Ever stared at a crossword puzzle, feeling stumped? Those little boxes can be tricky! One clue that pops up fairly often, especially in the New York Times crossword, is “charlie horse.” It might sound like equestrian vocab, but it’s something totally different (and probably something you’ve experienced!).
It’s that sudden, painful muscle cramp that grabs you, often in your leg. It can strike during exercise, in the middle of the night, or even just while sitting still. But what is a charlie horse, and why does it keep showing up in the NYT crossword? Let’s investigate this common crossword clue and its painful real-world counterpart.