___ apso - NYT The Crossword Clue

The clue "That one's mine!" with quotation marks signals a spoken claim. "DIBS" is an informal way of claiming something as your own, often called out verbally, making it the perfect match for this context.

The answer "SUNDAE" fits because it’s a classic dessert often topped with various ingredients like syrup, whipped cream, and commonly, a cherry on top. The clue describes a "treat," and sundaes are a well-known indulgent dessert associated with this signature garnish.

The answer "AIRS" works because "puts on TV" refers to broadcasting or showing content on television. The verb "to air" means to broadcast programs, making "AIRS" the correct fit for this straightforward clue.

The answer is IMAC because Apple’s iMac, introduced in 1998, initially came in five vibrant, candy-colored editions—tangerine, grape, lime, strawberry, and blueberry—referred to as "flavors." This clue uses "flavors" metaphorically to hint at these colors, aligning with Apple's playful product branding.

The clue "Margin for a close ballgame" refers to how tightly contested the game is. In sports, a close game is often decided by a "one-run" difference, particularly in baseball. "One-run" perfectly describes the narrow margin that defines a tight or very close game.

SCAT fits as the answer because it refers to a jazz vocal style where singers improvise melodies and rhythms using nonsensical syllables instead of lyrics. This aligns directly with "Improvisational singing" in the clue, showcasing spontaneity and creativity in performance, which SCAT embodies.

The Nebula Award is a prestigious honor given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) for outstanding works in science fiction and fantasy. Both Dune (by Frank Herbert) and American Gods (by Neil Gaiman) have received Nebula Awards for their literary excellence.

The answer "PAPA" fits because both the leader of the Smurfs, "Papa Smurf," and the fatherly figure "Papa Bear" from the Goldilocks story are referred to as "Papa." The clue cleverly connects these well-known paternal characters with the shared title of "Papa."

The answer "GAYBAR" fits because Chicago's Boystown is a well-known LGBTQ+ neighborhood, and "gay bar" refers to an establishment catering to the LGBTQ+ community. It matches the clue's reference to a specific, culturally significant type of venue in that area.

The clue specifies "in Italian and Spanish," so the answer must be the verb for "I love" in both languages. In Italian and Spanish, "I love" translates to "amo," derived from the verb "amare" (Italian) and "amar" (Spanish). Thus, the shared form is AMO.

The answer "SARAN" refers to Saran Wrap, a popular brand of transparent plastic film commonly used for food storage. The clue "Transparent film" directly describes this product, as it is known for its see-through quality and film-like texture.

The clue "Open, as toothpaste" describes the action of removing the cap from a toothpaste tube. "Uncap" perfectly captures this action, as it means to take the cap off something, like a tube of toothpaste, to access its contents. Thus, UNCAP is the correct answer.

The clue "Like Swifties vis-à-vis Taylor Swift" describes how Taylor Swift fans (Swifties) feel about her. "Starstruck" means being awed or amazed by a celebrity, fitting the admiration and devotion fans have for her. The pun-like phrasing aligns with the emotional reaction of being dazzled by a "star."

The answer "SIR" fits because both Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney have been knighted by the British monarchy, which grants them the honorary title "Sir." The clue cleverly references their status without explicitly mentioning knighthood.

A SPA is a facility known for offering treatments that promote relaxation and wellness. Hydrating body wraps are common spa treatments involving moisturizing applications to refresh and rejuvenate the skin, making "SPA" the perfect fit for "Place for a hydrating body wrap."

The phrase "Relax, soldier" is directly linked to the military command "At ease," which instructs soldiers to relax from a formal stance while remaining alert. Since the clue is in quotation marks, it reflects spoken words, perfectly matching ATEASE.

The clue "30% is a very good one" uses wordplay. A "very good" tip at a restaurant is often considered 30% of the bill. Thus, "TIP" is the answer, referencing the gratuity percentage that denotes exceptional generosity.

The clue "Desktop image" refers to the small graphical representations of programs or files on a computer desktop. These are known as icons, which serve as visual shortcuts to open or access applications and files. Thus, ICON perfectly fits the definition of a "Desktop image."

RPG stands for "Role-Playing Game," which is the genre of the Final Fantasy series. In RPGs, players take on characters, make choices, and progress through intricate storylines, typical of Final Fantasy games. The clue specifies "in brief," signaling the abbreviated form of the genre.

