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

NYT Crossword Answers for December 23, 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, December 23, 2012 · 140 clues

This page lists the NYT Crossword from Sunday, December 23, 2012: 140 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
Sewer, at times
6 letters Hints for Sewer, at times Clue page for Sewer, at times
7
Dregs of society
4 letters Hints for Dregs of society Clue page for Dregs of society
11
"I'm not doing so well"
4 letters Hints for "I'm not doing so well" Clue page for "I'm not doing so well"
15
___ it up (dress flamboyantly)
4 letters Hints for ___ it up (dress flamboyantly) Clue page for ___ it up (dress flamboyantly)
19
Sherpa's tool
6 letters Hints for Sherpa's tool Clue page for Sherpa's tool
20
Kind of street
4 letters Hints for Kind of street Clue page for Kind of street
21
Accurse
4 letters Hints for Accurse Clue page for Accurse
22
Grams
4 letters Hints for Grams Clue page for Grams
23
Drank quickly
6 letters Hints for Drank quickly Clue page for Drank quickly
24
Allocated dollars for digs
9 letters Hints for Allocated dollars for digs Clue page for Allocated dollars for digs
26
&&&
4 letters Hints for &&& Clue page for &&&
27
"___ time now"
3 letters Hints for "___ time now" Clue page for "___ time now"
28
Smoker's convenience
10 letters Hints for Smoker's convenience Clue page for Smoker's convenience
30
Toiling away
6 letters Hints for Toiling away Clue page for Toiling away
32
Santa's bootblack?
4 letters Hints for Santa's bootblack? Clue page for Santa's bootblack?
34
"___ ever!"
3 letters Hints for "___ ever!" Clue page for "___ ever!"
35
Paisley refusals
4 letters Hints for Paisley refusals Clue page for Paisley refusals
37
Gets up
5 letters Hints for Gets up Clue page for Gets up
38
Density symbol
3 letters Hints for Density symbol Clue page for Density symbol
40
Anti-apartheid org.
3 letters Hints for Anti-apartheid org. Clue page for Anti-apartheid org.
42
1970 hit for Neil Diamond
5 letters Hints for 1970 hit for Neil Diamond Clue page for 1970 hit for Neil Diamond
43
De novo
4 letters Hints for De novo Clue page for De novo
44
Lies in the hot sun
5 letters Hints for Lies in the hot sun Clue page for Lies in the hot sun
46
Shacks
7 letters Hints for Shacks Clue page for Shacks
48
Marine rescue grp.
4 letters Hints for Marine rescue grp. Clue page for Marine rescue grp.
50
Fancified
6 letters Hints for Fancified Clue page for Fancified
52
Really desire, with "over"
5 letters Hints for Really desire, with "over" Clue page for Really desire, with "over"
53
Precipitate
6 letters Hints for Precipitate Clue page for Precipitate
57
House of the speaker?
6 letters Hints for House of the speaker? Clue page for House of the speaker?
58
Writer
6 letters Hints for Writer Clue page for Writer
60
Big guns
7 letters Hints for Big guns Clue page for Big guns
61
F = ma formulator
6 letters Hints for F = ma formulator Clue page for F = ma formulator
62
Very wide shoe spec
4 letters Hints for Very wide shoe spec Clue page for Very wide shoe spec
63
Text changes
5 letters Hints for Text changes Clue page for Text changes
65
Rocket center, once
3 letters Hints for Rocket center, once Clue page for Rocket center, once
66
___ admin
3 letters Hints for ___ admin Clue page for ___ admin
67
"Not doable"
4 letters Hints for "Not doable" Clue page for "Not doable"
68
Govt. money guarantor
4 letters Hints for Govt. money guarantor Clue page for Govt. money guarantor
69
Its capital is Sydney: Abbr.
3 letters Hints for Its capital is Sydney: Abbr. Clue page for Its capital is Sydney: Abbr.
70
"O Sole ___"
3 letters Hints for "O Sole ___" Clue page for "O Sole ___"
71
Just ___ ... or "Just '___"
5 letters Hints for Just ___ ... or "Just '___" Clue page for Just ___ ... or "Just '___"
73
Crones
4 letters Hints for Crones Clue page for Crones
74
From way back
6 letters Hints for From way back Clue page for From way back
77
It's needed for self-checkout
7 letters Hints for It's needed for self-checkout Clue page for It's needed for self-checkout
79
Alternative to broadband
