Here's all New York Times Crossword answers for 24 August 2023, Thursday (08-24-23). 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.
"Je pense, ___ je suis" : Descartes
The phrase "Je pense, ___ je suis" is a famous quote by French philosopher René Descartes. The missing word is "donc," which means "therefore" in English. So, the answer "Descartes" is correct because it completes the phrase and refers to the philosopher who said it.
2016 title role for Auliʻi Cravalho : MOANA
The answer is "MOANA" because it is the title role for Auliʻi Cravalho in the 2016 animated Disney film.
A-number-one : TOP
"A-number-one" is an idiomatic expression that means "the very best." "TOPS" is a synonym for the very best, so it is the correct answer to the clue.
About-face : UEY
The answer "UEY" is the right solution because it is a slang term for making a U-turn, which is essentially an about-face while driving.
Activities that relieve psychological stress : EMOTIONALOUTLETS
The answer "EMOTIONALOUTLETS" is the right solution because it refers to activities that help in releasing or channeling emotions, which can help relieve psychological stress. These activities provide a way to express and cope with feelings, making them an appropriate answer for the given clue.
Alternative to paper or plastic : TOTEBAG
The answer "TOTEBAG" fits the clue "Alternative to paper or plastic" because a tote bag is a reusable bag that can be used instead of single-use paper or plastic bags.
Annual multimedia festival, informally : SXSW Down
The answer to the clue "Annual multimedia festival, informally" is "SXSW" because SXSW stands for South by Southwest, which is a well-known annual multimedia festival held in Austin, Texas.
Awards show recognition, informally : NOM
The answer "NOM" is the right solution because it is a common abbreviation for "nomination," which is a form of recognition given at awards shows.
Bartender's stock : RYES
The answer "RYES" is the right solution because it refers to the types of whiskey or spirits commonly found in a bartender's stock.
Black Widow's former org. : KGB
The KGB, or Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti, was the former intelligence agency of the Soviet Union. Black Widow, a Marvel superhero, was trained as a spy by the KGB, making it her former organization.
Blacken : TAR
The word "char" means to burn something to a crisp or to blacken it by burning. Therefore, "char" is a suitable answer for the clue "Blacken."
Blown away : AWED
The answer "AWED" is the right solution because when someone is "blown away," they are filled with a sense of awe or wonder.
Caffeine-containing ingredients once used in soft drinks : KOLANUTS
The answer "KOLANUTS" is the right solution because kolanuts were once used as ingredients in soft drinks and contain caffeine.
Campaign to increase Election Day participation : VOTEROUTREACH
The answer "VOTEROUTREACH" fits the clue because it refers to a campaign specifically aimed at increasing Election Day participation by reaching out to potential voters.
Carried away by the tide : SWEPTOUTTOSEA
The clue "Carried away by the tide" suggests that something or someone is being taken by the force of the water. The answer "SWEPTOUTTOSEA" fits perfectly as it describes the action of being carried away by the tide and out into the sea.
Certain sodas, for short : DEWS
The answer "DEWS" is the right solution because "DEWS" is a common abbreviation for Mountain Dew, a popular soda brand.
Crew directive : ROW
The word "ROW" can mean both a line of people or things and the act of propelling a boat using oars. In the context of the clue "Crew directive," "ROW" refers to the directive given to a crew to row their boat.
Doubleday who didn't really invent baseball : ABNER
The answer "ABNER" is the right solution because Abner Doubleday is widely believed to have invented baseball, although this claim is actually a myth.
Drag race conveyance : HOTROD
The term "drag race" refers to a type of high-speed competition between cars. A "conveyance" is a vehicle used for transportation. A "HOTROD" is a type of highly modified and customized car that is often used in drag racing. Therefore, "HOTROD" is the right solution for the clue "Drag race conveyance."
Event for a unicorn, perhaps, in brief : IPO
The answer to the clue "Event for a unicorn, perhaps, in brief" is "IPO" because an IPO stands for Initial Public Offering, which is an event where a privately-owned company offers its shares to the public for the first time. A unicorn is a term used to describe a privately-held startup company valued at over $1 billion. Therefore, an IPO would be an appropriate event for a unicorn.
Exactamundo : BANGON
Extremely, informally : UBER
The answer "UBER" fits the clue "Extremely, informally" because "uber" is a slang term that means "extremely" or "very" in an informal way.
Fair-hiring inits. : EOE
The answer "EOE" stands for "Equal Opportunity Employer," which are the initials commonly used to indicate fair-hiring practices.
