NYT Mini Answer for Dec 5, 2024

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So, what's the puzzle you're stuck on? Let us know the clue you're struggling with, and we'll do our best to provide a helpful hint. Happy solving!

Possible words for each clue

1-Across. Crunch muscles, informally

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

ABS CAT ABS PUP ABS

4-Across. Brings in at harvest time

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

REAPS GLEAN SWEEP HARVE MOWED

7-Across. Homophone for a winter vegetable

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

CARAT BEETS PARMS PARMS PARMS

8-Across. Prompt someone to say "Why don't you take a picture – it'll last longer!"

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

HOUSE STARE CAMER PHOTO REMAI

9-Across. Freshly minted

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

NEW MIN OLD NEW NEW

1-Down. Shapes of rainbows

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

ARCS BOWS CIRC OVAL BEND

2-Down. Homophone for a winter vegetable

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

BEAT PEAS BEET

3-Down. Kitchen wrap brand

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

CLING SARAN PLAST

5-Down. Homophone for a winter fruit

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

PEAR NOON DATE PARE LEAF

6-Down. Warm, hearty winter meal

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

MEAT STEW SOUP BEEF MEAL

Based on the hints provided earlier, have you managed to deduce the solution? If you're still struggling, please refer to the possible answers listed below.

Today's Answers Explained

Crunch muscles, informally

The hint "Crunch muscles, informally" is related to the word "ABS" in English because it refers to the abdominal muscles. The phrase "crunch muscles" is an informal way of describing the action of contracting the abdominal muscles, which is often done during exercises like crunches to strengthen the core.

Brings in at harvest time

The word "REAPS" is related to the hint "Brings in at harvest time" because "reap" is a verb that means to gather in a harvest, especially of grain.

Homophone for a winter vegetable

The hint "Homophone for a winter vegetable" is related to the word "CARROT" in English. A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word, but has a different meaning. In this case, "carat" and "carrot" are homophones, as they are pronounced the same way but have different meanings. "Carat" is a unit of weight for gemstones, while "carrot" is a type of winter vegetable.

Prompt someone to say "Why don't you take a picture – it'll last longer!"

The hint "Prompt someone to say 'Why don't you take a picture – it'll last longer!'" is related to the word "STARE" in English because it is a play on words.

The phrase "Why don't you take a picture – it'll last longer!" is a common idiomatic expression that is often used to tell someone to take a photograph, implying that the moment will be preserved for a longer time.

However, the word "STARE" sounds similar to "SHARE" or "Spare" but also sounds similar to "STARE" when pronounced. The word "STARE" is a verb that means to look fixedly and steadily at someone or something.

The relationship between the hint and the word "STARE" is that the hint is a play on words, using the phrase "take a picture" to make a pun on the word "STARE", implying that the person is staring at the moment, and taking a picture will allow them to share or spare the moment for a longer time.

Freshly minted

The hint "Freshly minted" is related to the word "NEW" in English because it refers to something that has just been created or produced, often with a sense of novelty or originality.

In the context of coins, "freshly minted" means a coin that has just been produced by a mint, and is therefore new and unused. This phrase is often used to describe something that is brand new, unused, and in its original state.

The word "NEW" in English conveys a similar meaning, implying something that has been created, produced, or acquired recently, and has not been used or worn out before. The relationship between the hint "Freshly minted" and the word "NEW" lies in their shared connotation of something being brand new, unused, and in its original state.

Shapes of rainbows

The hint "Shapes of rainbows" is related to the word "ARCS" in English because a rainbow is typically shaped like an arc, which is a curved segment of a circle.

Homophone for a winter vegetable

The word "BEET" is a homophone for the word "BEAT". A beet is a type of winter vegetable, and "beat" is a verb meaning to strike or hit something repeatedly.

Kitchen wrap brand

The hint "Kitchen wrap brand" is related to the word "Saran" in English because Saran is a well-known brand of plastic wrap used in kitchens for food storage and wrapping.

Homophone for a winter fruit

The word "PARE" is a homophone for the word "pair" and also for the word "pear", which is a type of winter fruit.

Warm, hearty winter meal

The word "STEW" in English is related to the hint "Warm, hearty winter meal" because a stew is a type of dish that is typically cooked in liquid (such as broth or stock) and served hot, often during the winter months. Stews are often made with tougher cuts of meat that become tender with slow cooking, and they are often served with a variety of vegetables and grains. The warm, hearty nature of a stew makes it a comforting and satisfying meal for cold winter days.