The clue refers to a specific 1994 Grammy-winning song by Soundgarden. "Black Hole Sun" is a well-known hit from their album Superunknown. Its distinct title and success, including winning a Grammy, make it instantly recognizable as the correct answer.

The clue refers to a geographical feature in Massachusetts. Cape Ann is a well-known cape on the northern coast of the state, near Gloucester. It matches the structure "Massachusetts' Cape ___." The answer ANN fills the blank correctly as the name of this specific cape.

The word "OBOE" is 75% vowels (O, O, and E are vowels, while B is the only consonant). Additionally, the oboe is a woodwind instrument, fitting the "Instrument" part of the clue. This perfectly satisfies the clue's description.

The clue "Letters written in the sand, maybe" suggests distress or a call for help, often depicted as "SOS"—an internationally recognized distress signal. Writing "SOS" in the sand is a classic image associated with someone stranded, signaling for rescue. The "maybe" allows for this interpretation as a possibility.

The clue "Evening meal, for a child" suggests a playful or childlike term for dinner. "DINDIN" is a common, endearing way children or adults speaking to children might refer to "dinner," capturing the informal, fun tone implied by the clue.

The answer is LPS because Discogs is a popular online marketplace for music collectors, particularly for buying and selling vinyl records. "LPs" stands for "long-playing records," a common format for vinyl albums, making them a frequent purchase on the platform.

The clue, "Middle X or O," hints at the game Tic-Tac-Toe, where X and O are the symbols used. The "middle" refers to the central row of the game's grid: "TAC" is the middle row in the phrase TIC-TAC-TOE. Hence, TAC is the answer.

The clue "Canadian province on the Gulf of Maine" refers specifically to Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia is a Canadian province situated on the eastern coast, directly adjacent to the Gulf of Maine. Its geographic location and proximity make it the correct answer to the clue.

The clue "However, briefly" suggests a shortened (abbreviated) form of the word "however." ALTHO is a common informal abbreviation of "although," which is synonymous with "however" when used to indicate contrast. The use of "briefly" directly hints at this truncated form.

NYC is the answer because Madison Avenue and Houston Street are prominent locations in New York City. Madison Avenue is famous for advertising firms, and Houston Street (pronounced "HOW-ston") is a major thoroughfare. Together, they uniquely point to NYC as their "home."

The clue “Saw, as a movie” refers to watching or viewing a film. The word "CAUGHT" is often used colloquially to mean seeing or watching something, like "I caught a movie last night." Thus, CAUGHT fits perfectly as the solution.

A chimney sweep cleans soot and debris from a chimney's passageway, which is called the flue. The flue is the duct or pipe within the chimney that allows smoke to escape. Hence, "Chimney sweep's target" refers directly to the flue.

The term "GALAXY BRAIN" refers to having ideas so profound, they seem almost incomprehensible. It also plays on the exaggerated internet meme of an enlightened intellect. The clue hints at both the metaphor of deep thinking and needing such brilliance to solve a tricky puzzle, fitting perfectly!

The TUBA is the correct answer because both the sousaphone and the tuba are low brass instruments designed to play bass parts. The sousaphone, a marching band adaptation, is essentially a tuba shaped for portability and ease of use during performances.

The 2009 aviatrix biopic refers to the film Amelia, which tells the story of famed pilot Amelia Earhart. Known as an aviatrix (female aviator), she was a legendary figure in aviation history. The biopic starred Hilary Swank, making AMELIA the fitting answer to the clue.

The answer is LIMA because it refers to the city in Ohio, which, unlike the Peruvian capital, is pronounced with a long "I" (LIE-muh). The clue specifies the pronunciation, distinguishing it from the commonly known pronunciation of Lima in Peru.

The word "APED" means "imitated closely or mimicked," often in a way that replicates behavior or actions. It directly fits the clue "Imitated" as a synonym, providing a concise and straightforward solution without any additional wordplay or modifiers.

The solution "BERLIN" refers to the German capital, which was famously divided during the Cold War into East Berlin and West Berlin by the Berlin Wall. It was reunified in 1990 after the fall of the Wall, making it a "Reunited city."

The clue "Barbershop sound" refers to a noise commonly heard at a barbershop. "SNIP" fits perfectly as it represents the sharp sound made by scissors cutting hair, a quintessential and recognizable noise in such a setting. This concise answer directly connects to the setting and the sound.