Ever woken up in the middle of the night with a sudden, searing pain in your leg? Chances are, you’ve met the infamous “charlie horse.” Its that muscle cramp that feels like your calf is trying to tie itself in a knot, and it often appears in the New York Times crossword puzzle!
The NYT crossword is a daily mental workout for many. And even seasoned solvers sometimes stumble upon clues like “leg cramp” or “muscle spasm,” leading them to the solution: charlie horse. Let’s explore this familiar discomfort and its presence in our favorite word game.