What this puzzle's sets of shaded squares resemble - NYT The Crossword Clue

The clue refers to the practice of burning the palm fronds distributed on Palm Sunday to create ashes, which are used during Ash Wednesday, marking the start of Lent. The answer, "ASH," directly relates to this symbolic remnant from Palm Sunday used in the religious observance.

The answer to "Milky Way maker … or Milky Way object" is MARS due to clever wordplay. Mars is the brand that makes the Milky Way candy bar, and it is also a celestial body (a planet) within the Milky Way galaxy. The double meaning ties the clue together.

The clue "Cereal option" refers to a type of breakfast cereal. MUESLI matches because it is a well-known cereal mix made from rolled oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, commonly eaten as a healthy breakfast option. It fits the straightforward nature of the clue.

The answer "PEA" fits by wordplay: "pea brain" is a phrase for someone considered unintelligent, and "pea body" refers to a very small body, like the size of a pea. The question mark in the clue suggests playful interpretation or figurative use of the terms.

IHOP, short for International House of Pancakes, is famous for its pancakes and celebrates National Pancake Day annually. As a breakfast-centric restaurant chain, this event aligns with their brand, making IHOP the company behind National Pancake Day. This clue references the brand's iconic association with pancakes.

The clue "You can't be serious!" is in quotes, indicating the answer is a spoken phrase expressing disbelief or exasperation. "OH CMON" (read as "Oh, come on!") perfectly matches this tone, reflecting how someone might react in frustration or disbelief in everyday speech.

The clue "La ___, Bolivia" refers to the capital city of Bolivia, La Paz. "La" is Spanish for "the," hinting at a Spanish name. La Paz, which translates to "The Peace," is one of Bolivia's administrative capitals, fitting the geographic context of the clue perfectly.

At first glance, the grid seems to read “shoots soops,” which makes no sense. But if you follow the shaded “wheel” counterclockwise, you loop through missing letters to spell SHOOTS SOME HOOPS. The circular motion cleverly echoes the clue’s imagery — basketballs and hoops — and introduces the puzzle’s wheel-based mechanic.

The clue "Hose fillers" is a playful reference to a type of clothing—pantyhose or stockings. The word "hose" refers to these garments, and the "fillers" are what go inside them: LEGS. This pun-based clue uses wordplay to connect hosiery with what physically fills them.

The phrase "knee-high by the Fourth of July" is a traditional saying among corn farmers, referring to the ideal growth stage of corn by early July. If corn is "knee-high" at that point, it indicates healthy development and a good harvest season ahead. Thus, the answer is KNEE.

The clue "Uh-uh" is enclosed in quotes, signaling the answer is a spoken expression. "Uh-uh" is a casual, dismissive way of saying "no." The word NOPE is a similarly informal spoken term for "no," making it the perfect match for this clue.

The term "siloed" refers to being separated or isolated, particularly in a way that prevents communication or collaboration between groups, much like silos are separate structures. In this puzzle, "Isolated" directly aligns with the idea of being compartmentalized or cut off, making SILOED the correct answer.

The clue "Deep cut" directly defines "GASH," as both describe a long, deep wound or split, often used in a medical or descriptive context. The word "deep" further emphasizes the significant severity, aligning perfectly with the meaning of "GASH."

The answer "VET" refers to a veteran, who is honored on Veterans Day in November. "Informally" in the clue hints at the common shorthand "vet" rather than the full term "veteran." Veterans Day is a U.S. holiday celebrated annually on November 11 to honor military service members.

Written straight across, the entry looks like nonsense — “rone’s eyes.” But tracing the shaded “wheel” counterclockwise adds the missing letters to reveal ROLLS ONE’S EYES. The motion of looping through the circle literally mirrors the act of rolling one’s eyes, a brilliant physical and linguistic overlap.

The clue “Two-cent pieces?” is a pun. "Two cents" refers to offering an opinion (as in "putting in your two cents"), and "pieces" hints at written articles. OPEDS are opinion pieces often found in newspapers where writers share their perspectives, fitting the play on words.

The answer "ONUS" fits the clue "Burden" because "onus" is a direct synonym for burden. Both words refer to a responsibility, duty, or obligation that one carries. It's a concise and precise fit for the clue, with no wordplay or special indicators needed.

The answer "NES" refers to the Nintendo Entertainment System, the console on which the original "Mega Man" games were released. The clue says "informally," hinting at the common abbreviation "NES" rather than the full name. This classic console debuted in the 1980s, making "Mega Man" iconic.

The answer is LOU because Lou Costello (1906–1959) was a famous comedian, best known as one half of the comedy duo Abbott and Costello. This clue refers to his last name, "Costello." Lou's legendary routines, like "Who's on First?" earned him enduring fame in comedy history.

