The phrase "LIVES A LIE" directly implies pretending to be someone they’re not, leading a life based on falsehood or deception. It describes someone presenting a false identity or reality, aligning perfectly with the clue’s meaning. The literal interpretation matches the figurative sense of pretense or deception.
Across
The clue plays on the word "kitty" (a cat) and the humorous image of it napping near "a bag of chips." In bodegas, cats are common as pest controllers. "Bodega cat" cleverly combines the setting (bodega) with the kitty's presence, fitting the pun and imagery.
10IHATETHIS?????????✨ See Why
The clue is in quotes, signaling it's a spoken phrase. "Double thumbs-down" conveys strong disapproval. A natural verbal expression of this sentiment is "I hate this," matching the clue's emotion and form perfectly. The answer, IHATETHIS, captures the intensely negative reaction described in the clue.
11CHESTBUMP?????????✨ See Why
The answer "CHESTBUMP" fits perfectly because it is a celebratory gesture often involving a jump and the "thump" of two people’s chests colliding. The clue hints at its physical and energetic nature while the playful wording emphasizes the action. It’s commonly seen in sports or enthusiastic celebrations.
12SATE????✨ See Why
The word SATE means to satisfy fully, especially with food, which aligns directly with the clue "Satisfy." Both terms suggest fulfilling a need or desire to the point of contentment. This synonym makes SATE the perfect fit for the clue.
13ADULTED???????✨ See Why
The answer is ADULTED because "adulting" is millennial slang describing the act of handling responsibilities typically associated with adulthood, like completing tasks or managing errands. "Having tackled one's to-do list" humorously aligns with the concept of "adulting," making "ADULTED" the perfect solution.
16LOBO????✨ See Why
The answer is LOBO because Rebecca Lobo is a notable former WNBA player, famous for her career with the New York Liberty and her role in popularizing women's basketball. She was also a college basketball standout at UConn and is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
17LIVESALIE?????????✨ See Why
The phrase "LIVES A LIE" directly implies pretending to be someone they’re not, leading a life based on falsehood or deception. It describes someone presenting a false identity or reality, aligning perfectly with the clue’s meaning. The literal interpretation matches the figurative sense of pretense or deception.
22OVERTHERE?????????✨ See Why
"Yonder, maybe" suggests something located at a distance. The word "yonder" typically describes a far-off place or direction. "Over there" is a commonly used phrase to indicate a specific location in the distance, aligning perfectly with the clue's meaning and the "maybe" allows for slight interpretation flexibility.
23TESS????✨ See Why
In the "Ocean's" movie series, Julia Roberts plays the character Tess Ocean, who is Danny Ocean's (George Clooney's) wife. Tess appears in Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve, making "Tess" the correct answer to the clue.
24AXEL????✨ See Why
Alysa Liu is a figure skater, and an "Axel" is a type of jump or leap performed in figure skating. The clue refers to this famous skating move, making "AXEL" the correct answer.
Down
1BIC???✨ See Why
The answer is BIC because it is a well-known company that produces pens, lighters, and razors. Established in France, BIC is globally recognized for its affordable and disposable consumer products, fitting all three categories mentioned in the clue.
2OHH???✨ See Why
The clue "I finally get it!" is in quotes, indicating the answer is a spoken expression. "OHH" mimics the sound someone makes when they suddenly understand something or experience an "aha!" moment. It's an exclamation used when things click, fitting perfectly with the clue.
3DAE???✨ See Why
The answer "DAE" refers to Daniel Dae Kim, a well-known actor who starred in the play Butterfly. He is recognized for many roles, including his work in television and theater. The blank in the clue calls for his middle name, "Dae," which completes his full name.
4ETS???✨ See Why
The answer "ETS" stands for "extraterrestrials," commonly associated with beings from outer space. The clue specifies "they're out of this world" and includes "abbr.," signaling an abbreviation. As extraterrestrials are literally "out of this world," ETS is the fitting, abbreviated solution.
5GETSLOST????????✨ See Why
The clue “Takes a turn for the worse?” includes a question mark, signaling a pun or wordplay. "Takes a turn" refers to physically changing direction, and "for the worse" implies a negative outcome. Together, this suggests someone literally "gets lost" after taking a wrong turn, fitting the clever wordplay.
6ATBAT?????✨ See Why
The clue "Pirate's opportunity?" plays on wordplay. Here, "Pirate" refers to the Pittsburgh Pirates, a Major League Baseball team. An "opportunity" for a baseball player is a chance to bat during a game, known as an "at bat." Hence, the answer is ATBAT.
7CHUTE?????✨ See Why
The clue "It'll bring you down?" includes a question mark, indicating wordplay. A "chute," like a parachute or a laundry chute, physically brings items or people downward. The pun plays on the literal action of descending, making CHUTE the appropriate answer.
