Here's all New York Times Crossword answers for 16 April 2024, Tuesday (04-16-24). 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.
A spare one might be kept in the boot : TYRE
The answer "TYRE" fits the clue because a spare tyre is often kept in the boot of a car for emergencies.
Actor who played Oscar Wilde in “Wilde” [fish] : STEPHEN FRY
Stephen Fry is an actor who portrayed Oscar Wilde in the film "Wilde." The clue also includes the hint "[fish]," which is a play on words referring to the fact that Stephen Fry is a well-known actor and also shares a last name with a common type of fish, the fry.
Auction bundle : LOT
The word "LOT" is commonly used in auctions to refer to a group of items being sold together. It is a standard term in the auction industry, making it the correct answer for "Auction bundle."
Baker’s amts. : TSPS
The abbreviation "TSPS" stands for teaspoons, which are units of measurement commonly used in baking recipes.
Beef option at Chipotle : BARBACOA
"Barbacoa" is a popular beef option at Chipotle, made from slow-cooked shredded beef seasoned with spices. It fits the clue because it is a specific menu item offered at Chipotle that customers can choose as a protein option for their burritos, bowls, tacos, etc.
Being : ENTITY
The answer to "Being" is "PERSON" because a person refers to a human being.
Big name in baseball cards : TOPPS
The answer "TOPPS" is the right solution because Topps is a well-known and popular company that produces baseball cards.
Bit of Tex-Mex bar food : TACO
The answer "TACO" fits the clue "Bit of Tex-Mex bar food" because tacos are a popular Tex-Mex dish often served in bars and restaurants.
Bounce off the walls, say : ECHO
When sound waves hit a hard surface and reflect back to the listener, it creates an echo. In this context, "Bounce off the walls" is a clue hinting at the concept of sound waves reflecting off surfaces to create an echo, making "ECHO" the correct answer.
Certain immature adult … with a hint to both halves of the answers to each starred clue : MANBABY
The answer "MANBABY" is the right solution because when you combine the first half of each starred clue's answer with the second half, you get a term that describes a certain immature adult, which is "MANBABY."
Comes clean : OWNS UP
"Comes clean" is a common expression meaning to admit the truth or confess. "Owns up" is a phrase that means to take responsibility for something, which aligns with the idea of admitting the truth.
Crispy sammies : BLTS
BLTs stands for bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches, which are known for their crispy bacon component. Therefore, "Crispy sammies" is a clever clue that hints at BLTs being the right answer.
Deserving of a fire emoji, as a party : LIT
The word "lit" is often used to describe a party that is exciting, fun, or energetic. In modern slang, "lit" is associated with something that is on fire or hot, which is why it would be deserving of a fire emoji.
Discard : TOSS
The word "discard" is a synonym for "to toss", meaning to throw away or get rid of something.
Drink aptly found in “medieval era” : ALE
The clue is hinting at a type of drink that is commonly associated with the medieval era, and "ALE" fits the description as it was a popular drink during that time period.
English essayist who wrote “Lawyers, I suppose, were children once” [ram] : CHARLES LAMB
Charles Lamb is an English essayist known for his work "Essays of Elia." The quote "Lawyers, I suppose, were children once" is from one of his essays, linking the clue to the answer "CHARLES LAMB."
Essie competitor : OPI
OPI is a popular brand of nail polish, and Essie is one of its competitors in the nail polish market.
Exact godly vengeance on : SMITE Down 1 Hosp. areas
The answer "SMITE" fits the clue "Exact godly vengeance on" because "smite" means to strike with a firm blow, often used in a divine or vengeful context.
Fermented rice wine : SAKE
"Sake" is a Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice. It is a popular rice wine in Japan and is commonly known as "fermented rice wine."
Free ones might precede subscriptions : TRIALS
The answer "TRIALS" fits because free trials are often offered before subscriptions to give customers a chance to try out a service or product before committing to paying for it.
Frequently phished figs. : SSNS
The answer "SSNS" is the abbreviation for "Social Security Numbers," which are frequently targeted by phishing scams.
Fuel from a bog : PEAT
The answer to "Fuel from a bog" is "PEAT" because peat is a type of partially decayed vegetation found in wetlands or bogs, which can be used as a fuel source.
Group of ants : ARMY
The answer "ARMY" for the clue "Group of ants" is correct because a large group of ants is often referred to as an "army" due to their organized and coordinated behavior when working together.
High-pitched flute : PICCOLO
The answer "PICCOLO" fits the clue "High-pitched flute" because a piccolo is a small flute that produces a very high sound due to its small size and high pitch range.
