NY Times Crossword

February 6, 2024

Victor Barocas 

The clues and their answers below don't quite make sense. Can you figure out what has to be done to correct the situation? The final clue is a great hint.

1. Play matchmaker - FORGED ALLIANCES

2. Gist of a Dear John letter - LOVED ONE

3. Tinkling racket on a windy day - CHIMED IN

4. Large container for cinnamon or coriander - SPICED RUM

5. Change a map of southern England

Answer to Clue 5: MOVE DOVER

 

Answers to Clues 1-4: MOVE DOVER - when parsed as MOVE D OVER, is the key to making sense of the answers. By moving the D from the last letter of the first word to the first letter of the second word, the new phrases correctly answer the clues:

 

1. FORGED ALLIANCES - FORGE DALLIANCES

2. LOVED ONE - LOVE DONE

3. CHIMED IN - CHIME DIN

4. SPICED RUM - SPICE DRUM