Listed below you will find a detailed guide for NYT Crossword August 12 2024 Answers including a short description for each of the clues today’s puzzle had.
- Shoots for the moon – ASPIRES
To aspire means to have an ambitious goal or dream, often aiming for something high or difficult to achieve, like reaching the moon. - Saudi’s neighbor – IRAQI
An Iraqi is a person from Iraq, which shares a border with Saudi Arabia to the north. - Gets ready to surf maybe – LOGSON
“Logs on” refers to the act of connecting to the internet, possibly to browse or surf the web. - Annoyance for a shopkeeper – LOITERER
A loiterer is someone who hangs around a place without any apparent purpose, often causing irritation for shopkeepers. - Japanese takeout option – BENTO
A bento is a Japanese meal packed in a box, typically containing rice, fish or meat, and vegetables. - Best of all possible worlds – UTOPIA
Utopia refers to an ideal or perfect society where everything is just right, often considered unattainable. - Say “O di” instead of “I do”? – EXCHANGEWEDDINGVOWELS
A playful twist on exchanging wedding vows, where the vowels in “I do” are humorously mixed up. - Le Mans race unit: Abbr. – KIL
“Kil” is short for kilometer, a unit of measurement often used in car races like Le Mans. - Keep from happening – AVERT
To avert something is to prevent it from occurring, often used in the context of avoiding danger or disaster. - Once Upon a Mattress prop – PEA
The pea in “Once Upon a Mattress” is a crucial prop in the story, where a princess feels it under many mattresses, proving her royalty. - Longtime hair removal brand – NEET
Neet is a brand of hair removal products, similar to Veet, known for its depilatory creams. - Word with hose or line – PANTY
“Panty” is a word that can be paired with “hose” (pantyhose) or “line” (pantyline), related to women’s undergarments. - Sewing machine pioneer Howe – ELIAS
Elias Howe was an inventor who played a significant role in the development of the sewing machine. - Expert conclusion? – ISE
The suffix “ise” (or “ize” in American English) is often used to form verbs indicating expertise or action, such as “realize” or “advise.” - Like some wits and wines – DRY
“Dry” can describe both a type of humor (sharp, understated wit) and a type of wine that is not sweet. - Eviction notice sent to a New York deli owner? – PACKYOURBAGELSANDGO
A humorous play on words combining the eviction phrase “Pack your bags and go” with “bagels,” a common item sold in New York delis. - Roadwork might push it back in brief – ETA
ETA stands for Estimated Time of Arrival, which can be delayed due to roadwork. - Like many London skies – GREY
London is often associated with overcast and cloudy weather, making “grey” a fitting description of its skies. - Something fishy – ROE
Roe is fish eggs, often considered a delicacy, and something literally “fishy.” - Back in time – AGO
“Ago” refers to a period of time that has passed, often used to indicate how long something happened. - Scatterbrain – AIRHEAD
An “airhead” is a slang term for someone who is forgetful or not very focused, often used lightheartedly. - This thing is SHARP! It handles potatoes and carrots with ease e.g. – PEELERREVIEW
A humorous clue describing a kitchen tool (peeler) in the form of a mock product review, emphasizing its sharpness and effectiveness. - The Kiss sculptor – RODIN
Auguste Rodin was a French sculptor known for his famous work “The Kiss.” - Stage a hostile takeover of – USURP
To usurp means to take control of something, especially in a forceful or illegal manner. - Blue dye – ANIL
Anil is a blue dye derived from the indigo plant, traditionally used in textiles. - Inits. for a hit – SRO
SRO stands for Standing Room Only, indicating a performance so popular that all seats are filled, leaving only standing room. - Dept. store inventory – GDS
“GDS” is an abbreviation for goods, referring to the merchandise or stock available in a department store. - Face-planted – ATEIT
“Ate it” is a colloquial phrase meaning to fall or crash, particularly when someone falls face-first. - Dodge S.U.V. – DURANGO
Durango is a model of SUV manufactured by Dodge, known for its durability and performance. - Interior decorator’s assertion that bold colors are back in style? – WHATSPASTELISPAST
A play on the phrase “What’s past is past,” with “pastel” humorously inserted to suggest that pastel colors are out and bold colors are in. - Like the view from Big Sur – COASTAL
Big Sur offers breathtaking coastal views, making “coastal” an apt description. - Kind of farm – SOLAR
A solar farm is a large-scale installation where solar panels are used to generate electricity from sunlight. - Survive a round of musical chairs – SIT
In musical chairs, players must quickly find a seat when the music stops, so “sit” is key to surviving the game. - Setting for the musical Two by Two – ARK
The musical “Two by Two” is based on the story of Noah’s Ark from the Bible, making “ark” the correct setting. - Inveigh (against) – RAIL
