can be sent for landing on certain spaces or drawing certain cards.
One of 3,000+ annually for IBM : PATENT
The answer "PATENT" fits because IBM is known for securing a large number of patents each year, with over 3,000 patents being granted annually to the company.
One of the founding airlines of Star Alliance : SAS
SAS, or Scandinavian Airlines System, is one of the founding airlines of Star Alliance, which is a global airline network. This makes SAS the correct answer to the clue.
Papa bear : PANDA (Papa = P)
The answer "PANDA" fits because "Papa" is a term for father, and in this case, the letter P represents "Papa" in the word "PANDA."
Pixar film set in the fictional town of Santa Cecilia : COCO
The Pixar film set in the fictional town of Santa Cecilia is "Coco" because the movie follows a young boy named Miguel who dreams of becoming a musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, and discovers his family's musical heritage on Dia de los Muertos.
Pizzeria purchase : SLICE
The answer "SLICE" fits the clue "Pizzeria purchase" because when you go to a pizzeria, you typically buy a slice of pizza.
Plaything : TOY
"Plaything" is a synonym for "toy," which is an object that is used for play by children or pets.
Point at, in a way : NOD TO
"NOD TO" can mean to acknowledge or make a gesture toward something or someone. In this context, "Point at, in a way" suggests a subtle or indirect reference, which aligns with the idea of nodding towards something.
Pointed the finger at : ID’ED
The answer "ID'ED" is short for "identified," which means to point the finger at or accuse someone of something. It fits the clue "Pointed the finger at" because it describes the action of identifying or blaming someone.
Poor mark : DEE
"DEE" is a poor mark in school, as it is a low grade often given for unsatisfactory work.
Put at risk : ENDANGER
"Put at risk" is a clue that indicates the action of endangering something or someone. "Endanger" means to expose to harm or danger, making it the correct answer to this clue.
Quebec city : QUITO (Quebec = Q)
unknown
Realm of Charlemagne, for short : HRE
The answer "HRE" stands for Holy Roman Empire, which was the realm of Charlemagne. The abbreviation "HRE" is commonly used to refer to the Holy Roman Empire in historical contexts.
Sierra Leone : SERGIO (Sierra = S)
unknown
Singer Gomez : SELENA
Selena Gomez is a well-known singer and actress, making "SELENA" the right answer for the clue "Singer Gomez."
Stands at first, say : IS ON
The phrase "stands at first" can be interpreted as "is on first base" in baseball lingo, making "IS ON" the correct answer.
Strong push : URGE
The answer "URGE" fits the clue "Strong push" because an urge is a strong desire or impulse to do something, which can be seen as a forceful push in a certain direction.
Tango number : THIRTEEN (Tango = T)
In the NATO phonetic alphabet, "T" represents "Tango." Therefore, in the context of a crossword puzzle, "Tango number" is referring to the number 13, which is spelled out as "THIRTEEN."
The whole shebang : A TO Z
The phrase "the whole shebang" is an idiom that means everything or the entirety of something. The word "ALL" is a concise and fitting answer that captures the meaning of the clue.
Three-time N.F.L. Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2014 and 2015) : JJ WATT
JJ Watt is a professional football player who won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award three times in 2012, 2014, and 2015, making him the correct answer to the clue.
Time periods : EPOCHS
"EPOCHS" is the right answer because an epoch is a specific period of time in history or a person's life that is significant or noteworthy. The clue "Time periods" is a general reference to specific eras or divisions of time, which aligns with the definition of an epoch.
To the ___ (with style) : NINES
The phrase "to the nines" means to be dressed or done up stylishly or perfectly. So, the answer "NINES" fits the clue "To the ___ (with style)" as it completes the idiom.
TV journalist Ling : LISA
LISA is the right answer because Lisa Ling is a well-known TV journalist.
Twin actress Mary-Kate or Ashley : OLSEN
"OLSEN" is the right answer because Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are twin actresses known for their roles in various movies and TV shows.
Vivacious, theatrical and passionate type, it’s said : LEO
The clue is describing someone who is vivacious, theatrical, and passionate, which are all traits associated with the zodiac sign Leo.
Whiskey soda : WELCH’S (Whiskey = W)
unknown
Yours, in French : A TOI
"A TOI" is the French phrase for "yours." In French, "A TOI" is used to indicate possession or belonging.
___ Kennedy Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics : EUNICE
Eunice Kennedy Shriver is the correct answer because she is the founder of the Special Olympics, making her a well-known figure associated with this organization.
___ Major : URSA
"Ursa Major" is the Latin name for the constellation commonly known as the Big Dipper. "Ursa" means "bear" in Latin, and the constellation is named after the Great Bear in Greek mythology.
“Maybe. Give me time to think” : I’LL SEE Down 1 “Fleabag” airer
The answer "I'LL SEE" fits the clue "Maybe. Give me time to think" because it conveys a sense of uncertainty and a request for more time to consider a decision.
“Obviously!” : DUH!
The word "DUH" is often used as a sarcastic response to something that is considered obvious, making it a fitting answer to the clue "Obviously."
“To suffer ___ which Hope thinks infinite” : Shelley
This clue is a direct reference to the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. The phrase "To suffer which Hope thinks infinite" is from his famous poem "Mont Blanc." Therefore, the answer is "Shelley."