The New York Times Mini Crossword is beloved for its bite-sized puzzles, perfect for a quick mental workout. Often playful and topical, the clues can range from straightforward to delightfully tricky. Recently, one clue in particular caught our attention, not just for its cleverness, but for its unexpected foray into the world of politics.
The clue in question? “Politician whose last name sounds like 1-Down (and not like a dance!)” This immediately sparks curiosity. Who is this politician, and what dance-sounding name are we dealing with? For crossword aficionados, the number “1-Down” points to a related clue, creating an interlocking puzzle. In this case, 1-Down was simply “See 1-Across.” The answer to 1-Down turned out to be WALLS.
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The solution to 1-Across, therefore, revealing our politician, was WALZ. Tim Walz, the current governor of Minnesota, is the politician whose name sounds like “Waltz,” a popular dance. However, the clue cleverly points out “and not like a dance!”, directing solvers to the homophone “Walls” instead. This wordplay is a classic example of crossword humor, using sound-alike words to create a deceptively simple yet engaging clue.
The author of the original article even confessed to initially misreading the clue and filling in “WALTZ,” highlighting how easily one can be led astray by the sound of the name. This emphasizes the brilliance of the clue’s construction, playing on common knowledge of both dances and political figures, while requiring a moment of linguistic decoding.
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This NYT Mini Crossword clue serves as a fun reminder of how language can be playfully manipulated. It also subtly brings political figures into the lighthearted world of puzzles, proving that even serious topics can be fodder for a bit of word-based entertainment. Whether you’re a seasoned crossword solver or a casual player, clues like this one demonstrate the enduring appeal of wordplay and the joy of a clever “aha!” moment.