Fait accompli : DONEDEAL
The phrase "fait accompli" refers to something that is already done or settled. The answer "DONEDEAL" perfectly captures this meaning, as it suggests that something has been completed or finalized.
Figure in a house listing : AREA
The answer "AREA" is the right solution because it is a figure that represents the size or measurement of a space in a house listing. It could refer to the total square footage of a property or the specific dimensions of a particular room.
Flipping out : GOINGGAGA
The phrase "flipping out" is an idiom that means becoming extremely excited or losing control. "GOINGGAGA" is a playful and colloquial way to express this state of excitement or losing control. Therefore, "GOINGGAGA" is the right solution for "Flipping out."
Foil, e.g. : SWORD
The answer to "Foil, e.g." is "SWORD" because a foil is a type of sword used in fencing.
Game with a rhyming name : ISPY
The answer to "Game with a rhyming name" is "ISPY" because the word "ISPY" rhymes with the word "spy," which is a type of game where one person tries to spot and identify objects or people.
GPS figs. : ETAS
The answer "ETAS" is the right solution because "ETAS" stands for Estimated Time of Arrival, which is a common abbreviation used in GPS navigation systems.
Green booking : ECOHOTEL
The answer "ECOHOTEL" is the right solution because it combines the words "eco" (referring to environmentally friendly practices) and "hotel" (referring to a place of accommodation). This term accurately describes the concept of booking a hotel that is environmentally conscious or follows sustainable practices.
Green standard : PAR
The answer "PAR" is the right solution because in golf, the term "par" refers to the standard number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to take to complete a hole. The green is the area of short grass surrounding the hole on a golf course. Therefore, "Green standard" is a clever clue that hints at the term "par."
Gridiron stats : TDS
The answer "TDS" stands for "touchdowns" in football. It is a common statistic used to measure success in the game.
Having just dropped : NEW
The answer to "Having just dropped" is "NEW" because when something is new, it has recently been dropped or introduced.
House of reps? : GYM
The answer "GYM" is a play on words. "House of reps" is a clever clue that refers to a gym or fitness center where people work out and do repetitions (reps) of exercises. Therefore, "GYM" is the right solution.
Jimmy Carter's Secret Service code name : DEACON
The answer "DEACON" is the right solution for "Jimmy Carter's Secret Service code name" because "Deacon" was indeed the Secret Service code name assigned to Jimmy Carter during his presidency.
Key worker? : PIANOTUNER
The answer "PIANOTUNER" is the right solution for the clue "Key worker?" because a pianotuner is a person who tunes and repairs pianos, and the word "key" in the clue is a play on words, referring to both the keys of a piano and a worker who deals with keys.
Like suspicious eyes : BEADY
The word "beady" is the right answer because it accurately describes the appearance of suspicious eyes. "Beady" suggests small, gleaming eyes that are sharp and focused, which aligns with the idea of suspicion.
Liqueur in some coffee cocktails, familiarly : BAILEYS
The answer "BAILEYS" is the right solution because it is a popular liqueur that is often used in coffee cocktails. It is commonly referred to familiarly as "BAILEYS".
Named, in brief : IDED
The answer "IDED" is the right solution because it is a common abbreviation for the word "identified." In crossword puzzles, "in brief" often indicates the use of abbreviations, and "IDED" fits that description.
News stand? : OPED
The answer to "News stand?" is "OPED" because an op-ed, short for "opposite the editorial page," is a section in a newspaper where opinion pieces are published. It is a play on words, as "news stand" can refer to a physical stand where newspapers are sold, but in this case, it refers to the editorial section of a newspaper.
Nile reptiles : ASPS
The answer to "Nile reptiles" is "ASPS" because ASPS are venomous snakes that can be found in the Nile region.
Off-roaders, for short : ATVS
The answer to "Off-roaders, for short" is "ATVs" because "ATVs" stands for "All-Terrain Vehicles," which are commonly used for off-road activities.
One in a onesie : TOT
The answer "TOT" is the right solution because a "onesie" is a one-piece garment typically worn by babies or toddlers. So, a "TOT" is a young child who would typically wear a onesie.
Openly proclaim : AVOW
The word "avow" means to openly proclaim or acknowledge something. It fits perfectly with the clue "openly proclaim" because it is a concise and accurate word that conveys the idea of openly stating or declaring something.
Org. opposed to "speciesism" : PETA
The answer "PETA" is the right solution because PETA, which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, is an organization that advocates against "speciesism," which is the belief in the superiority of one species over others.
