NY Times Crossword

September 25, 2022

Meghan Morris

 

Answer each clue with one of the choices below. This is a tricky puzzle. The answers to the clues seem bizarre - until the clever wordplay makes sense of things. The last clue is a hint to what's going on.

1. What's in your wallet

2. Barbershop quartet

3. Rocket scientist

4. Press junket

5. Ticketmaster

6. Ballet movements

7. Security blankets

8. A drop in the bucket

9. Performs like a daring trapeze artist

 

CHOICES (in random order):

 

a. SHAVING CREAM

b. EXTERMINATOR

c. FAKE NEWS

d. DRIBBLES

e. ELECTRICAL OUTLET

f. INFLATION

g. GEOLOGIST

h. USER NAME AND PASSWORD

 

HINT:

Answer to Clue 1: ELECTRICAL OUTLET

Answer to Clue 9:

Works without a net - - - parsed as, without an ET

Drop ET from one of the words in each clue. 

 

Answers to Clues 1-8:

 

1. e - ELECTRICAL OUTLET (What's in your WALL)

 

2. a - SHAVING CREAM (Barbershop QUART)

 

3. g - GEOLOGIST  (ROCK scientist)   

 

4. c - FAKE NEWS (press JUNK)

 

5. b - EXTERMINATOR (TICK master)

 

6. d - DRIBBLES (BALL movements)

 

7. h - USER NAME AND PASSWORD (security blanks)

 

8. f - INFLATION (a drop in the BUCK)