Pundit / Tsar - NYT The Crossword Clue

The answer is BEANO because bingo was originally called "beano." Players covered numbers on cards using beans as markers, hence the name derived from "beans." Over time, "beano" evolved into "bingo" when a player mistakenly shouted "bingo" instead of "beano," popularizing the new name.

The answer OTTOI refers to Otto I, also known as Otto the Great. He was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 962 and is historically recognized as the first to earn the "Great" title for his significant role in uniting and stabilizing the empire.

The clue "Hurray!" in quotes signals a spoken exclamation. "Olé" is a common cheer or shout of approval, particularly in Spanish-speaking cultures, often heard in celebrations or at events like bullfights or performances. It matches the enthusiastic tone of "Hurray!" perfectly.

The answer "INTO" fits the clue "Loving" because "into" colloquially means being deeply interested or attracted to someone or something. For example, saying "I'm really into you" expresses affection or love, capturing the essence of "loving" in a casual, modern context.

The answer is PEER because juries are traditionally composed of "peers"—individuals of similar standing in society to ensure fairness. A jury pool is made up of potential jurors, who are considered equals or "peers" of the defendant, aligning with the principle of being judged by one's peers.

The answer "ARENA" fits the clue "Boxing site" because an arena is a venue typically used for hosting major sports or events, including boxing matches. It is a straightforward reference to the physical location where boxing takes place, such as a stadium or coliseum.

The answer is SAMLET because it refers to a young or baby salmon, and pink, coho, and sockeye are all types of salmon. The clue describes the early stage of these fish species, aligning with "samlet" as the apt term.

The answer is ALOO because it is the Hindi word for "potato." In Indian cuisine, "aloo" is a key ingredient in many dishes, such as "aloo gobi" (potato and cauliflower) and "aloo paratha" (stuffed flatbread). The clue references Indian terminology, leading to this answer.

The answer is SCOW because a scow is a type of flat-bottomed boat with broad, square ends, as described in the clue. Traditionally used for transporting goods or dredging, its design matches perfectly with the "broad, square ends" detail provided in the clue.

This clue is a themer with slash leading to OR. Read it as 'S or E spots.' Both sees and espies refer to spotting something. S = sees, E = espies → spots.

The clue "Takes a role too far" suggests exaggerating or overacting in a role, such as in theater or film. "OVERPLAYS" fits perfectly, as it means to overdo or excessively dramatize a role, effectively taking it too far. The phrasing directly ties to this interpretation.

The answer is "NED" because Ned Lamont is the current governor of Connecticut. This clue uses "Governor Lamont" as a direct reference to his name, making it a straightforward trivia-based clue about his first name.

The clue refers to a type of music from Tokyo, Japan, "informally." J-POP, short for Japanese pop music, is a popular Japanese music genre known internationally. The phrase "music export" hints at its global reach, and "informally" aligns with the abbreviated term "J-POP."

The word INHERITED fits because physical traits like "looks" are passed down from parents to their children genetically, much like inheriting possessions. The phrase "mom and dad, say" hints at this biological connection, making INHERITED the correct answer.

The answer is BTS because it is a world-renowned K-pop group from Seoul, South Korea. As a major global music export, they are widely recognized for their influence, chart-topping hits, and massive international fan base, making them a fitting solution to this clue.

The clue "Breast plates?" with a question mark signals wordplay. "Breast" refers to the chest area, and "plates" hints at something associated with it. STERNA is the plural of "sternum," the breastbone in the chest that protects vital organs, fitting the pun on "plates" for protective structures.

The prefix "AER" relates to air or the atmosphere, as seen in words like "aerodynamic" or "aeronautics." In this context, "Atmospheric prefix" appropriately matches "AER," which is often used to signify something involving the air or atmosphere.

The clue uses wordplay with "ticket agent," hinting at travel. ETA stands for "Estimated Time of Arrival," which is crucial information provided by ticket agents or travel services, making it an "appropriate" fit. The pun ties the acronym directly to the travel context.

The clue uses wordplay. "Stu" sounds like "stew," a dish similar to gumbo. A gumbo chef might jokingly be nicknamed "Stu" due to this resemblance, playing on the idea of the dish they are known for preparing.

The clue "Kind of average" uses wordplay. In baseball, an "EARNED RUN" is a stat tied to pitching performance, often averaged out as "earned run average" (ERA). This refers to a kind of average specifically tied to sports, making EARNEDRUN a fitting answer.