To rail against something means to criticize it vehemently, often in a loud and angry manner. - E-bike alternative – MOPED
A moped is a small motorized vehicle, similar to an e-bike but typically powered by gasoline. - Smother as with sauce – DROWN
To drown something in sauce means to cover it completely, often used to describe generously saucing food. - Santa’s routes on Christmas Eve? – NOELFLYZONES
A pun combining “Noel” (another word for Christmas) with “fly zones,” referring to Santa’s flight path on Christmas Eve. - I categorically deny that! – ITSALIE
“It’s a lie” is a strong denial, indicating that the statement or accusation is completely false. - Job listing abbr. – EOE
EOE stands for Equal Opportunity Employer, a standard abbreviation in job listings indicating non-discriminatory hiring practices. - One might be organized by habitat – ZOO
A zoo is an establishment where animals are housed and exhibited, often organized by the type of habitat the animals live in. - A Death in the Family novelist – AGEE
James Agee was an American author known for his novel “A Death in the Family,” which won the Pulitzer Prize posthumously. - Wall St. debut – IPO
IPO stands for Initial Public Offering, which is when a company first offers its shares to the public on the stock market. - Advice after one’s rival scores a perfect ten? – DONTGETMADGETELEVEN
A humorous piece of advice suggesting that instead of getting upset, one should aim to outdo the rival by scoring even higher. - Me day destination – SPA
A spa is a place people visit to relax and pamper themselves, often chosen for a “me day” of self-care. - Org. with a PreCheck option – TSA
TSA (Transportation Security Administration) offers PreCheck, a program that allows expedited security screening for travelers. - What fumaroles emit – STEAM
Fumaroles are openings in the Earth’s crust that emit steam and gases, often found in volcanic areas. - Like streets but rarely alleyways – NAMED
Streets are commonly named and marked with signs, while alleyways are often unnamed and more obscure. - River through Florence – ARNO
The Arno River flows through the city of Florence, Italy, and is a significant feature of the region. - Give an allowance? – LET
To “let” can mean to allow something, thus giving “allowance” in a more general sense. - Lukewarm – TEPID
Tepid describes something that is only slightly warm, often used to describe water or a weak response. - Had a session – MET
To “meet” can refer to having a session or gathering, whether formal or informal, where people come together for a discussion or activity. - Airline’s promise to improve its timeliness? – YOURDELAYSARENUMBERED
A clever phrase playing on the expression “your days are numbered,” suggesting the airline will reduce delays and improve punctuality. - Rim protector – HUBCAP
A hubcap is a cover for the central part of a car wheel, helping to protect the rim and wheel from damage. - ___ is to place as eternity is to time: Joseph Joubert – SPACE
This analogy from Joseph Joubert compares the concept of space to place, just as eternity is related to time. - Where the entire Newhart series actually took place – INADREAM
A reference to the famous twist ending of the TV series “Newhart,” where the entire show is revealed to have been a dream. - Guiding principles – IDEALS
Ideals are principles or standards of perfection that people strive to live by or uphold. - Hollandaise sauce ingredients – YOLKS
Egg yolks are a key ingredient in making hollandaise sauce, a rich, creamy sauce often used in eggs Benedict and other dishes. - They might get worn down while solving crosswords – ERASERS
Erasers are used to correct mistakes when solving crosswords, and frequent use can wear them down. - Stuff served in a horn at a Renaissance faire perhaps – ALE
Ale is a type of beer that might be served in a drinking horn at a Renaissance fair, in keeping with the historical theme. - Red or White follower – PEAR
This clue plays on words, where “pear” can follow “red” (red pear) or “white” (white pear), both being types of pears. - Magician’s request – CAN
A magician might ask for a “can” as a prop for a trick, or this could be a wordplay on “can” meaning to be able to do something (e.g., “Can you believe it?”). - For my money … – SAYHI
A playful interpretation of the phrase “for my money,” where the response might be “Say hi” as a way of expressing what you would do in a given situation. - Subject of Bravo’s Selling Sunset – SOX
This could be a playful reference to the reality show “Selling Sunset,” with “Sox” potentially being a humorous or obscure interpretation of something sold on the show. - Directional suffix – PATIO
This clue suggests a suffix that indicates direction or location, with “patio” being a common outdoor area adjacent to a building. - Company whose name is derived from Service Games – ORO
This refers to the origin of the name SEGA (Service Games), though “Oro” might be a wordplay on this connection. - Airline based in Madrid – PROUD
