Here's all New York Times Crossword answers for 22 October 2024, Tuesday (10-22-24). 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.
Animals that use pheromones to communicate : ANTS
ANTS is the right answer because they are social insects that use pheromones to communicate with each other, such as for marking trails to food sources or signaling danger.
Athletic award : ESPY
The ESPY is an annual sports award show by ESPN, making it a fitting answer for the clue "Athletic award."
Ballpark guess : Abbr.
The answer "Abbr." stands for abbreviation, indicating that the guess for the ballpark figure is not exact but rather an approximate estimate.
Body part that may be green : IRIS
The iris is a part of the eye that can be green in color, making it a fitting answer for the clue "Body part that may be green."
Bottoms decorated with characters from the “Odyssey”? : LONG-STORY SHORTS
The answer "LONG-STORY SHORTS" is a play on the phrase "long story short" and refers to bottoms (shorts) decorated with characters from the "Odyssey," which is a long story in Greek mythology. The answer combines the idea of a long story with shorts, making it a clever and humorous play on words.
Cartoonist Goldberg who never actually built the machines he drew : RUBE
Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist known for drawing complicated machines to perform simple tasks. He never actually built these machines, hence the clue "who never actually built the machines he drew." The answer is "RUBE" because it refers to Rube Goldberg himself.
Close-fitting pajamas? : SLEEP TIGHTS
The answer "SLEEP TIGHTS" is a play on words, combining "sleep tight" (a common phrase meaning to sleep well) with "tights" (form-fitting clothing). This creates a humorous and fitting description for close-fitting pajamas.
Cough, cough : AHEM
The answer to "[Cough cough]" is "AHEM" because "ahem" is an onomatopoeic word that represents the sound made when someone clears their throat, often used as a polite way to get someone's attention.
Country that gained its independence from France in 1953 : LAOS
Laos gained its independence from France in 1953, making it the correct answer to the clue.
Curses ot : SWEARS AT
The answer "SWEARS AT" fits the clue "Curses at" because "swears" can be a synonym for "curses" and "at" indicates the direction or target of the action, making the answer "SWEARS AT" a suitable match.
Cylindrical alternative to a French fry : TATER TOT
"TATER TOT" is the right solution because a tater tot is a small, cylindrical alternative to a French fry made from grated or finely chopped potatoes.
Dens : LAIRS
The word "dens" is often associated with animals, and animals are known to live in "lairs," making it the correct answer.
Director Coen : JOEL
Joel Coen is a well-known director who, along with his brother Ethan Coen, has directed many popular films.
Earth tone : OCHRE
"OCHRE" is a type of pigment that is commonly used in art and is known for its earthy tones ranging from yellow to reddish-brown. It is often associated with natural landscapes and gives a warm, earthy color similar to that of the Earth itself.
End of the line, maybe : DEPOT
The "end of the line" refers to a train depot or station where train journeys typically start or end.
Extract, as information : GLEAN
"GLEAN" means to extract information or gather bit by bit. It fits the clue because when you glean information, you gather it slowly or gradually.
Fish-and-chips fish, typically : COD
Cod is a popular type of fish traditionally used in making fish and chips, making it the typical choice for this dish.
Flavor enhancer in Doritos, for short : MSG
The answer is "MSG" because it is a common flavor enhancer used in many snack foods, including Doritos. It is often referred to as "MSG" for short.
Gives a thumbs-up : OKS
The answer "AGREES" is the right solution because when someone gives a thumbs up, it usually indicates agreement or approval.
Going rate? : MPH
The answer to "Going rate?" is "GAIT" because a gait refers to the manner or style of walking or running, which can be considered a "rate" of movement.
Guitarist, informally : AXMAN
"AXMAN" is a common informal term for a guitarist because the guitar is played with a pick, resembling the action of chopping or wielding an axe.
Hard core exercise? : PLANK
The answer "PLANK" fits the clue "Hard core exercise?" because a plank exercise is a core-strengthening workout that involves holding a push-up position while keeping the body straight. It plays on the double meaning of "hard core," referring both to the difficulty of the exercise and the strengthening of the core muscles.
Head honcho : BIG CHEESE
The term "big cheese" is a colloquial expression that means an important or influential person, often used to refer to a leader or head honcho in a group or organization.
Hissy fit : SNIT
The term "snit" is often used to describe a fit of anger or frustration, making it a fitting answer for the clue "Hissy fit."
