The New York Times · 15×15 on weekdays, 21×21 on Sundays

NYT Crossword Answers for May 20, 2012

Q: What if I only want a nudge?

Open a clue’s Hints link. Its page has three hints that stop short of the answer: what the answer means, how many letters it has and how it starts, and other clues that had the same answer.

Sunday, May 20, 2012 · 138 clues

This page lists the NYT Crossword from Sunday, May 20, 2012: 138 clues, each with its answer behind a reveal button. For the newest puzzle, go to today's NYT Crossword answers.

Jump to Across or Down. Tap a square for one letter, or Answer for the whole word.

Across clues

1
Course preparer
4 letters Hints for Course preparer Clue page for Course preparer
5
Close shave
6 letters Hints for Close shave Clue page for Close shave
11
John Lennon song that ends "I love you, yeah, yeah, now and forever"
5 letters Hints for John Lennon song that ends "I love you, yeah, yeah, now and forever" Clue page for John Lennon song that ends "I love you, yeah, yeah, now and forever"
16
Deck (out)
3 letters Hints for Deck (out) Clue page for Deck (out)
19
Tops
4 letters Hints for Tops Clue page for Tops
20
Like some church matters
6 letters Hints for Like some church matters Clue page for Like some church matters
21
Monster slain by Hercules
5 letters Hints for Monster slain by Hercules Clue page for Monster slain by Hercules
22
Lead-in to meter
3 letters Hints for Lead-in to meter Clue page for Lead-in to meter
23
Chocolat, say?
17 letters Hints for Chocolat, say? Clue page for Chocolat, say?
26
Shorten, with "off"
3 letters Hints for Shorten, with "off" Clue page for Shorten, with "off"
27
In the limelight
7 letters Hints for In the limelight Clue page for In the limelight
28
HBO competitor
5 letters Hints for HBO competitor Clue page for HBO competitor
29
Emphatic denial
7 letters Hints for Emphatic denial Clue page for Emphatic denial
31
Home to the Minutemen, informally
5 letters Hints for Home to the Minutemen, informally Clue page for Home to the Minutemen, informally
33
When repeated, an old New Orleans tune
3 letters Hints for When repeated, an old New Orleans tune Clue page for When repeated, an old New Orleans tune
35
Word repeated four times in the last line of Shakespeare's "All the world's a stage" speech
4 letters Hints for Word repeated four times in the last line of Shakespeare's "All the world's a stage" speech Clue page for Word repeated four times in the last line of Shakespeare's "All the world's a stage" speech
36
Polyester fabric
6 letters Hints for Polyester fabric Clue page for Polyester fabric
39
Macho drag queen?
14 letters Hints for Macho drag queen? Clue page for Macho drag queen?
46
Shield border
4 letters Hints for Shield border Clue page for Shield border
47
Make, as a copy of a CD
4 letters Hints for Make, as a copy of a CD Clue page for Make, as a copy of a CD
48
Stop on a line
5 letters Hints for Stop on a line Clue page for Stop on a line
49
Dockworkers' org.
3 letters Hints for Dockworkers' org. Clue page for Dockworkers' org.
50
Like literary classics?
11 letters Hints for Like literary classics? Clue page for Like literary classics?
54
Call to the bar?
8 letters Hints for Call to the bar? Clue page for Call to the bar?
56
Weirdo
3 letters Hints for Weirdo Clue page for Weirdo
57
Earth goddess
4 letters Hints for Earth goddess Clue page for Earth goddess
58
Bobby who sang "Take Good Care of My Baby"
3 letters Hints for Bobby who sang "Take Good Care of My Baby" Clue page for Bobby who sang "Take Good Care of My Baby"
60
Hall-of-Fame pitcher Joss
5 letters Hints for Hall-of-Fame pitcher Joss Clue page for Hall-of-Fame pitcher Joss
