Unconventional Ways of Making an Informal Favor Request: Insights from the NYT Crossword Clue

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Unconventional Ways of Making an Informal Favor Request: Insights from the NYT Crossword Clue

Are you tired of using the same old phrases to ask for a small favor? Do you want to sound more creative, humorous, or cryptic in your requests? Then you might find inspiration in a recent crossword puzzle clue from The New York Times.

In November 2021, the puzzle had a clue for the word PLEA that read: “What to say if you want to borrow someone’s horse?” The answer, in three letters, was “NEI”, which is Danish for “no”. The explanation behind this answer was that in Denmark, a horse symbolizes pride and independence, so offering it for someone else’s use is a delicate matter that requires indirectness and politeness. Therefore, if you want to ask a horse owner for a favor, you might say “I hope you’ll say NEI if I suggest borrowing your horse.”

This crossword clue sparked a wave of online discussions and articles about the cultural differences in asking for favors and the linguistic creativity of crossword puzzles. Some examples of the unconventional ways of making informal favor requests that people suggested are:

– Pretending to forget the favor and asking for the opposite: “Hey, can you remind me not to buy a birthday gift for Karen next week? I want to make sure she doesn’t get too many.”
– Using humor or wit to make the request sound less demanding or awkward: “Would you be so kind as to lend me your ladder for a day or two, or should I invest in a helicopter?”
– Referring to a shared or implied experience or value to establish rapport or reciprocity: “I know we both hate doing dishes, so I was wondering if you’d like to trade a favor and wash mine after your party.”
– Using a reference to pop culture or media to create a common ground or a playful tone: “I promise I won’t turn into a lobster and ruin your elegance like Ross did in that Friends episode. Can I borrow your tuxedo, please?”

Of course, these methods may not work for everyone or every situation, and they might even backfire if the recipient feels confused, offended, or annoyed by the indirectness. However, they can be useful tools for those who want to add a touch of creativity or differentiation to their favor requests and explore the nuances of language and culture.

In conclusion, making an informal favor request does not have to be a routine or awkward task. By drawing inspiration from different sources and experimenting with your language skills, you can make the request more memorable, engaging, or respectful to the recipient. Who knows, you might even inspire a crossword puzzle clue someday.

Do you have any favorite way of making an informal favor request? Share it in the comments below.

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