ERIEPA is the solution because Erie, Pennsylvania (abbreviated as Erie, PA), is a city located northeast of Cleveland, Ohio, along the coast of Lake Erie. It fits the geographic relation and matches the clue's phrasing about being "up the coast."

The Phantom of the Opera, a Broadway character, is famously depicted wearing an opera cape, a long, flowing cloak typical of opera attire. The clue refers to this signature accessory, making OPERACAPE the fitting solution.

This clue is a themer with slash leading to OR. Read as W or M holes. Both wells and mouths can metaphorically be seen as openings or holes. W = wells, M = mouths.

The answer "OTS" stands for "Occupational Therapists." These professionals are key in rehabilitation, helping patients regain essential skills for daily living after injuries or illnesses. The clue "Certain rehab docs" hints at a specific type of therapist involved in rehab, making OTS the correct fit.

The clue "Experienced" suggests something one has gone through or undergone in the past. "HAD" works as it implies possession or undergoing an experience in the past tense, aligning perfectly with the clue's meaning. "Had an experience" seamlessly connects "HAD" to "Experienced."

The clue "Love lines?" ends with a question mark, indicating wordplay. "Love" here refers to deep affection, often celebrated in poetic form. An "ODE" is a lyrical poem that expresses admiration or love, making it a fitting answer. Hence, "lines" of love are lines in an ode.

The answer "VAN" refers to a common Dutch prefix in surnames, such as "Van Gogh" or "Van Buren," paralleling the familial prefixes "Mac" (Scottish/Irish) and "Ben" (Hebrew/Arabic, meaning "son of"). The clue suggests a linguistic "cousin" relationship among these cultural naming conventions.

The clue "Centipede setting" refers to the iconic 1980s arcade game Centipede. The word "setting" hints at where this game was commonly played—arcades. Thus, the answer is ARCADE, the location where classic video games like Centipede were enjoyed.

The answer "SVU" refers to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a long-running police procedural TV show. It's set and filmed in New York City, focusing on a special unit handling sensitive crimes. The abbreviation "SVU" stands for "Special Victims Unit," directly linking to the clue.

The clue "Puts one's foot down" hints at the physical action of placing a foot. The answer, STEPS, refers to the act of walking or moving by putting one foot down after another. It's a straightforward interpretation without wordplay, directly aligning with the clue's literal meaning.

The answer is TASER because it is a common non-lethal weapon used by police to subdue individuals. It delivers an electric shock to temporarily incapacitate a person. As the clue simply describes "Police weapon" without wordplay, the straightforward answer fits perfectly.

The clue "App-driven rides" refers to transportation services accessed via mobile apps, such as Uber. "UBERS" is plural, matching the clue's indication of multiple rides, and is synonymous with app-based ride-hailing services, making it the correct and logical answer.

The answer "MESS" fits because "mess" can mean to meddle, disrupt, or tamper with something—essentially interfering. It aligns with the phrase "mess with," which is a casual way to describe interfering or causing disruption. The clue's "(with)" hints at this specific phrasing.

The clue "Covid-19, colloquially" hints at an informal or slang term for Covid-19. "Rona" is a shortened, casual nickname frequently used in conversation or online to refer to the coronavirus, derived from "corona" in "coronavirus." This fits the clue's style and tone perfectly.

The clue refers to "private notes" on social media, informally. "DM" stands for "direct message," a private communication on platforms like Twitter or Instagram. Adding "ED" makes it past tense, fitting "used." Together, "DMED" means sent private messages via social media, matching the clue.

The clue refers to the movie "¡Three Amigos!", a comedy about three friends. The word "Amigos" (Spanish for "friends") and the specific number "Three" indicate a group of three, which is a TRIO. Hence, the "Amigos" represent a TRIO in the film context.

The answer is ENOS because, in the Bible, Enos (or Enosh) is the grandson of Adam and Eve. He is the son of Seth, their third son, as mentioned in Genesis 4:26. This directly connects to the clue, which asks for Adam and Eve's grandson.

The answer is POD because "podcast" is a familiar term where "pod" leads into "cast." A podcast involves digital audio or video episodes, and the term combines "iPod" (its early listening device) and "broadcast," making "pod" a natural lead-in to "cast."

REO refers to the REO Motor Car Company, an American automobile manufacturer founded by Ransom Eli Olds in 1904. The company ceased car production in 1936, aligning with the clue's "defunct" date. Its vehicles, like the REO Speed Wagon, were once notable but are now historical.