NYT Crossword Answers for April 30, 2025

Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky Clues

WEDNESDAY PUZZLE — When struggling to understand a crossword theme, I find that the answer often comes to me if I just start typing a message to the puzzle editors. I get about as far as “Can someone explain ——” before it hits me, at which point I quietly delete my message and slink back to my column.

This was precisely how I succeeded in understanding the theme of today’s puzzle, constructed by Adam Vincent. Although Mr. Vincent’s most recent crossword was published in July, it’s been a little over a year since I wrote my first column about his puzzles.

Today’s Theme

The central entry of this theme appears, handily, at the center of the grid, split between 6- and 32-Down. Combined, these entries make a phrase that means to [beat an opponent soundly]. The expression is to CLEAN ONE’S CLOCK (a little confusing, since “one’s” suggests that the clock-cleaning might be self-inflicted), and it’s surrounded by entries that interpret the idiom literally. For instance, at 15A, [A reason to act this very instant … or why you might 6-Down 32-Down?] solves to THE TIME IS RIPE, because “ripe” refers to odor that might merit a cleaning. At 34D, a [Bottleful that might 6-/32-Down?] is HAND SOAP — the “hands” in question are those of the clock. And one more, [Bottleful that might 6-Down/32-Down?], at 39D, is FACE WASH, for the clock’s face.

You had to be rather “clockwise” to solve this theme, eh? (Unless you stand firmly against the notion of requiring wisdom to solve it … in which case I’d call you counterclockwise.)

Tricky Clues

13A. [100%] can mean any number of things — a perfect test score, resounding approval or, as it is here, ALL of something.