While solving the NYT Crossword of Jan 20, I was struggling with some tricky clues which seemed impossible to overcome. After a couple of minutes of frustration, I could solve the puzzle. Therefore, I have come here to give you the theme of today’s crossword and save you from the hardships I encountered.
Section 53-Across is the major hint of the crossword. Its question is “Skill shared by bats and dolphins… or, when read as two words, what 19-, 26-, 34- and 44-Across each is.” Let me give you the answer and then we continue with the rest of the clues.
53A refers to ECHOLOCATION (Echo Location). Pay close attention to the word echo; It is the key for solving the puzzle. With that in mind, let’s get to the 19-, 26-,34- and 44-Across question.
Section 19-Across is one of the tricky clues of NYT Crossword of Jan 20: It begins with Alfa and ends with Zulu. The answer is NATOALPHABET (NATO Alphabet). It is the phonetic language used by NATO and U.S. Military; I know; this clue must appear on Friday or Saturday puzzles. It is Tuesday and we were expecting an easy crossword.
26-Across’s question is: Hellenistic storytelling. For a fan of GREEKMYTHOLOGY (Greek Mythology), this clue was easy to solve. However, its relation to theme of the puzzle was unknown till the very last moment.
34-Across shows a subtle wordplay and somehow is a hint to the main theme of NYT Crossword of Jan 20. The Clue asks: “Modern pickup spot for delivery drivers.” Imagine you want to buy something online, what comes to your mind in seconds? Yes, Amazon. So what about the rest of the answer? Ok I don’t bother you anymore. The full answer is AMAZONWAREHOUSE (Amazon Warehouse).
Finally, 44-Across refers to a historical location: Historic destination for Pueblo pilgrimages. The answer to this clue is THEGRANDCANYON (The Grand Canyon). While many think of it simply as a tourist landmark, the Grand Canyon is ancestral land and a site of deep spiritual significance for the Pueblo people.
Theme of NYT Crossword Jan 20
Ok, let’s get to the theme of today’s NYT Crossword. I told you to remember the word echo; now we are going to use it. Every clue we have discussed has a relation to word echo.
For example, echo is a nymph in Greek Mythology or it is a code word in NATO Alphabet. In Grand Canyon, the voice will be echoed. If you are curious about its link to Amazon, I should note that Echo is a smart speaker (smart, eh).
Today’s difficulty was a bit of a double-edged sword. It was fun and challenging for hardcore players, but for those expecting a simple Tuesday, it might have been a bit of a pain in the neck. However, once you see the Echo connection, the whole grid shines!
Did the Echo theme help you find your way through the grid, or were you left shouting into the void? Which Echo was the hardest for you to spot, the Nymph or the Smart Speaker? Let’s chat in the comments!
If you need the answers for daily crossword puzzles like the NYT Crossword or the NYT Mini, make sure to check Daze Puzzle every day to find the solutions you need in record time.
