NY Times Crossword

August 1, 2024

Rajeswari Rajamani

The four clues below have something in common that is hinted at by the fifth clue. Can you determine what it is?

1. They're found next to cabarets

2. Viable investment plans

3. Like some nasty habits

4. They might be marked as absent

5. Many a gym-goer's goal

HINTS:

It has to do with the words in:

1: cabarets

2: viable

3: habits

4: absent

Answer to Clue 5:

RIPPED ABS

 

Answer to Clues 1-4:

The letters AB have to be removed (ripped) from each clue to make the answers make sense:

 

1. cabarets - carets [^ mark used to indicate an exponent]

2. viable - vile investment

3. habits - hits below the belt

4. absent - sent emails