Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2018 July 1

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July 1

Today's NYT crossword clue explanation (spoiler)

I do the NYT crossword often and almost every Sunday--I usually finish it. Today I am truly puzzled by a clue's correct answer, and am looking for an explanation as to why it is what it is (after getting it from the answers to other clues, I checked online that the answer I landed upon was actually correct).

• The clue: Trying to show no signs of life
• Answer: PLAYINGCARD

I've certainly been stumped before by clues, but I can't remember ever being unable to understand a correct answer once I'd learned it. Thanks--108.21.51.78 (talk) 20:32, 1 July 2018 (UTC)

The proper answer is PLAYINGDEAD but on this crossword the DEA cells were circled to include a word on the theme of the puzzle which was 'Driving Around'. Hence CAR. See also https://nytcrossword.com/tag/trying-to-show-no-signs-of-life-crossword-clue Nanonic (talk) 20:42, 1 July 2018 (UTC)

To make it explicit here: you were expected to fill in the answer NOTABIGDEAL at 19 across, then use the letters DEA again as if they were part of 23 across to make PLAYINGDEAD. Then you had to fill in the gap in 23 across with a word for a vehicle, CAR, to complete a new word or phrase, PLAYINGCARD. Complicated! --76.69.47.228 (talk) 22:15, 1 July 2018 (UTC)