Okay, so the other day I started messing around with the NYT Mini Crossword. You know, the little one that’s supposed to be a quickie, something you can knock out in a few minutes? Yeah, well, sometimes those “few minutes” turn into a head-scratcher for me, especially on a tough clue.
So, the clue that had me stumped this time was “Without a doubt.” Sounds simple enough, right? But my brain just went completely blank. I stared at those empty squares, and nothing came to mind. I tried to think of synonyms, different ways to say it, but nope, nothing.
The Struggle Was Real
- First, I tried just waiting, hoping the answer would magically appear. Didn’t work.
- Then, I started looking around the room, like the answer was hidden somewhere in my messy desk. Also, didn’t work.
- Finally, I decided to use what resources I had. I remembered reading somewhere that these puzzles change difficulty through the week. Monday’s puzzle should be a piece of cake, but it is not always the case.
Getting Help and Solving It
I grabbed my phone and started searching online. I found a few sites that give hints and answers for crossword puzzles. The first couple I checked out were kind of confusing, full of a bunch of other stuff I didn’t need. But then, I stumbled upon a site that was pretty straightforward. It had the clue, the date of the puzzle, and then BAM! There was the answer, clear as day.
I plugged the answer in, and it fit perfectly. It felt so good to finally crack that clue, even if it was a “mini” crossword. I guess sometimes even the smallest puzzles can trip you up, and there is no shame to use all the resources around. That’s all the story of my “without a doubt” moment.