The clue "It might be right under your nose?: abbr." uses a pun, hinting that the answer is abbreviated. "STACHE" is short for "mustache," which literally sits right under your nose. The question mark signals playful wordplay, making STACHE the fitting answer.
Across
Kansas City is famous for its barbecue (BBQ), a hallmark of the region's cuisine. Known for slow-smoked meats with robust sauces, it’s a signature culinary tradition. BBQ is the shorthand commonly used for barbecue, making it the perfect, concise answer to this clue about Kansas City cuisine.
4STACHE??????✨ See Why
The clue "It might be right under your nose?: abbr." uses a pun, hinting that the answer is abbreviated. "STACHE" is short for "mustache," which literally sits right under your nose. The question mark signals playful wordplay, making STACHE the fitting answer.
10IOU???✨ See Why
The clue "Short notice?" involves wordplay with the question mark hinting at a pun. An IOU is a written acknowledgment of debt—a "notice"—and it's "short" because it’s a brief, informal abbreviation for "I owe you." Hence, "Short notice?" cleverly refers to IOU.
11OHLOOK??????✨ See Why
The clue "Check that out!" is in quotes, indicating a spoken phrase. "OH LOOK" is a natural exclamation someone might say when drawing attention to something surprising or noteworthy, matching the conversational tone and context of the clue.
12TOE???✨ See Why
The clue "Stocking stuffer?" features a pun indicated by the question mark. Here, "stocking" refers to a sock or hosiery, and a "stuffer" suggests something inside it. A TOE is literally "stuffed" inside a stocking (or sock), making it the clever and fitting answer.
13BABBLE??????✨ See Why
The clue "Say 'goo-goo ga-ga,' e.g." describes incoherent or nonsensical speech, often associated with babies. The word "babble" refers to both baby talk and unintelligible sounds, fitting perfectly. The quotation marks indicate spoken sounds, reinforcing "babble" as the correct answer.
14EYES????✨ See Why
The clue "I have ___ only for you" is a reference to the common romantic phrase "I have eyes only for you," implying exclusive attention or love toward someone. The blank naturally completes with "EYES," making the phrase complete and correct.
16TUBAS?????✨ See Why
The answer is TUBAS because the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme prominently features brass instrumentation, with the tuba’s deep, rich sound standing out. Its playful, bumbling tone perfectly matches the quirky and comedic feel of the show, making it a recognizable element of the theme.
17SARCASM???????✨ See Why
The clue "I'm sooooo scared," for example, ends in a question mark, signaling wordplay or irony. The exaggerated "sooooo" suggests insincerity, mimicking fake fear. This type of expression is a classic example of SARCASM, where the intended meaning is opposite the literal statement, making it the perfect solution.
19IOWA????✨ See Why
The answer is IOWA because Otto Frederick Rohwedder, the inventor of presliced bread, was born in Davenport, Iowa in 1880. The clue directly references the state associated with his birthplace, making IOWA the accurate solution.
20ADA???✨ See Why
The answer is ADA because "Ada Twist, Scientist" is a popular children’s book series by Andrea Beaty. It centers around Ada, a curious young girl passionate about science and problem-solving. The name “Ada” also nods to Ada Lovelace, a historical pioneer in computing and science.
23ISCREWEDUP??????????✨ See Why
The clue "That was entirely my mistake" is a conversational phrase expressing personal fault or error. The answer, ISCREWEDUP, mirrors this informal and self-admitting tone. It directly translates the sentiment behind the clue into a casual, relatable term often used in speech to take full responsibility.
26FLOP????✨ See Why
The clue "Disaster movie?" ends with a question mark, indicating wordplay. A "flop" is both a failure (akin to a disaster) and a term used in entertainment for an unsuccessful movie. The pun connects a literal disaster and a figurative "disaster" for a movie. Hence, the answer is FLOP.
27RUINS?????✨ See Why
The clue "Some UNESCO World Heritage Sites" suggests locations recognized for their cultural or historical significance. Many sites are ancient structures or remains, fittingly referred to as "ruins," such as Machu Picchu or Pompeii. These "ruins" are preserved and celebrated by UNESCO for their heritage value.
28SUNI????✨ See Why
The answer is SUNI because it refers to Sunisa "Suni" Lee, the U.S. gymnast who won a gold medal in the all-around event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The clue's “Golden Girls” hints at her gold-medal accomplishment, and Lee is her last name.
29AROSE?????✨ See Why
The phrase "cropped up" means "arose" in the sense of something appearing, emerging, or coming to attention unexpectedly. "Arose" fits this definition perfectly as it describes the act of something surfacing or happening, aligning with the crossword clue.
30ORSO????✨ See Why
The answer "ORSO" comes from the phrase "or so," which is used to indicate an approximate amount or range, meaning "in that general area." The ellipsis in the clue hints at a conversational tone, matching this casual expression. It's a spoken phrase fitting the clue perfectly.
31POSTS?????✨ See Why
The answer is POSTS because Instagram users frequently "post" photos, videos, or updates to share content. The word "uploads" refers to adding content online, and "Posts" is the term Instagram uses for this action. Therefore, POSTS directly aligns with the clue.
Down
1BITES?????✨ See Why
The clue "Makes an impression?" with a question mark signals wordplay. "Bites" can metaphorically mean leaving a literal or lasting impression, as in teeth leaving marks when biting. The pun lies in connecting "impression" with the act of teeth biting and leaving a physical imprint.
2BOOYA?????✨ See Why
The clue "In your face!" is in quotes, signaling a spoken phrase. BOOYA is a slang exclamation often used to boast or celebrate something triumphantly, akin to saying "Take that!" or "Gotcha!"—a direct, boastful reaction that fits the "in your face!" sentiment.