Iberia is the national airline of Spain, based in Madrid. “Proud” could be a clue indicating national pride associated with the airline. - Markdown indicator – PICKACARD
A playful clue suggesting that a markdown might be indicated by picking a card, possibly referring to discounts or special offers. - Your point being …? – WAKE
This clue might be playing on words, where “wake” could be a question about someone’s intention or the effect they leave behind. - Stick in a makeup kit – DANUBE
A cryptic or playful clue, where “Danube” could refer to something unexpected in a makeup kit, perhaps as a metaphor or wordplay. - Skye of Say Anything … – ITHINK
A reference to Ione Skye, an actress known for her role in the film “Say Anything,” with “I think” possibly being a phrase linked to her character or a quote from the film. - Word on a candy heart – HIGHS
Candy hearts often have sweet or affectionate words on them, and “highs” could be a playful or unusual choice of word for one. - Indigenous Oklahoman – LEO
“Leo” might be a name or a play on a native Oklahoman, possibly referencing the Native American heritage in Oklahoma. - Red carpet attire – ORCA
This clue could be a playful or cryptic reference, where “Orca” might relate to something fashionable or notable at a red carpet event. - Maker of tiny trunks – REALTY
“Realty” might be a wordplay clue, possibly referencing a company that deals in small properties or a literal interpretation of small trunks (luggage). - Loser in the 2024 Stanley Cup final – ENDAT
A cryptic clue that could be interpreted in multiple ways, possibly a play on the idea that the final “ends at” a certain point, leaving one team the loser. - Mean-spirited – FONT
This clue could refer to a specific typeface known for its sharp or harsh appearance, used metaphorically to describe a mean-spirited tone. - Regard highly – DAL
A wordplay or abbreviation that could refer to someone or something held in high esteem. - Dr. Marcus of old TV – ERN
A reference to a character named Dr. Marcus from a classic TV show, with “Ern” possibly being short for Ernest or another related name. - Greek goddess of the earth – YOGA
Gaia is the Greek goddess of the Earth, though “Yoga” might be a playful or cryptic reference to a practice linked to nature and grounding. - Alfresco dining spot – STARLETS
This could be a playful reference to outdoor dining spots frequented by celebrities or “starlets.” - Positions that require flexibility? – EPS
This clue might refer to job positions or roles that require adaptability, with “EPS” possibly being short for a term like “episodes” or “positions.” - Desertlike – SEGA
This could be a cryptic reference to something barren or arid, with “Sega” being a wordplay on the concept. - Traffic jams – URDU
A play on words, where “Urdu” might be linked to something confusing or jammed, metaphorically. - Intense demeanor – SLAY
“Slay” is modern slang for performing exceptionally well or having an intense, commanding presence. - Compote fruit – GALL
A cryptic clue where “Gall” could refer to something sharp or bitter, possibly a play on a type of fruit used in compotes. - Language whose name starts and ends with the same letter – REVERE
A cryptic or wordplay clue, where “Revere” could symbolize admiration or respect, linked to a language or cultural reference. - Looney Tunes bunny – SAP
A play on words, where “Sap” might be a nickname or a humorous reference to Bugs Bunny, the famous Looney Tunes character. - Admitted to a doctor’s office – IZZE
This clue could be playing on the idea of being “admitted,” possibly referencing a brand or a clever interpretation of an entrance. - Ending of a political address – EASY
“Easy” might refer to a phrase or sentiment used to conclude a political speech, aiming for reassurance or simplicity. - Euphoric moments – WELBY
This could be a wordplay clue, with “Welby” referencing moments of joy or ecstasy, possibly linked to a character or concept. - Not go further than – UTA
A cryptic clue where “UTA” could refer to a limit or boundary, potentially a play on words or abbreviation. - Panini maker e.g. – LOOT
This could be a wordplay clue, where “loot” refers to a valuable or sought-after kitchen appliance like a panini maker. - Textbook example – TYPO
A “typo” might ironically refer to a mistake, often used as a textbook example of what not to do in writing or typesetting. - Purges – IBERIA
A cryptic reference where “Iberia” might relate to cleansing or removing something, metaphorically or literally, linked to Spain or Portugal. - First word of a Stevie Wonder hit – PRESS
This might reference a Stevie Wonder song, where “Press” could be the first word or a clue to the theme of the song. - Part of a joule – NOMS
A cryptic clue where “noms” might play on the concept of energy or measurement, linked to joules. - Romance – SAL
A play on the word “sal” (salt in Spanish), possibly referring to the spice of life or a relationship.