Instrument played by Sheila Bromberg on the Beatles’ “She’s Leaving Home” : HARP
The answer is "HARP" because the clue mentions a specific instrument, and Sheila Bromberg is known for playing the harp on the Beatles' song "She's Leaving Home."
Island greeting : ALOHA
The word "ALOHA" is a common greeting in Hawaiian culture, often used to say both hello and goodbye.
Jogs : TROTS
"Trots" is a synonym for "jogs," both referring to a moderate running pace. In crossword puzzles, it's common for clues to have synonyms or related words as answers.
Labor : TOIL
The word "toil" means hard work, especially physical labor. Therefore, it is a suitable answer for the clue "labor".
Lead-in to present or science : OMNI-
The answer "OMNI-" is the right solution because it can be a prefix for both "present" and "science" to form words like "omnipresent" and "omniscience."
Lends a hand to : AIDS
The word "aids" can mean to help or assist someone, so it fits the clue "Lends a hand to."
Like taking candy from a baby, it’s said : EASY Down 1 All by oneself
The answer "EASY" fits the clue "Like taking candy from a baby, it’s said" because it means something that is simple or not difficult to do, just like how taking candy from a baby would be easy. The answer "SOLE" fits the clue "All by oneself" because "sole" means being the only one, or being alone.
Line adjusters on an Etch A Sketch : KNOBS
The answer "KNOBS" is correct because line adjusters on an Etch A Sketch are small round controls that you turn to move the stylus and create lines on the screen, and these controls are commonly referred to as knobs.
Love, for Rafael Nadal : AMOR
The clue is hinting at Rafael Nadal's Spanish heritage, as "amor" means "love" in Spanish.
Neighbor of the United Arab Emirates : OMAN
"OMAN" is the right solution because Oman is a country that shares a border with the United Arab Emirates.
NSFW message : SEXT
The answer "SEXT" fits the clue "NSFW message" because a sext is a sexually explicit message typically sent via text or messaging app, which is not safe for work (NSFW).
Offering in Eilish’s clothing brand? : BILLIE JEANS
The clue mentions "Eilish's clothing brand," referring to singer Billie Eilish. The answer "BILLIE JEANS" is a play on the popular song "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, but with "jeans" added to fit the clothing brand context.
Oil container : CRUET
The answer "CRUET" is a small container used for holding oil, vinegar, or other condiments, making it a fitting solution for the clue "Oil container."
One who only goes to the best restaurants, maybe : SNOB
The answer "SNOB" fits because a snob is someone who is picky and only likes the best or most exclusive things, like restaurants.
Originally named : NEE
The answer "NEE" is the right solution for the clue "Originally named" because "nee" is a term used to indicate a woman's maiden name, which is her original name before marriage.
Place for grape nuts? : NAPA
The clue "Place for grape nuts?" is a play on words. "Grape nuts" can refer to both the breakfast cereal and the region known for wine production, Napa Valley in California. Therefore, the answer "NAPA" fits the clue as a clever wordplay.
Place to dock : PIER
The answer "PIER" fits the clue "Place to dock" because a pier is a structure built along the shore of a body of water where boats can dock or moor.
Plant in a stegosaurus’s diet : FERN
"Fern" is the right answer because stegosaurus is believed to have primarily fed on plants during the Jurassic period, and ferns were abundant during that time, making them a likely part of its diet.
Prepare to use, as a coupon : CLIP
"CLIP" is the right answer because when you prepare to use a coupon, you typically cut it out of a larger piece of paper by clipping it.
Prophet : ORACLE
The word "oracle" can refer to a person who delivers wise and insightful predictions or messages from a higher power, much like a prophet does.
Pulitzer-winning journalist and novelist Quindlen : ANNA
The answer is "ANNA" because Anna Quindlen is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and novelist.
Rentals that come with poles : SKIS
SKIS are rentals that come with poles because when you rent skis for skiing, they typically come with poles as part of the rental package for use in skiing.
Request to a custom tailor? : CUT ME SOME SLACKS
"Cut me some slack" is a common phrase meaning to give someone a break or some leniency. In this context, a custom tailor is being asked to make a pair of slacks, so "Cut me some slacks" is a playful twist on the original phrase, making it a clever and fitting answer for the clue.
Rod on the road : CAR ANTENNA
The answer "CAR ANTENNA" fits the clue "Rod on the road" because a car antenna is a rod-like device that is commonly found on cars and used for receiving radio signals.