8AIMED?????✨ See Why
The clue "Prepared to shoot a bow" describes the action of aligning or targeting before releasing an arrow. "AIMED" fits perfectly as it refers to the act of pointing or directing a weapon (like a bow) with intent, a necessary step before shooting.
9TSP???✨ See Why
The clue "Shortening in a recipe?" uses wordplay. "Shortening" here refers to abbreviation, not cooking fat. In recipes, teaspoon is commonly shortened to "TSP." The question mark indicates a pun or twist, so the answer is the abbreviation itself: TSP.
13ALIVE?????✨ See Why
The answer is ALIVE because "Being Alive" is the title of the closing number in the musical Company by Stephen Sondheim. It is a powerful and emotional song, representing the protagonist's realization about love, vulnerability, and connection being integral to truly living.
14DOVES?????✨ See Why
DOVES is the answer because these birds are famously used by magicians in classic illusions, such as making them appear or disappear. Their calm nature, small size, and white color make them ideal for creating visually striking, magical effects in performances.
15UBERS?????✨ See Why
The clue "They might provide airport or dinner drop-offs" refers to services that transport people to specific destinations like the airport or a restaurant. The plural "They" indicates a group of such services. UBERS, the rideshare vehicles from Uber, perfectly fits as they commonly provide such transport.
17LOT???✨ See Why
The phrase "This is kind of a ___, but ..." suggests an informal or conversational tone. "LOT" fits as it completes the phrase commonly used to express that something is substantial or significant, like "This is kind of a lot, but I handled it." It's a colloquial fit.
18AHA???✨ See Why
AHA stands for Alpha Hydroxy Acid, a common skin-care ingredient known to exfoliate the skin. By removing dead skin cells, it helps brighten and smooth the complexion. The clue specifies "abbr." indicating the shortened form of this ingredient, making AHA the correct answer.
19LEX???✨ See Why
The answer "LEX" refers to a text-focused LGBTQ+ dating and social app. The app emphasizes community engagement and inclusivity, with a primary focus on connecting people through personal ad-style posts rather than profiles, making it distinct within LGBTQ+ dating platforms. Its concise name fits the crossword clue perfectly.
20IRE???✨ See Why
The clue suggests an emotional reaction to a spoiler (revealing information about a story's ending). "IRE" means anger or irritation, which aligns with the frustration or annoyance someone might feel when encountering a spoiler. The connection is direct, as spoilers typically provoke such negative emotions.
21EEL???✨ See Why
The clue "Possibly shocking discovery at sea?" involves wordplay. "Shocking" hints at electricity, and an eel, specifically an electric eel, can produce electric shocks. "Discovery at sea" suggests something aquatic, like an eel, making it a fitting pun-based answer to the clue.
Solving today’s The Atlantic Crossword Puzzle and stuck on the 9-letter answer to the Pretends to be someone they're not clue? Don’t worry, Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.
Pretends to be someone they're not Answer Explained
The answer is LIVESALIE.
“Pretends to be someone they’re not” led me toward ideas like impersonating, masquerading, or faking an identity. The answer, LIVESALIE, is a phrase rather than a single word, which makes the clue a little trickier. To live a lie is to maintain a false version of yourself or hide the truth about who you are. The phrase often appears in stories where a character keeps a secret identity, but it can also refer to everyday situations where someone presents a misleading image to others.
Now that you've cracked the 17A Pretends to be someone they're not clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s The Atlantic Crossword Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry, we've got you covered. Explore more The Atlantic Crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the Bracket City, Stacks, or NYT The Daily Crossword.
Today’s The Atlantic Crossword Highlights
Today’s Friday Atlantic Crossword definitely felt like an end-of-the-week puzzle: larger, trickier, and packed with memorable entries. My favorite answer was BODEGACAT. The image of a cat sleeping next to bags of chips in a neighborhood corner store is so specific and charming that it instantly brought a smile to my face. It’s one of those entries that feels both modern and deeply rooted in everyday life. LIVESALIE was another standout. The clue “Pretends to be someone they’re not” took me a moment to parse, but once I saw the answer, I appreciated the clever phrase hidden inside it. The puzzle also mixed in fun contemporary entries like ADULTED and IHATETHIS alongside classic crossword fare. Overall, it struck a nice balance between challenge and entertainment, making for a very satisfying Friday solve.
About The Atlantic Crossword and The Atlantic Games
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The Atlantic Crossword is a daily digital crossword designed to challenge and delight solvers of all levels. It was launched in 2018 and has since become a standout offering among modern crosswords, with fresh clues and clever themes.
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