Pale in comparison? : ASHIER
The answer "ASHIER" is the right solution because it is a play on words. "Pale" can mean lacking color, and "in comparison" suggests that we need to compare something. When something is compared to ash, it will appear even paler in color. Therefore, "ASHIER" is the correct answer.
Pioneer in color TV broadcasting : NBC
The answer to "Pioneer in color TV broadcasting" is "NBC" because NBC was one of the first television networks to introduce color broadcasting to viewers.
Poet laureate Limón : ADA
The poet laureate Limón referred to in the clue is Ada Limón. Therefore, the answer to the clue is "ADA".
Poker call : IRAISE
The answer "IRAISE" is the right solution because in poker, "raise" is a common term used when a player increases the bet amount. Therefore, "IRAISE" is a fitting answer for the crossword clue "Poker call."
Rugged dirt track racers : SPRINTCARS
The answer "SPRINTCARS" is the right solution because it accurately describes the type of racers that would be found on a rugged dirt track. Sprint cars are high-powered racing vehicles specifically designed for racing on dirt tracks, known for their speed and agility.
See the world : GLOBETROT
The answer "GLOBETROT" is the right solution because it refers to the act of traveling or journeying around the world, which allows you to "see the world."
Seven-___ (worst hand in Texas hold 'em) : DEUCE
The term "Seven-Deuce" refers to the combination of a seven and a two in Texas hold 'em poker, which is considered the worst possible starting hand. Therefore, "DEUCE" is the correct answer as it represents the number two in this context.
Shapeshifts : MORPHS
The word "MORPHS" is the right solution because it means to change or transform in shape, which matches the clue "Shapeshifts."
Something that's designed to be buggy? : WEB
The answer "WEB" is the right solution because a web can be described as something that is designed to catch bugs, like spiders catching insects in their webs.
Spot that's hardly spotless : STY
The answer "STY" is the right solution because a sty is a spot or small infection on the eyelid, which is often associated with being unclean or unsightly.
Style of René Lalique's glasswork : DECO
The answer to "Style of René Lalique's glasswork" is "DECO" because René Lalique was a prominent Art Deco artist known for his exquisite glasswork designs.
Suddenly fell through, as a plan : WENTOUTTHEWINDOW
The phrase "went out the window" is an idiomatic expression that means a plan or idea suddenly failed or became unsuccessful. In this context, "suddenly fell through, as a plan" perfectly matches the meaning of "went out the window."
Temporary, controlled power shutdown … or a hint to reading four of this puzzle's answers : ROLLINGBLACKOUT
The answer "ROLLINGBLACKOUT" is the right solution because it is a term used to describe a temporary, controlled power shutdown. Additionally, the clue mentions that it is a hint to reading four of this puzzle's answers, indicating that the words "ROLLING" and "BLACKOUT" can be found within those four answers.
Theater section for Statler and Waldorf, on "The Muppet Show" : OPERABOX
The answer "OPERABOX" is the right solution because Statler and Waldorf are known for their love of criticizing performances from their box seats in the theater. In "The Muppet Show," they are often shown sitting in the opera box, hence "OPERABOX" is the correct answer.
They might be checked at a restaurant : COATS
The answer "COATS" is the right solution because when you go to a restaurant, it is common to check your coats at the coat check.
Tribute of a sort : ODE
The answer to "Tribute of a sort" is "ODE" because an ode is a type of poem that is often written as a tribute to someone or something.
Twitch streamer with a digital avatar, say : VTUBER
The answer "VTUBER" is the right solution because a VTuber refers to a virtual YouTuber or streamer who uses a digital avatar to interact with their audience on platforms like Twitch.
Unidentified, informally : ANON
The word "ANON" is a short form of "anonymous," which means unidentified or without a known name. Therefore, "ANON" is the right solution for the clue "Unidentified, informally."
Very quick point : ACE
The answer "ACE" is the right solution because it fits the clue "Very quick point" perfectly. In tennis, "ace" refers to a serve that the opponent cannot touch, resulting in a quick point for the server.
When one might show one's age, informally : BDAY
The answer "BDAY" is short for "birthday." Informally, one might show their age by celebrating their birthday.
___ Theatres : AMC
The answer to "___ Theatres" is "AMC" because AMC is a well-known chain of movie theaters.
– : LETS
In crossword puzzles, "/" is often used to indicate division or separation. The word "per" is commonly used to signify "for each" or "by the means of," which fits the context of the clue. Therefore, "PER" is the right solution for the clue represented by "/".