NYT Mini Answer for Mar 9, 2025

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Possible words for each clue

1-Across. All over the ___

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

MAP ALL OVE

4-Across. Exasperated words before trailing off into a facepalm

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

HOUSE ARGHH IJUST FRUST UGHED

7-Across. Kendrick who won five Grammys for 2024's "Not Like Us"

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

HOUSE LAMAR SPACE HOUSE HOUSE

8-Across. Rapper in a beef with 7-Across

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

HOUSE DRAKE BEANS MEATS BEEFS

9-Across. "The birds and the bees"

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

CAT BEE SEX EGG HUG

1-Down. Not spicy, as salsa

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

MILD TART COLD MEAT BOLD

2-Down. Slightly open, as a door

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

OPEN AJAR AIDE

3-Down. Mountain lions

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

CLAWS PUMAS ROCKS FELID SHARP

5-Down. Alcohol whose varieties include junmai ("pure rice") and nigori ("cloudy")

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

BEER SAKE WINE MEAD CHUM

6-Down. Dino with short arms

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

TREX TRAP STEG TRIM DINO

Based on the hints provided, have you managed to deduce the solution? If you're still unable to come up with an answer, please refer to the options listed below.

Today's Answers Explained

All over the ___

The hint "All over the ___" is related to the word "MAP" in English because it is a common idiomatic expression.

The phrase "All over the map" is an idiomatic expression that means to be disorganized, confused, or scattered in one's thoughts or ideas. It can also refer to something that is inconsistent or unpredictable.

In this context, the word "MAP" is used metaphorically to describe a situation where someone's thoughts or ideas are scattered or disorganized, much like a map that is torn or scattered, with different locations or points marked in a random or confusing manner.

Exasperated words before trailing off into a facepalm

The phrase "IJUST" is an abbreviation of the phrase "I Just".

Kendrick who won five Grammys for 2024's "Not Like Us"

The relationship between the hint "Kendrick who won five Grammys for 2024's "Not Like Us"" and the word "LAMAR in English" is that Kendrick Lamar is the person being referred to in the hint.

Rapper in a beef with 7-Across

The word "DRAKE" can be interpreted as a rapper in a beef (dispute) with 7-Across, which is likely "MEGAN" (Megan Thee Stallion), another rapper.

"The birds and the bees"

The phrase "The birds and the bees" is a euphemistic expression used to explain the concept of sex and reproduction to children.

In this context, "the birds" refers to the male bird, and "the bees" refers to the female bee. The phrase is often used to explain the process of mating and reproduction in a way that is easy for children to understand.

The phrase is often used as a way to introduce children to the concept of sex and reproduction in a gentle and non-threatening way, without using explicit language. It is a way to explain the basics of human reproduction in a way that is both educational and sensitive to the child's age and maturity level.

Not spicy, as salsa

The hint "Not spicy, as salsa" is related to the word "MILD in English" because it is a play on words.

In English, "mild" is an adjective that means not spicy or hot.

The hint "Not spicy, as salsa" is making a comparison between the word "mild" and the fact that salsa is typically a spicy condiment.

So, the hint is saying that something is "not spicy, as salsa" because it is mild, just like the word "mild" implies.

This is an example of a linguistic device called a "double meaning" or "double entendre," where a word or phrase has two different meanings or interpretations.

Slightly open, as a door

The word "ajar" in English is related to the hint "Slightly open, as a door" because it describes the state of a door being partially open, not fully closed or fully open. The word "ajar" is often used to convey this idea, implying that the door is slightly ajar, or not fully shut.

Mountain lions

The hint "Mountain lions" is related to the word "PUMAS" in English because "Pumas" is another name for mountain lions.

Alcohol whose varieties include junmai ("pure rice") and nigori ("cloudy")

The hint "Alcohol whose varieties include junmai ("pure rice") and nigori ("cloudy")" is related to the word "SAKE" in English because Sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice.

The varieties mentioned in the hint, junmai and nigori, are indeed types of Sake. Junmai Sake is made from pure rice, without any added ingredients, while nigori Sake is a cloudy Sake made with unfiltered rice.

Dino with short arms

The hint "Dino with short arms" is related to the word "TREX" in English because the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a well-known dinosaur, is characterized by its relatively short arms compared to its body size.