It is Friday and as you know, themes are not in the grid to guide you today. However, this doesn’t mean that the NYT Crossword for Jan 23 is void of tricks. In fact, today’s puzzle contains some highly interesting riddles with clever wordplay and double meanings. Think of this as a perfect warm-up for tomorrow’s Saturday puzzle, which is sure to be a monster!
Let’s start with 6-Down: “Some body-builders.” No, the answer is not what you think. First of all, don’t read between the lines, just look at it as a straight sentence. What are the builders of the body? I know it is hard, the answer is GENES. This is exactly the kind of Friday misdirection I was talking about.
Another nice example of these wordplays is 32A: “Masters of manipulation.” You may think of something vicious. But the answer can be any one of us. Be prepared for another tricky answer: USERS. It seems we are all masters of manipulation when we sit at a keyboard, hopefully in a good way!
For me, 51-Across is the star of the show. The question is: “Out of joint.” At first, I was thinking about joints in body and some medical solutions. However, after some minutes, the reality struck me like thunder; it is Friday and the answer should be tricky. Then, with some help, I reached the answer: FREE. What I was missing was the fact that joint is a slang term for jail.
41-Down is one of those sad clues which may remind you of your hard days: “They make streaks on cheeks.” Whether you’ve had a rough day at work or are remembering a lost loved one, we’ve all felt that moisture on our skin. That’s right: TEARS. If you are feeling them today, let them be; you will be alright. Trust me.
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Fridays are all about the aha! moment. Which clue had you scratching your head the longest today? Was it the joint slang, or did the body-builders get you? Let’s compare notes 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.