61
Unsurprisingly
7 letters Hints for Unsurprisingly Clue page for Unsurprisingly
63
Skinny?
6 letters Hints for Skinny? Clue page for Skinny?
65
Discreet signal
3 letters Hints for Discreet signal Clue page for Discreet signal
68
Like a centaur?
10 letters Hints for Like a centaur? Clue page for Like a centaur?
70
"Don't let that youngster get off without paying!"?
10 letters Hints for "Don't let that youngster get off without paying!"? Clue page for "Don't let that youngster get off without paying!"?
75
Rural setting
3 letters Hints for Rural setting Clue page for Rural setting
76
Had way too much of
6 letters Hints for Had way too much of Clue page for Had way too much of
78
Words from a con man
7 letters Hints for Words from a con man Clue page for Words from a con man
79
Given a number, maybe
5 letters Hints for Given a number, maybe Clue page for Given a number, maybe
83
Flushed
3 letters Hints for Flushed Clue page for Flushed
84
Baseball's strikeout king
4 letters Hints for Baseball's strikeout king Clue page for Baseball's strikeout king
85
Go (for)
3 letters Hints for Go (for) Clue page for Go (for)
86
Unbiased account?
8 letters Hints for Unbiased account? Clue page for Unbiased account?
89
Announcement made by a transplant surgeon, perhaps?
11 letters Hints for Announcement made by a transplant surgeon, perhaps? Clue page for Announcement made by a transplant surgeon, perhaps?
92
British isle
3 letters Hints for British isle Clue page for British isle
93
Allan-___ (figure in the Robin Hood legend)
5 letters Hints for Allan-___ (figure in the Robin Hood legend) Clue page for Allan-___ (figure in the Robin Hood legend)
95
Omelette ingredient
4 letters Hints for Omelette ingredient Clue page for Omelette ingredient
96
Middling grades
4 letters Hints for Middling grades Clue page for Middling grades
97
Stigmatize a "great" king?
14 letters Hints for Stigmatize a "great" king? Clue page for Stigmatize a "great" king?
100
Hankering
6 letters Hints for Hankering Clue page for Hankering
102
Salon selection
4 letters Hints for Salon selection Clue page for Salon selection
103
Twin killings, on a diamond: Abbr.
3 letters Hints for Twin killings, on a diamond: Abbr. Clue page for Twin killings, on a diamond: Abbr.
104
Went off course
5 letters Hints for Went off course Clue page for Went off course
106
Part of the inn crowd?
7 letters Hints for Part of the inn crowd? Clue page for Part of the inn crowd?
110
Access requirement, maybe
5 letters Hints for Access requirement, maybe Clue page for Access requirement, maybe
114
Old-fashioned ingredient
7 letters Hints for Old-fashioned ingredient Clue page for Old-fashioned ingredient
118
Big collection agcy.
3 letters Hints for Big collection agcy. Clue page for Big collection agcy.
119
Two reasons to avoid a dog kennel?
17 letters Hints for Two reasons to avoid a dog kennel? Clue page for Two reasons to avoid a dog kennel?
122
Apt name for a 1-Across?
3 letters Hints for Apt name for a 1-Across? Clue page for Apt name for a 1-Across?
123
Unenthusiastic
5 letters Hints for Unenthusiastic Clue page for Unenthusiastic
124
Maximum
6 letters Hints for Maximum Clue page for Maximum
125
Bar mixer
4 letters Hints for Bar mixer Clue page for Bar mixer
126
Rx amt.
3 letters Hints for Rx amt. Clue page for Rx amt.
127
Wonderland message
5 letters Hints for Wonderland message Clue page for Wonderland message
128
"Are you kidding me?"
6 letters Hints for "Are you kidding me?" Clue page for "Are you kidding me?"
129
Ocho minus cinco
4 letters Hints for Ocho minus cinco Clue page for Ocho minus cinco

