NYT Mini Answer for Nov 20, 2024

Happy solving, mini crossword enthusiasts!

As you tackle today's puzzle, remember that every clue is an opportunity to exercise your brain and flex your linguistic muscles. You're not just solving a puzzle, you're building mental agility and strengthening your problem-solving skills.

And don't worry if you get stuck - that's what this page is for! We've got hints and tips to help you overcome those pesky roadblocks and get back to solving with ease.

So, take a deep breath, grab a cup of your favorite beverage, and dive back into the puzzle. You've got this!

And when you need a little extra help, come back to this page for hints and guidance. We're rooting for you!

Possible words for each clue

1-Across. With 8-Across, knock-knock joke response before the punchline "Don't cry!"

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

FUN BOO WHY DON CRY

4-Across. Group of musical notes

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

CLODS CHORD SCALE MELOE HARMY

6-Across. Washing machine cycle before "spin"

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

RINSE WATER SOAKS RITES

7-Across. Popular frozen waffles

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

WAFFL EGGOS SYRUP BITEE

8-Across. See 1-Across

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

CAT WHO FUN DOG YES

1-Down. Open-bottomed hand drum

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

BONGO DRUMS TAMBO HANDS DANCE

2-Down. Words of approximation

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

APRO ORSO LIKE NEAR ABUT

3-Down. Poems written in tribute

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

ELOP ODES SONG TRIB LAUD

4-Down. Specification for T-shirt necklines or socks

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

CREW CUTS RIPS TEES KNOT

5-Down. Stoned

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

HIGH ROCK GRIT HASH LICH

Based on the hints provided, have you determined the solution? If you are still unable to think of it, refer to the answers that follow.

Today's Answers Explained

With 8-Across, knock-knock joke response before the punchline "Don't cry!"

The hint "With 8-Across, knock-knock joke response before the punchline 'Don't cry!'" is referring to the classic knock-knock joke setup, where the response to "Who's there?" is "BOO". The punchline "Don't cry!" is a play on the typical reaction to being scared or surprised, which is often accompanied by tears.

Group of musical notes

The hint "Group of musical notes" refers to a CHORD, which is a group of three or more musical notes played simultaneously to create a harmonious sound.

Washing machine cycle before "spin"

The hint "Washing machine cycle before 'spin'" is related to the word "RINSE" because the typical washing machine cycle consists of several stages, including RINSE, SPIN, and others. The hint is pointing to the stage that comes before the SPIN cycle, which is the RINSE cycle.

Popular frozen waffles

The hint "Popular frozen waffles" is related to the word "EGGOS" because Eggo is a brand of frozen waffles that is very well-known and widely consumed.

See 1-Across

"See 1-Across" is a common instruction in crossword puzzles, indicating that the answer to the current clue can be found by looking at the answer to the clue in the same row, but to the left (i.e., "1-Across").

Open-bottomed hand drum

The hint "Open-bottomed hand drum" refers to the BONGO drum, which is a type of hand drum that has an open bottom, allowing the player to strike the drumhead with their hands.

Words of approximation

The hint "Words of approximation" is related to the word "ORSO" because ORSO is an acronym for "Order of Roughly Similar Operations", which is a concept in mathematics that deals with approximations and rough estimates of quantities.

Poems written in tribute

The hint "Poems written in tribute" is closely related to the word "ODES" because odes are a type of poem that is often written in tribute to a person, place, or thing. Odes are formal, expressive poems that express praise, admiration, or devotion to a subject, and are often written to commemorate a significant event or person. The hint suggests that the word "ODES" is connected to poems that are written to honor or celebrate something, which is a common characteristic of odes.

Specification for T-shirt necklines or socks

The hint "Specification for T-shirt necklines or socks" is related to the word "CREW" because a crew neckline is a type of T-shirt neckline.

Stoned

The hint "Stoned" is related to the word "HIGH" because "stoned" is a slang term that means being under the influence of marijuana or other drugs, and "high" is a common slang term for being under the influence of drugs or feeling euphoric.