Sch. west of Beverly Hills : UCLA
The answer is "UCLA" because it is a school located west of Beverly Hills.
Shaming sound : TSK!
The answer "TSK!" is the right solution because it represents the sound people make when they are shaming or disapproving of something. The sound "tsk" is commonly used to express disapproval or disappointment.
Smack : SLAP
The word "smack" is often used to describe a sharp blow or hit. The answer "SWAT" fits this description perfectly as it means to strike or hit with a quick, sharp motion. Therefore, "SWAT" is the right solution for the clue "Smack".
Small part : CAMEO
The answer "CAMEO" fits because a cameo is a small decorative piece of jewelry or a small part in a movie or play.
Smaller cousins of English horns : OBOES
The smaller cousins of English horns are OBOES because both are members of the woodwind instrument family, with oboes being smaller in size compared to English horns.
So-called “Las Vegas of the East” : MACAO
Macao is known as the "Las Vegas of the East" because it is a popular destination for gambling and entertainment, similar to Las Vegas in the United States.
Something a window shopper might purchase? : PANE
The answer "PANE" is a play on words, as a window shopper might purchase a window pane.
Suffers embarrassment : LOSES FACE
"Loses face" is a common expression meaning to suffer embarrassment, especially in front of others. It refers to a loss of respect or dignity in a social situation.
Swedish company that makes submarines (but no longer cars) : SAAB
SAAB is a Swedish company known for making both cars and submarines. However, they no longer produce cars, only submarines. So, SAAB is the correct answer because it fits the clue's description of a Swedish company that makes submarines but no longer cars.
They can cause sour experiences for car owners : LEMONS
"Lemons" is a term used to describe cars with persistent mechanical problems, causing sour experiences for their owners. This answer fits the clue because it directly references the negative experience associated with owning a faulty car.
Turn down : REFUSE
The answer "PASS ON" is the right solution because it means to decline or reject something, which matches the clue "Turn down."
Ultimately triumph : END UP ON TOP
The answer "END UP ON TOP" fits the clue "Ultimately triumph" because "end up" means to reach a final point or outcome, and "on top" signifies achieving success or victory. Together, they convey the idea of ultimately triumphing or emerging victorious.
Used, as a chair : SAT ON
The answer "SAT ON" fits the clue "Used, as a chair" because when you use a chair, you sit on it, or in other words, you "sat on" the chair.
Vegetarian’s protein source : TOFU
Tofu is a popular plant-based protein source commonly used by vegetarians and vegans in place of meat. It is made from soybeans and is a versatile ingredient that can be used in various dishes.
Warning sound : GROWL
"Warning sound" often refers to the sound made by a threatening animal, such as a growling dog or bear. "Growl" fits this description perfectly, making it the right solution.
___Pen : EPI
"EPI" is the right solution because it completes the word "Pen" to form the word "EpiPen," which is a trademarked device used for injecting a measured dose of epinephrine in cases of severe allergic reactions.
“Ability” for Johnny Carson’s Carnac the Magnificent : ESP
The answer "ESP" is correct because Carnac the Magnificent was a comedic psychic character played by Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, and ESP stands for extrasensory perception, which is a psychic ability.
“Everything ___ Changed” (Taylor Swift song) : HAS
The clue is looking for a word that completes the phrase "Everything ___ Changed." The correct answer "HAS" fits in the blank to complete the sentence grammatically, making it the right solution.
“OMG!” : WOW!
The answer "WOW!" fits the clue "OMG!" because both expressions convey a sense of surprise or astonishment.
“The final frontier” : SPACE
The phrase "The final frontier" is a popular tagline from the TV show "Star Trek," which is set in space. Therefore, the answer "SPACE" fits the clue.
“Well, duh!” : UM, YEAH!
"UM, YEAH!" is a common phrase used to express agreement or acknowledgment of something obvious, which fits the clue "Well, duh!" perfectly.
“Would you look at that!” : OHO!
The answer "OHO!" is an exclamation used to show surprise or astonishment, making it a fitting response to "Would you look at that!" in a crossword puzzle.
“___ the fields we go …” : O’ER
The word "o'er" is a poetic abbreviation for "over," commonly used in old English literature and songs. In this context, it fits the meter and rhyme scheme of the Christmas carol "Jingle Bells," making it the right solution for the clue.