Down clues

1
Roman censor
4 letters Hints for Roman censor Clue page for Roman censor
2
Game ender, at times
4 letters Hints for Game ender, at times Clue page for Game ender, at times
3
Chemical endings
4 letters Hints for Chemical endings Clue page for Chemical endings
4
Given prominence
8 letters Hints for Given prominence Clue page for Given prominence
5
"A diamond is forever," e.g.
6 letters Hints for "A diamond is forever," e.g. Clue page for "A diamond is forever," e.g.
6
Saint-Germain-des-Prés sights
5 letters Hints for Saint-Germain-des-Prés sights Clue page for Saint-Germain-des-Prés sights
7
Ohio or Colorado: Abbr.
3 letters Hints for Ohio or Colorado: Abbr. Clue page for Ohio or Colorado: Abbr.
8
Some tennis winners
4 letters Hints for Some tennis winners Clue page for Some tennis winners
9
Head line?
4 letters Hints for Head line? Clue page for Head line?
10
Lanchester on the screen
4 letters Hints for Lanchester on the screen Clue page for Lanchester on the screen
11
Little genius
7 letters Hints for Little genius Clue page for Little genius
12
Olive ___
3 letters Hints for Olive ___ Clue page for Olive ___
13
Mid 16th-century year
4 letters Hints for Mid 16th-century year Clue page for Mid 16th-century year
14
God with a shield
4 letters Hints for God with a shield Clue page for God with a shield
15
Launch party?
4 letters Hints for Launch party? Clue page for Launch party?
16
Was duplicitous
8 letters Hints for Was duplicitous Clue page for Was duplicitous
17
Former co-host of "The View"
8 letters Hints for Former co-host of "The View" Clue page for Former co-host of "The View"
18
Lose it
8 letters Hints for Lose it Clue page for Lose it
24
___-shanter
4 letters Hints for ___-shanter Clue page for ___-shanter
25
Of no interest
4 letters Hints for Of no interest Clue page for Of no interest
30
See 32-Down: Abbr.
3 letters Hints for See 32-Down: Abbr. Clue page for See 32-Down: Abbr.
32
Native of 30-Down
5 letters Hints for Native of 30-Down Clue page for Native of 30-Down
34
It's solid yellow
7 letters Hints for It's solid yellow Clue page for It's solid yellow
36
Take a peke?
6 letters Hints for Take a peke? Clue page for Take a peke?
37
Excitement
7 letters Hints for Excitement Clue page for Excitement
38
Debate ender
7 letters Hints for Debate ender Clue page for Debate ender
40
Do more than threaten, say
3 letters Hints for Do more than threaten, say Clue page for Do more than threaten, say
41
Pilgrim
8 letters Hints for Pilgrim Clue page for Pilgrim
42
Anesthetized
5 letters Hints for Anesthetized Clue page for Anesthetized
43
Tore
4 letters Hints for Tore Clue page for Tore
44
Like some dorms
4 letters Hints for Like some dorms Clue page for Like some dorms
45
Title town of a Longfellow poem
4 letters Hints for Title town of a Longfellow poem Clue page for Title town of a Longfellow poem
51
Chihuahua drink
4 letters Hints for Chihuahua drink Clue page for Chihuahua drink
52
Tandoor-baked bread
4 letters Hints for Tandoor-baked bread Clue page for Tandoor-baked bread
53
Where heroes are made
4 letters Hints for Where heroes are made Clue page for Where heroes are made
55
Elaine of "Seinfeld"
5 letters Hints for Elaine of "Seinfeld" Clue page for Elaine of "Seinfeld"
59
Represented
8 letters Hints for Represented Clue page for Represented
62
Outlaw Belle who is said to have harbored Jesse James
5 letters Hints for Outlaw Belle who is said to have harbored Jesse James Clue page for Outlaw Belle who is said to have harbored Jesse James
63
Many a Little League coach
3 letters Hints for Many a Little League coach Clue page for Many a Little League coach
64
River to the Rhône
3 letters Hints for River to the Rhône Clue page for River to the Rhône
66
When many German steins are lifted
7 letters Hints for When many German steins are lifted Clue page for When many German steins are lifted
67
They get bigger when you smile
7 letters Hints for They get bigger when you smile Clue page for They get bigger when you smile