Historical object : RELIC
"RELIC" is the right solution because a relic is an object surviving from an earlier time, especially one of historical or sentimental interest. It fits the clue "Historical object" perfectly.
Hits the slopes : SKIS
The answer "SKIS" fits the clue "Hits the slopes" because skiing is a popular activity that involves sliding down snowy slopes using skis.
III, in Rome : TRE
The Roman numeral "III" translates to "TRE" in Italian.
Immobilizers for bone fractures : SPLINTS
Splints are devices used to immobilize and support bone fractures, helping to prevent further injury and promote healing. They are commonly used in first aid and medical settings to stabilize the affected area.
Inventor who patented the first revolver [stallion] : SAMUEL COLT
Samuel Colt is the inventor who patented the first revolver, which revolutionized firearms technology. This is why the answer to the clue is "SAMUEL COLT".
Japan’s national fish : KOI
Koi is a type of fish that is a symbol of Japan, often associated with Japanese culture and aesthetics. It is widely recognized as Japan's national fish.
Journalists’ credits : BYLINES
"BYLINES" are the lines at the beginning of an article that credit the journalist who wrote it.
Kind of salad that sounds like it should include corn : COBB
The answer "COBB" is the right solution because it is a type of salad that typically includes ingredients like corn, along with lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, chicken, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, and blue cheese.
Make extremely happy : ELATE
"Make extremely happy" is a clue for the word "ELATE" because "elate" means to make someone ecstatically happy or joyful.
Makes (oneself) beloved : ENDEARS
The word "ENDEARS" means to make oneself beloved or to inspire affection. In this context, it fits the clue "Makes (oneself) beloved" perfectly.
Mammal with a miniature trunk : TAPIR
The answer "TAPIR" fits the clue because a tapir is a mammal that has a proboscis-like snout, which can be described as a miniature trunk.
Many a flat-screen : HDTV
The answer is "HDTV" because many flat-screen TVs are High-Definition Televisions, commonly referred to as HDTVs.
Miss Piggy, to Miss Piggy : MOI
"Moi" is a French word meaning "me" or "myself," and Miss Piggy often refers to herself in this way, making it a fitting answer to the clue.
Mouseketeer peer of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake [gander] : RYAN GOSLING
Ryan Gosling was a Mouseketeer along with Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake on the Disney Channel's "The Mickey Mouse Club."
N.F.L. coach Campbell : DAN
Dan Campbell is a former N.F.L. player who is currently a coach for the Detroit Lions. "N.F.L. coach Campbell" is a reference to him, so the answer is "DAN".
Network with “gavel-to-gavel” coverage : C-SPAN
C-SPAN is a television network known for its coverage of government proceedings from start to finish, often referred to as "gavel-to-gavel" coverage.
New, waxing, waning, full, etc. : PHASES
"PHASES" is the right solution because the clues refer to the different stages of the moon, which are commonly known as phases.
Noodles on a guitar : STRUMS
The word "STRUMS" means playing the strings of a guitar in a rhythmic way, which is often associated with making music with a guitar.
One under a birdie : EAGLE
An "EAGLE" in golf is a score of two strokes under par on a hole. Since a birdie is one stroke under par, an eagle is one under a birdie.
Past, present or future : TENSE
The word "tense" can refer to past, present, or future tenses in grammar. It is a linguistic term used to indicate the time of an action or state.
Pepper and O’Leary of classic rock : Abbr.
The answer "Abbr." is the right solution because Pepper and O'Leary are abbreviated as "P" and "O," respectively, which are commonly used abbreviations.
Pigment used in the Lascaux cave paintings : OCHER
Ocher is a natural pigment commonly used in cave paintings due to its availability and ability to create vibrant colors. The Lascaux cave paintings are known to have used ocher as one of the primary pigments, making it the correct answer to the clue.
Planets, poetically : ORBS
"ORBS" is a poetic term often used to refer to planets, making it the correct answer for the clue "Planets, poetically."
Pokes fun at : RIBS
"RIBS" is the right solution because "pokes fun at" can be a synonym for "teases" or "jokes about", and "RIBS" is a word that can mean to tease or make fun of someone in a lighthearted way.
Quartet + quintet : NONET
The answer "NONET" is a musical term for a group of nine musicians. Quartet refers to a group of four musicians, and quintet refers to a group of five musicians, so combining the two gives us a group of nine musicians, which is a nonet.
