NYT Crossword Answers for Friday, Aug. 4, 2023

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Brandon Koppy’s puzzle is a sweet treat.

By Deb Amlen

Jump to: Tricky Clues

FRIDAY PUZZLE — When you’ve had a good deal of experience solving crosswords, it’s not uncommon to notice that some constructors have little trademarks that they like to drop into their puzzles — similar to how Al Hirschfeld, the caricaturist, used to slip the name of his daughter, Nina, into his drawings of celebrities. Some puzzle makers like to focus on grid art, making pictures out of the black squares. Others include references to things that their loved ones enjoy.

Brandon Koppy’s trademark, as he mentions in his constructor notes below, seems to be candy puns, which I am here for. They may require extra visits to the dentist, but you can’t say they’re not fun. No pressure, Mr. Koppy, but I fully expect to see Baby Ruth in your next themeless puzzle.

There were so many clever clues today that it was difficult to choose which ones to highlight, but here are a few.

1A. As Kramer of “Seinfeld” fame once said, “Who’s gonna turn down a Junior Mint? It’s chocolate, it’s peppermint, it’s delicious.” And I agree, but the “Junior mint?” in Mr. Koppy’s puzzle — with a lowercase “m” — refers to pretend moola for kids. The answer is PLAY MONEY.

17A. The high point of a vacation is usually whatever is most memorable, but the question mark in “High point of a trip to California?” means that we need to think about other ways to describe “high.” (Get your mind out of the gutter; it’s not about that kind of high.) The “high point” here is referring to a mountain, and EL CAPITAN in California is the highest vertical face of granite on Earth.

27A. I am the “Big sister?” in my family, but we’re not talking about familial relationships here. The word “big” means “important,” and the important sister in a convent is the MOTHER SUPERIOR.

41A. It took me a while to understand this one. “Space scrap?” sounds as if it’s about a meteor or some atmospheric detritus, but the word “scrap” is working as a verb in this clue. If a space program decided to scrap a launch, it would be called a NO-GO.

44A. I may or may not have stood up and applauded when I read this clue, because it’s just that brilliant. “Things that can really make someone pop?” is not about exploding, thank goodness. It’s about PATERNITY TESTS — which, if you ever watched “The Jerry Springer Show,” can really make someone a father.

61A. If you were wondering whether NOMAS was the name of the “Non-English ‘Uncle,’” it’s not. If you cry “Uncle!” you’re asking to be released from a painful grip. In Spanish, that essentially translates to “NO MAS!”

I wrote this “Junior Mint” puzzle as a sort of sequel to my last “Milk Duds” themeless. Maybe I’ve found my niche?

There were lots of good clue updates by the editorial team this time. Here are a couple of my favorite originals that didn’t make it:

15A. Temporarily living rent-free?

64A. Classic album that features Coke cans, bicycle bells and the theremin

Hope y’all enjoy!

Christina Iverson, a puzzle editor, will send a weekly Friday puzzle with more accessible crossword clues right to your inbox if you sign up for the Easy Mode newsletter. This extra bit of goodness is for those who would like to try the Friday puzzles but have heard all about how hard they are.

If you solve the early-week puzzles but feel as if you don’t have the experience to go any further, think of the newsletter as a set of cruciverbal training wheels. Use the easy-mode clues until you don’t need them anymore, and then tell your friends who are struggling the way you were about how you prevailed over Fridays. Maybe they can benefit from this newsletter, too.

Take a look at the difference between the regular and easy-mode clues below. The links are a small sample of the clue numbers from the Friday puzzle. When you click on them, you will see the version that will run in the puzzle as well as the easier version.

(Warning: The following are spoilers for the Friday puzzle.)

1A.

Friday clue: “Junior mint?”

Easy-mode clue: “Plastic coins in a toy cash register, e.g.”

27A.

Friday clue: “Big sister?”

Easy-mode clue: “Nunnery leader”

59A.

Friday clue: “John Harvard, of Harvard University, and others”

Easy-mode clue: “Ordained ministers”

Not so tough, right? You can definitely solve Friday puzzles. You may just need some practice before you’re conquering them on your own.

To sign up for the Easy Mode newsletter, click here.

The New York Times Crossword has an open submission system, and you can submit your puzzles online.For tips on how to get started, read our series “How to Make a Crossword Puzzle.”

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Spoiler alert: Subscribers can take a peek at the answer key.

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Deb Amlen, the crossword columnist and senior staff editor of Wordplay, believes that everyone can learn to solve the Times crossword. She is the author of the humor book, “It's Not P.M.S., It's You.” More about Deb Amlen