69
Hit the runway
7 letters Hints for Hit the runway Clue page for Hit the runway
71
Astronomical distance: Abbr.
4 letters Hints for Astronomical distance: Abbr. Clue page for Astronomical distance: Abbr.
72
Refrain syllables
4 letters Hints for Refrain syllables Clue page for Refrain syllables
73
Easter activity
4 letters Hints for Easter activity Clue page for Easter activity
74
Abhor
6 letters Hints for Abhor Clue page for Abhor
77
Actor Alain
5 letters Hints for Actor Alain Clue page for Actor Alain
80
Barely
4 letters Hints for Barely Clue page for Barely
81
"I did it!"
4 letters Hints for "I did it!" Clue page for "I did it!"
82
It's grounded every Saturday
4 letters Hints for It's grounded every Saturday Clue page for It's grounded every Saturday
84
Prepare, as some Mexican-style beans
5 letters Hints for Prepare, as some Mexican-style beans Clue page for Prepare, as some Mexican-style beans
86
Aesop, notably
8 letters Hints for Aesop, notably Clue page for Aesop, notably
87
Places for gates
8 letters Hints for Places for gates Clue page for Places for gates
88
"That makes sense"
8 letters Hints for "That makes sense" Clue page for "That makes sense"
90
Saturn S.U.V.
3 letters Hints for Saturn S.U.V. Clue page for Saturn S.U.V.
91
Conclusive trial
8 letters Hints for Conclusive trial Clue page for Conclusive trial
94
Lose it
7 letters Hints for Lose it Clue page for Lose it
98
Holiday quaff
3 letters Hints for Holiday quaff Clue page for Holiday quaff
99
Not worth ___
4 letters Hints for Not worth ___ Clue page for Not worth ___
100
Singer of the 1958 #1 hit "It's Only Make Believe"
6 letters Hints for Singer of the 1958 #1 hit "It's Only Make Believe" Clue page for Singer of the 1958 #1 hit "It's Only Make Believe"
101
The first "H" in Hanukkah
4 letters Hints for The first "H" in Hanukkah Clue page for The first "H" in Hanukkah
105
Former TV judge
5 letters Hints for Former TV judge Clue page for Former TV judge
107
Suffix with cigar
4 letters Hints for Suffix with cigar Clue page for Suffix with cigar
108
Cousin of an ostrich
4 letters Hints for Cousin of an ostrich Clue page for Cousin of an ostrich
109
Back-to-sch. time
4 letters Hints for Back-to-sch. time Clue page for Back-to-sch. time
111
Growl
4 letters Hints for Growl Clue page for Growl
112
Sitting on one's hands
4 letters Hints for Sitting on one's hands Clue page for Sitting on one's hands
113
Simba's mate
4 letters Hints for Simba's mate Clue page for Simba's mate
115
___ effort
4 letters Hints for ___ effort Clue page for ___ effort
116
Tactless
4 letters Hints for Tactless Clue page for Tactless
117
Mmes., over the border
4 letters Hints for Mmes., over the border Clue page for Mmes., over the border
120
Actor Alastair
3 letters Hints for Actor Alastair Clue page for Actor Alastair
121
Cambodia's Lon ___
3 letters Hints for Cambodia's Lon ___ Clue page for Cambodia's Lon ___

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Frequently asked questions

When does the NYT Crossword come out?

A new puzzle is published every day; it usually appears the evening before its date (Eastern Time). We add the clues and answers here as soon as our editors have checked them. The next one is due on Friday, November 13, 2026.

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Yes. Every clue has its own reveal: tap a numbered square to show one letter, or Answer to show the whole word. Nothing else on the page is uncovered until you ask for it.

What if I only want a nudge?

Open a clue’s Hints link. Its page has three hints that stop short of the answer: what the answer means, how many letters it has and how it starts, and other clues that had the same answer.

How far back does the NYT Crossword archive go?

We currently have 11922 NYT Crossword puzzles, starting from the day we began covering it. Use the date strip above or the archive list below to open an earlier day.