Unleashing the Novice in You: Hacks to Crack Informal NYT Crossword Clues

Unleashing the Novice in You: Hacks to Crack Informal NYT Crossword Clues

Do you love solving crosswords, but find yourself stumped by the informal clues in The New York Times crossword? Have you ever been frustrated by clues that seem to be in code or written in an obscure language? Fear not, for we have the ultimate guide to help you decode and solve these informal clues like a pro.

1. Understand the Context

The first and foremost rule of solving informal clues is to understand the context of the clue. Unlike formal clues which are direct and straightforward, informal clues are often more subtle and require a deeper understanding of the context. For example, a clue like “headbanger’s music genre” might seem cryptic at first, but when you understand that it’s referring to heavy metal music, the answer becomes obvious.

2. Think Laterally

Informal clues often require you to think outside the box and use lateral thinking to arrive at the answer. Take the clue “What did the buffalo say to his son when he left for college?” which on the surface seems completely unrelated to the answer “Bison”. However, when you consider that “bison” sounds like “bye, son”, the answer becomes clear.

3. Use Wordplay

Wordplay is a common technique used in informal clues to arrive at the answer. Look for puns, homophones, and anagrams within the clue to arrive at the answer. For instance, the clue “Ore-___ (frozen food brand)” might seem elusive until you realize that the answer is “Ida”, which is the anagram of “Ore-“.

4. Look for Hidden Meanings

Sometimes informal clues have hidden meanings that are not apparent at first glance. For example, the clue “dress maker” might seem straightforward, but in the context of the crossword, it could refer to the maker of a deck of cards, making the answer “Ace”.

5. Use Crossword Fillers

Another hack to solve informal clues is to use crossword fillers. These are words or phrases that commonly appear in crosswords, such as “a”, “an”, “the”, “often”, “sometimes”, and so on. When you use these words in conjunction with the clue, it can help you narrow down the potential answers.

Conclusion

Solving informal clues in The New York Times crossword may seem daunting at first, but with these hacks, you’ll be cracking them in no time. Remember to understand the context, think laterally, use wordplay, look for hidden meanings, and use crossword fillers to help you arrive at the answer. Happy solving!

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