Rent out : LET
The answer "LET" is the right solution because in real estate, when you "let" a property, you are renting it out to someone.
Resident of 123½ Sesame Street : BIG BIRD
Big Bird is a resident of 123½ Sesame Street in the TV show "Sesame Street." He is a large, yellow bird character known for his friendly and curious nature, making him the correct answer to this clue.
Risky choice of surfing apparel : BIKINI
The answer "BIKINI" fits the clue because wearing a bikini while surfing is considered risky due to the potential for wardrobe malfunctions and lack of coverage for protection.
San Fran athlete : NINER
"NINER" is a common nickname for a San Francisco 49ers player or fan, as the team is often referred to as the Niners.
Sleep stage : REM
The answer to "Sleep stage" is "REM" because REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement, which is a stage of sleep characterized by vivid dreaming and rapid eye movements.
Snatch : NAB
"NAB" is a synonym for "snatch" in the context of quickly grabbing or seizing something.
Stadium whistle-blower : REF
"REF" is short for referee, who is the stadium whistle-blower responsible for enforcing the rules of the game.
Starting point for a record-setting swim in 2023’s “Nyad” : CUBA
The record-setting swim in "Nyad" refers to Diana Nyad's swim from Cuba to Florida in 2013. Cuba was the starting point for her historic swim.
Starts to wake : STIRS
The answer "STIRS" fits the clue "Starts to wake" because when someone stirs, they begin to wake up or become more alert.
Sticky stuff : GOO
The word "GOOP" is a colloquial term used to describe sticky substances or gooey materials. It fits perfectly with the clue "Sticky stuff" as it is a concise and commonly understood answer.
Treads lightly : TIPTOES
The word "PADS" can mean to walk quietly and carefully, hence "Treads lightly".
Vodka brand in a blue bottle : SKYY
SKYY is a well-known vodka brand that is often sold in a distinctive blue bottle, making it a fitting answer to the clue "Vodka brand in a blue bottle."
Watery, as tea : WEAK
The word "weak" can be used to describe tea that is watery or lacking in flavor and strength.
What might catch X’s at an O’s game? : KISS CAM
The "KISS CAM" is a popular feature at sports games, including baseball games. When the "KISS CAM" is shown on the big screen, it captures couples in the audience and encourages them to kiss. Therefore, it is something that might catch X's (kisses) at an O's (Orioles) game.
Where a teen may wear a tux : PROM
The answer "PROM" is the right solution because a prom is a formal dance event typically attended by teenagers, where they often wear tuxedos and formal dresses.
Wild couples cruise? : NOAH’S ARK
The clue "Wild couples cruise?" is a play on words that refers to Noah's Ark, where wild animals went on a cruise in pairs.
Window-closing key : ESC
The answer "ESC" stands for "Escape," which is a key on a keyboard that is commonly used to close windows or exit programs.
Word before date or dance : RAIN-
The word "RAIN-" can be followed by "date" to form "rain date" or "dance" to form "rain dance", making it the correct answer to the clue "Word before date or dance."
Word in the title of Broadway’s longest-running show : OPERA
The word "opera" is in the title of Broadway's longest-running show, which is "The Phantom of the Opera."
Worn-down part of a shoe : SOLE
The worn-down part of a shoe is the sole because it is the bottom part of the shoe that comes into direct contact with the ground.
Yang’s partner : YIN
The answer "YIN" is the right solution because in Chinese philosophy, yin and yang are complementary forces that interact to form a dynamic system of balance. Yang is associated with light, masculinity, and activity, while yin is associated with darkness, femininity, and passivity.
___ czar, N.Y.C. government position whose job listing called for “a virulent vehemence for vermin” : RAT
The answer "RAT" fits because the clue refers to someone who deals with vermin, such as rats, making "RAT" the appropriate answer.
___ Rica : COSTA
Costa Rica is a country in Central America, and "Costa" is the first part of its name.
___ vs. para (Spanish 101 topic) : POR
"Por" in Spanish is used to indicate the means by which an action is done, while "para" is used to indicate the purpose or destination of an action. In this case, the clue is asking for the correct term in Spanish 101 related to this topic, and the answer is "por" as it fits the context of discussing the means by which an action is done.
“Gesundheit” prompter : ACHOO!
The answer "ACHOO!" is the right solution because it is an onomatopoeic representation of a sneeze, which is often said after someone sneezes as a polite response.
“The Little Mermaid” mermaid : ARIEL
The Little Mermaid in the Disney movie is named Ariel, making "ARIEL" the correct answer.