The New York Times crossword puzzle is a daily ritual for many, a way to sharpen the mind and expand vocabulary. But sometimes, you get stuck! Those sneaky clues that require a bit of lateral thinking can be tough, and that’s where understanding common crossword themes and tricks can be a lifesaver.
Among these clever tricks are the under lines clues. These clues, signaled by the word underlined, underlines, or sometimes, just context, ask you to think about words hidden within other words or phrases. It’s a game of wordplay that makes the NYT crossword so engaging.