1980s arcade game with a cube-jumping character - NYT The Crossword Clue

EBT stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer, a system allowing recipients of government assistance, like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), to pay for groceries using a card. As a "market checkout option," EBT is often used at grocery stores, and "for short" indicates the use of the abbreviation.

The al-Khalifa royal family has ruled Bahrain since 1783, a small island nation in the Persian Gulf. This clue directly references Bahrain's historical monarchy, making it the fitting answer. The absence of wordplay or foreign language cues ensures the solution is straightforward: Bahrain as the country.

The clue "Summer refreshers" suggests something that provides relief or coolness during hot summer months. BREEZES fit perfectly as they are light, refreshing winds that help cool you off in warm weather, making them a natural choice for summer relief.

The solution "RENTME" fits because U-Haul storage containers are typically available for rental. The phrase "Words on a U-Haul storage container" points to text often seen on them, and "RENT ME" is a common call to action used by U-Haul to encourage customers to rent their services.

The answer is AVI because "avi-" is a prefix derived from the Latin word "avis," meaning "bird." When combined with "fauna" (referring to animal life), "avifauna" specifically describes bird species, making AVI the correct prefix matching the clue.

In Top Gun, the term "MiGs" refers to Soviet-designed fighter jets featured as adversaries in the movie's aerial combat scenes. MiG is a famous aircraft brand (short for Mikoyan-Gurevich, its Russian designers). The clue directly links to these jets depicted in the film’s action sequences.

The clue refers to "Bangkok," the capital of Thailand, suggesting a connection to the country's currency. The Thai baht (BAHT) is the official currency used in Thailand, making it a typical bank deposit in Bangkok. This straightforward geographical and monetary association points to BAHT as the correct answer.

The answer "ONTAP" fits the clue "Ready to pour" because it commonly refers to beverages, especially beer, that are available from a tap and ready to serve immediately. It implies the liquid is already prepared and accessible for pouring.

The clue "Vocally encourage" suggests supporting someone through spoken words or actions. "Cheer on" fits perfectly as it means to verbally motivate, applaud, or encourage someone, often during a performance or competition. The adverb "vocally" specifically hints at verbal encouragement, aligning directly with "cheer on."

The clue "Places for prongs" refers to items where prongs (like the metal prongs on plugs) are inserted. This fits electrical outlets, which are the receptacles into which plug prongs are placed to connect electrical devices. The straightforward reference to "places" aligns with the function of outlets.

The clue refers to the famous pop boy band *NSYNC, which released the album "No Strings Attached" in 2000. This album was a massive success, going 11x platinum. The popularity of both the band and the album directly links *NSYNC as the correct answer also supporting thoday's theme.

The clue "Full house letters" refers to a situation where a venue is completely packed. SRO stands for "Standing Room Only," which is commonly used to indicate all seats are taken, leaving only standing room. Hence, SRO fits perfectly with this clue.

The clue "___ honor" suggests a phrase or title. "Your honor" is a formal way to address a judge in court, making "YOUR" the appropriate solution. The blank in the clue points directly to completing this standard expression. This fits as a common, respectful phrase.

The answer is TARA because Tara Lipinski is a famous Olympic figure skater. She won the gold medal in ladies' singles at the 1998 Winter Olympics, becoming the youngest Olympic figure skating champion at age 15. Her name directly fits the clue "Olympic skater Lipinski."

The clue "Printer resolution spec" refers to a technical measurement used in printers. DPI stands for "dots per inch," indicating how many individual dots of ink a printer can produce in a linear inch. It's a common specification for print quality, making DPI the correct answer.

The correct answer is M❋A❋S❋H because its series finale, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," aired in 1983 and holds the record for the most-watched scripted TV episode in U.S. history. The show, set during the Korean War, was a cultural phenomenon, blending humor and drama. This answer also accommodates 3 asterisks parts of today's theme.

The answer "EFT" corresponds to "Young newt" because an eft is the juvenile, terrestrial stage of a newt's life cycle. After hatching as aquatic larvae, newts transition into efts, which live on land before maturing into adult, aquatic newts. This biological term perfectly fits the clue.

The clue "Get on" can mean to grow older, as in "getting on in years." This aligns with AGE, which refers to the process of aging or advancing in years. It’s a straightforward, non-literal interpretation of "get on."

