NYT Mini Answer for Jan 31, 2025

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Possible words for each clue

1-Across. Like a dry-cleaned shirt or fresh sheets

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

CLEAN CRISP IRONE SMOOT FRESH

6-Across. Weapon used on horseback

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

SABER LANCE SCIMI SPEAR DAGGE

7-Across. One of a potential 13 for "Emilia Pérez," as announced last week

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

ACTOR OSCAR AWARD NOMIN EMILI

8-Across. Movie double's responsibility

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

STUNT REHEA DUBBE REPLA REVIE

9-Across. The "blue marble"

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

SPACE EARTH MARIN STEEL OCEAN

1-Down. In the ballpark

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

FIELD CLOSE PITCH STADI

2-Down. Someone who might smoke ganja as a sacrament, informally

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

RASTA HINDU YOGIS RAJAH SADHU

3-Down. Run up, as debt

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

INCUR INHER OWING ACRED INCUR

4-Down. Meager

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

MEAGE SCANT POORS RARES SPARE

5-Down. Capital of Western Australia

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

HOUSE PERTH BEACH CLIFF STAGE

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

Today's Answers Explained

Like a dry-cleaned shirt or fresh sheets

The word "CRISP" in English is related to the hint "Like a dry-cleaned shirt or fresh sheets" because it describes a texture or quality that is sharp, clean, and well-defined, much like the crispness of freshly laundered clothing or bedding.

Weapon used on horseback

The word "LANCE" in English is related to the hint "Weapon used on horseback" because a lance is a long spear-like weapon traditionally used by knights on horseback, particularly in medieval jousting tournaments.

One of a potential 13 for "Emilia Pérez," as announced last week

The hint "One of a potential 13 for 'Emilia Pérez,' as announced last week" is related to the word "OSCAR" in English because the name "Emilia Pérez" is a Spanish name, and in Spanish, the word for Oscar is "Óscar".

The hint is suggesting that there are 13 potential names for the character "Emilia Pérez", and one of them is "Óscar", which is the Spanish translation of the English name "Oscar".

Movie double's responsibility

The word "STUNT" in English is related to the hint "Movie double's responsibility" because a stunt is a specific action or sequence performed by a stunt double in a movie or film. A stunt double is a professional who performs dangerous or complex actions on behalf of the main actor, allowing them to avoid injury and maintain the illusion of the action.

The "blue marble"

The phrase "The Blue Marble" refers to an iconic photograph of the Earth taken by the crew of the Apollo 17 spacecraft in 1972. The image shows the Earth as a blue planet, with the blackness of space as the background.

The word "EARTH" in English is related to this phrase because it is the name of the planet that is depicted in the photograph. The phrase "The Blue Marble" is often used to describe the Earth as a beautiful and unique planet, and it has become a symbol of our home planet and its importance in the universe.

In the ballpark

The phrase "In the ballpark" is an idiom that means within a reasonable or acceptable range. It is often used to describe an estimate or prediction that is close to the actual value, but not necessarily exact.

The word "CLOSE" in English can be related to this phrase in the sense that "close" means near or almost touching something, often implying a small distance or difference. In the context of "In the ballpark," "close" suggests that the estimate or prediction is near the actual value, but not necessarily a perfect match.

In baseball, the phrase "In the ballpark" originated from the tradition of calling out a pitch as "in the ballpark" if it was close to the strike zone, but not necessarily a strike. This phrase was later adopted in everyday language to describe estimates or predictions that are close to the actual value, but not necessarily exact.

Someone who might smoke ganja as a sacrament, informally

The word "RASTA" is related to the hint "Someone who might smoke ganja as a sacrament, informally" because RASTA is a shortened form of Rastafarian, which is a term referring to a member of the Rastafarian movement. In the Rastafarian movement, ganja (also known as marijuana) is considered a sacrament and is often used in religious rituals.

Run up, as debt

The word "INCUR" in English means to receive or be responsible for a debt or expense.

The hint "Run up, as debt" is related to the word "INCUR" because it implies accumulating or increasing a debt, much like running up a hill or a staircase. This phrase is an idiomatic expression that helps to illustrate the meaning of the word "INCUR".

Meager

The words "Meager" and "Scant" are synonyms in English, both referring to a small or inadequate amount of something. They convey the idea of something being insufficient or lacking in quantity.

Capital of Western Australia

The word "PERTH" in English is the answer to the hint "Capital of Western Australia".