3QUEERICONS??????????✨ See Why
The clue refers to Reneé Rapp and Chappell Roan as prominent figures within LGBTQ+ culture. Both are celebrated musicians and influential figures for the queer community, often regarded as "queer icons." Hence, the term QUEERICONS aptly describes them as representatives and symbols of LGBTQ+ pride and artistry.
4SOB???✨ See Why
The clue "Bawl" means to cry loudly and intensely. "SOB" directly refers to this action, as it describes the sound or act of crying heavily, linking perfectly to the clue's meaning. Both are literal and synonymous, making "SOB" the correct answer.
5THATSAWRAP??????????✨ See Why
The clue "We're done here" is in quotes, indicating a spoken phrase. "That's a wrap" is a common expression used in film, TV, or projects to signify completion. It humorously matches the tone of the clue, making THATSAWRAP the fitting answer.
6ALBUM?????✨ See Why
The clue "Many a surprise drop" refers to the modern music trend where artists unexpectedly release (or "drop") new music. These surprise releases are often full works, like an ALBUM, rather than just singles. Thus, "ALBUM" fits as the answer.
7COBB????✨ See Why
The answer is COBB because "Cobb salad" is a classic dish made with ingredients like lettuce, chicken, bacon, egg, avocado, tomatoes, and blue cheese. The clue "___ salad" refers to this well-known name in salads, making COBB the correct solution.
8HOLA????✨ See Why
This answer is the opposite of ADIOS (8-Down). Hola is the Spanish greeting for “hello,” while adiós is used when parting ways.
9EKES????✨ See Why
The phrase "___ out a victory" means securing a win narrowly or with difficulty. The word "EKES" fits this context, as "eke out" is a phrase meaning to just barely achieve something, often with effort or struggle, which matches the sense of the clue.
15SCORPIO???????✨ See Why
The clue "Halloween delivery?" uses wordplay and hints at timing. Scorpio is an astrological sign for those born approximately October 23–November 21, overlapping with Halloween (October 31). So, "delivery" refers to a Scorpio birth, aligning with the holiday timeframe. The pun links astrology to Halloween timing!
18AWE???✨ See Why
The answer "AWE" reflects the profound wonder or amazement one might feel when viewing Earth's beauty, fragility, and vastness from space. Such an image inspires a deep emotional reaction, perfectly captured by the word "awe," which conveys both admiration and reverence.
20ADIOS?????✨ See Why
This answer is the opposite of HOLA (20-Down). In Spanish, hola means “hello,” while adiós means “goodbye.”
21DUNST?????✨ See Why
The answer is DUNST because Kirsten Dunst is a well-known actress who starred as Mary Jane Watson in the Spider-Man films directed by Sam Raimi. The mention of "Roofman," a playful nod to Spider-Man’s rooftop activities, points to her connection to these movies.
22APSES?????✨ See Why
The clue "They have recessive traits?" features wordplay. "Recessive" refers to something set back or recessed. APSES are architectural features of churches, semicircular recesses often at the end of a nave. The pun lies in "recessive traits," hinting at their recessed nature.
23IFSO????✨ See Why
The clue "Should that be the case ..." in quotes signals a spoken phrase. "IFSO" is a concise way of saying "if so," often used to mean "if that is the case." It directly aligns with the phrasing and intent of the clue.
24SLUR????✨ See Why
A slur is a curved line in musical notation connecting two or more notes, indicating they should be played smoothly and without separation. This matches the clue "Curved line between two music notes," directly describing its function in sheet music.
25EURO????✨ See Why
The clue "Italian bread?" uses a question mark, hinting at wordplay. Here, "bread" is slang for money, and the currency in Italy is the Euro. Thus, "Italian bread" cleverly refers to the Euro, the monetary unit used in Italy.
Solving today’s The Atlantic Crossword Puzzle and stuck on the 6-letter answer to the It might be right under your nose?: abbr. 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.
It might be right under your nose?: abbr. Answer Explained
The answer is STACHE.
The clue uses a question mark, signaling wordplay or a pun. "It might be right under your nose?" cleverly hints at something literal and figurative at the same time. The abbreviation "STACHE" refers to a mustache, which is indeed located directly under your nose. The clue's casual and playful tone aligns with the humorous nature of the answer.
Now that you've cracked the 4A It might be right under your nose?: abbr. 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
I just finished today’s Saturday Atlantic Crossword, and it definitely felt like a proper end-of-week puzzle. The larger grid and tougher clues made it a slower solve than usual, but the challenge felt fair throughout, with plenty of rewarding moments along the way. My favorite clue was probably SCORPIO for “Halloween delivery?” It took me a while to stop thinking about costumes and candy and realize the clue was referring to a baby delivered around Halloween season. That kind of misdirection is exactly what I enjoy in a Saturday puzzle.STACHE for “It might be right under your nose?” was another fun one. The clue sounds figurative at first, but the answer is completely literal: a mustache sits directly beneath your nose. The grid also felt very current, with entries like QUEERICONS reflecting contemporary culture rather than relying solely on traditional crossword fare. Overall, it was a challenging but entertaining solve, with enough clever clues and memorable answers to make the extra Saturday effort worthwhile.
About The Atlantic Crossword and The Atlantic Games
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Bracket City: The Atlantic’s fan-favorite game, where you solve nested clues to uncover events from that day in history. Need help solving the clues? Try our Bracket City Answers and Hints.
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Caleb’s Inferno: A monthly, high-difficulty puzzle from Caleb Madison that challenges even elite solvers.