Alright, so I’ve been grinding away at the NYT crossword lately, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride. I really wanted to share this one puzzle that completely stumped me at first, but then I totally cracked it. The clue was “beat handily,” and it showed up in the March 24th puzzle.
So, first, I scratched my head, went through my usual routine of filling in the easy ones, you know, the ones that jump right out at you. But “beat handily” just wouldn’t budge. I tried to recall some synonyms or related phrases to solve it, but nothing came out.
Then, I remembered reading somewhere that “rout” could mean a total defeat, so I tried plugging that in. I re-read the definition of “rout,” and it has several meanings, such as “Put to flight,” “disperse,” “Rowdy mob,” and “Total defeat in battle.” It seemed to fit the bill. I tentatively filled in a few letters based on the crossing words, and bam, it started to make sense!
- I started with just filling in the ones I knew for sure, the low-hanging fruit.
- Then I hit a wall with “beat handily” and spent a good chunk of time just staring at it.
- Tried to find synonyms, but failed.
- Suddenly, I had a lightbulb moment and remembered the definition of “rout.”
- After checking the crossing words, “rout” did fit in perfectly.
After I got “rout,” I quickly filled the other related words, and the rest of the puzzle fell into place like dominoes. And there are also other answers to this clue. It felt so good to finally get it after being stuck for so long.
Honestly, this whole experience reminded me that sometimes you just need to step back and look at things from a different angle. I learned that you should not give up easily in this crossword puzzle. Keep trying, and you will find the answer. I mean, I was ready to throw in the towel, but that little memory of “rout” saved the day. I finished the whole puzzle!
So, yeah, that’s my crossword adventure for the day. It might seem small, but those little victories keep me coming back for more. If any of you are into crosswords, definitely give the NYT ones a shot. They’re tough, but super satisfying when you finally nail them.