The clue "Pollen producer on a flower" refers to the male reproductive part of a flower responsible for producing pollen. The stamen consists of the anther (where pollen is made) and a supporting filament. As it directly produces pollen, "STAMEN" is the correct answer.

The clue "Time off, perhaps?" features a pun indicated by the question mark. While "time off" could imply a break, here it refers to the disruption of the body's clock ("time") when traveling across time zones by jet. Thus, JETLAG is an appropriate play on words.

The clue uses wordplay with "tab." A "tab" is both a bar bill and a way to keep track of something. A PUB is where someone literally keeps your "tab" (bill) when you order drinks, making it a clever pun-based solution.

The clue "Make it" plays on the phrase used in the game of tag, where "making it" refers to tagging another player and becoming "it." In that context, to “make it” means to literally TAG someone.

The clue "Those in charge: Abbr." signals that the answer is an abbreviation for people in leadership roles. LDRS is short for "leaders," which directly fits as "those in charge" refers to individuals who lead or oversee others.

The answer BESET works for “Assail” because BESET means to surround or trouble someone persistently, which aligns with the concept of attacking, pressuring, or assailing someone. It captures the idea of being overwhelmed or under attack, making it a fitting synonym.

The entry “throw foop” looks wrong until you trace the wheel counterclockwise. Doing so inserts the missing letters to form THROW FOR A LOOP, a phrase meaning “to bewilder.” The looping motion of the mechanic perfectly echoes the word loop itself, a self-referential and satisfying thematic twist.

The clue "One serving a queen, perhaps" uses a question mark, signaling wordplay. An ant serves a queen in an ant colony, where worker ants tend to the queen. The "perhaps" indicates it's one possible interpretation of "serving a queen," making ANT the fitting answer.

The answer "THAI" fits because Thai cuisine is globally known for its bold, spicy flavors, often featuring chili peppers, curry pastes, and aromatic spices. The clue is direct, requiring recognition of Thailand’s culinary reputation for spicy dishes like Tom Yum and Green Curry.

The clue "Little squirt" employs playful wordplay. "Shorty" is a slang term often used to describe a short or small person, aligning with "little." The pun here refers to size, with "squirt" reinforcing the idea of something smaller or diminutive, making SHORTY an apt fit.

The clue "Certain bra spec" refers to a specific detail about a bra, and "spec" suggests a measurement or classification. Bra sizes include cup sizes (A, B, C, D, etc.). A "D cup" is a particular bra specification, making DCUP the answer.

OINK is the solution because Peppa Pig, the main character of the kids' TV show "Peppa Pig," is a pig, and pigs are commonly associated with the sound "oink." The clue directly hints at the characteristic sound made by this animal.

Q.E.D. is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase "Quod Erat Demonstrandum," meaning "which was to be demonstrated." ERAT, translating to "was" in Latin, is a key part of the phrase, making it the correct solution for the clue.

Straight across, you’d see “rof applause,” which doesn’t compute until you take the wheel for a spin. Following the shaded squares counterclockwise spells ROUND OF APPLAUSE, both the correct phrase and a playful nod to the wheel’s circular “round” shape. The puzzle ends with a thematic standing ovation.

The answer "BOT" fits because a bot (short for robot) is an automated program or algorithm often responsible for sending spam messages or emails. The clue uses "Nonhuman" to indicate something artificial, and bots are a common nonhuman source of spam, making this a clever match.

The clue “Like a premium plan for an account user, maybe” suggests a feature typically associated with paid or upgraded accounts. Premium plans often remove advertisements for an enhanced experience. The phrase "Ad-Free" directly describes this feature, fitting the clue's description of a premium plan.

The golden calf from the Bible was an object of worship created by the Israelites, representing a false god. An IDOL is something worshiped as a deity or excessively admired, often falsely. Here, "IDOL" perfectly describes the golden calf as a false object of worship.

The clue "Neckwear that can't be laundered" includes a playful hint. "LEI" refers to the flower garland traditionally worn around the neck in Hawaiian culture. Made of delicate flowers or leaves, leis are not washable, making "can't be laundered" a fitting description.

The word "PESTER" means to annoy or bother someone persistently, aligning directly with the clue "Annoy." It reflects the act of irritation through repeated actions or demands, making it a fitting synonym and solution for this straightforward clue.

The clue "Takes from" suggests forcibly taking or stealing something. The verb "ROBS" aligns with this meaning, as it refers to taking property from someone through force or theft. It fits the clue as a concise and direct synonym.

The answer is ESP because it directly relates to the subject discussed in the documentary "Third Eye Spies," which explores extrasensory perception (ESP). Additionally, "ESP" is hidden in the phrase "Third Eye Spies" (Third Eye Spies), aligning with the clue's wordplay hint.