The clue "Andy's toy sibling" refers to Andy from the classic toys Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. These iconic dolls are "siblings" in the context of their lore. Therefore, the sibling of Andy is Ann, making ANN the correct answer.

“Smash hits” sounds like popular songs, but it’s a pun. In baseball, a “smash” is a hard hit, like a home run. The abbreviation HRS stands for home runs — literal smash hits on the field.

OIL is the solution because it is a common medium used in painting, specifically oil paints. These are made by mixing pigments with drying oils like linseed oil, making it a widely recognized "painting material" in both professional art and the clue's context.

The answer is NEO because in the film The Matrix, Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, is the protagonist who opposes Agent Smith, the primary antagonist. Their conflict drives the storyline, making Neo Agent Smith's definitive foe.

The phrase "sticks one's nose where it doesn't belong" is a figurative way of describing someone who interferes or intrudes into matters that don't concern them. "BUTTS IN" is a slang term meaning to interrupt or meddle, perfectly matching this definition. The casual tone aligns with the clue's phrasing.

E*TRADE is an online investment firm launched in 1991 that pioneered electronic trading, enabling users to manage investments like stocks and mutual funds online. The firm's founding year matches the clue and today's theme, and its focus on internet-based trading aligns directly with the description "online investment firm."

The solution "ADIA" refers to Sarah McLachlan's 1998 hit song titled "Adia." As the clue directly mentions "1998 Sarah McLachlan hit," this points specifically to the song's title, making ADIA the correct answer. This was a well-known single from her album Surfacing.

The clue "Patriotic chant" refers to a chant commonly heard at events like sporting events or rallies, where "USA! USA!" is shouted repeatedly to express pride in the United States. The repetition in "USAUSA" reflects the typical rhythmic pattern of this chant.

The phrase "Gets promoted" suggests advancement or elevation. "MOVES UP" directly describes rising to a higher position or level, aligning perfectly with the clue's meaning. The answer captures this straightforward idea of progression or promotion, making it a fitting solution for the clue.

The answer "OMELETS" fits the clue "Brunch fare" because omelets are a classic and popular dish served during brunch. They are versatile, made with eggs and various fillings, aligning perfectly with the type of food enjoyed during this late-morning meal.

The answer "SEC" is short for "second," which is a brief unit of time. The clue "Brief moment" directly points to a very short duration, perfectly matching the meaning of "SEC." It’s a common shorthand used in both conversation and crosswords.

The clue "Corner piece" cleverly refers to the corner piece in chess called a CASTLE, another name for the rook. This wordplay connects to both the corner position the piece starts in and the term commonly associated with it in the game.

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a highly recognizable U.S. Navy fighter jet prominently featured in the movie Top Gun. The clue’s reference to "Certain 'Top Gun' jet" points directly to this iconic aircraft, making TOMCAT the correct solution.

The clue "Practice taekwondo, say" suggests an activity related to martial arts. "Spar" fits because it refers to practicing fighting techniques in a controlled, non-competitive manner—a common training method in martial arts like taekwondo. The word "say" indicates SPAR is one example of practicing.

The answer "CYSTS" fits because cysts are medically defined as fluid-filled sacs that can form in tissues, often in the skin or internal organs. This directly aligns with the straightforward clue, "Fluid-filled sacs," as no wordplay or alternate meaning is implied.

The clue "List abbr." refers to a common abbreviation used in lists or citations. ETAL, short for "et alia" (Latin for "and others"), is often used to indicate additional unspecified names in a group, such as in academic papers or references.

The clue "Great ___" refers to the "Great Dane," a well-known breed of large dog. "Dane" completes the phrase and ties directly to the name of the dog breed, making it the correct answer. This straightforward clue relies on common knowledge of animals.

The clue "Contacts info: Abbr." asks for an abbreviation often found in contact details. "NOS" stands for "numbers," commonly used to refer to phone numbers. It fits well as abbreviated "contacts info" in the context of personal or business communication details.

An old-fashioned is a classic cocktail typically made with whiskey, sugar, bitters, and a citrus garnish. Rye is a type of whiskey commonly used in this drink, giving it its rich, spicy flavor, making RYE the fitting answer for this clue.

The phrase "Agnus Dei" is Latin for "Lamb of God," a term used in Christian liturgy to refer to Jesus Christ. "Agnus" means lamb, and "Dei" means God. This is a well-known religious term, making "DEI" the correct answer.