6 letters Hints for Alternative to broadband Clue page for Alternative to broadband
81
Fixed rate
6 letters Hints for Fixed rate Clue page for Fixed rate
82
Capital north of Cyprus
6 letters Hints for Capital north of Cyprus Clue page for Capital north of Cyprus
83
Mat material
5 letters Hints for Mat material Clue page for Mat material
84
Not yet out of the closet?
6 letters Hints for Not yet out of the closet? Clue page for Not yet out of the closet?
85
Attach a handle to
4 letters Hints for Attach a handle to Clue page for Attach a handle to
87
Preceded
7 letters Hints for Preceded Clue page for Preceded
89
Give a rude awakening, say
5 letters Hints for Give a rude awakening, say Clue page for Give a rude awakening, say
90
Flexible, electrically
4 letters Hints for Flexible, electrically Clue page for Flexible, electrically
92
Derby features
5 letters Hints for Derby features Clue page for Derby features
94
Turn blue, say
3 letters Hints for Turn blue, say Clue page for Turn blue, say
95
Do wrong
3 letters Hints for Do wrong Clue page for Do wrong
96
Bubbling up
5 letters Hints for Bubbling up Clue page for Bubbling up
97
Ruination
4 letters Hints for Ruination Clue page for Ruination
98
Leonard Nimoy's "___ Not Spock"
3 letters Hints for Leonard Nimoy's "___ Not Spock" Clue page for Leonard Nimoy's "___ Not Spock"
100
"Fish Magic" painter
4 letters Hints for "Fish Magic" painter Clue page for "Fish Magic" painter
103
Rapper who played Brother Sam on "Dexter"
6 letters Hints for Rapper who played Brother Sam on "Dexter" Clue page for Rapper who played Brother Sam on "Dexter"
105
1996 Olympian noted for performing on an injured ankle
10 letters Hints for 1996 Olympian noted for performing on an injured ankle Clue page for 1996 Olympian noted for performing on an injured ankle
110
Form letters?
3 letters Hints for Form letters? Clue page for Form letters?
111
"No ___" ("Don't ask me")
4 letters Hints for "No ___" ("Don't ask me") Clue page for "No ___" ("Don't ask me")
112
Basically
9 letters Hints for Basically Clue page for Basically
114
Breaks one's back
6 letters Hints for Breaks one's back Clue page for Breaks one's back
116
Boston player, for short
4 letters Hints for Boston player, for short Clue page for Boston player, for short
117
Triple Crown winners must lead their league in these
4 letters Hints for Triple Crown winners must lead their league in these Clue page for Triple Crown winners must lead their league in these
118
Too-good-to-be-true offer, often
4 letters Hints for Too-good-to-be-true offer, often Clue page for Too-good-to-be-true offer, often
119
Roman tragedy writer
6 letters Hints for Roman tragedy writer Clue page for Roman tragedy writer
120
Florida's Sanibel, e.g.
4 letters Hints for Florida's Sanibel, e.g. Clue page for Florida's Sanibel, e.g.
121
Zebra feature
4 letters Hints for Zebra feature Clue page for Zebra feature
122
They're run up
4 letters Hints for They're run up Clue page for They're run up
123
Like some dough
6 letters Hints for Like some dough Clue page for Like some dough

Down clues

1
Unhappy king of legend
5 letters Hints for Unhappy king of legend Clue page for Unhappy king of legend
2
Prefix with -metrics
5 letters Hints for Prefix with -metrics Clue page for Prefix with -metrics
3
Vegas casino
14 letters Hints for Vegas casino Clue page for Vegas casino
4
Roseanne's husband on "Roseanne"
3 letters Hints for Roseanne's husband on "Roseanne" Clue page for Roseanne's husband on "Roseanne"
5
Suit
4 letters Hints for Suit Clue page for Suit
6
Made de novo
5 letters Hints for Made de novo Clue page for Made de novo
7
Certain baby food
12 letters Hints for Certain baby food Clue page for Certain baby food
8
So-called "Goddess of Pop"
4 letters Hints for So-called "Goddess of Pop" Clue page for So-called "Goddess of Pop"
9
Samovars
4 letters Hints for Samovars Clue page for Samovars
10
It's part this, part that
4 letters Hints for It's part this, part that Clue page for It's part this, part that
11
Whom Shelley wept for
7 letters Hints for Whom Shelley wept for Clue page for Whom Shelley wept for
12
"Water Music" composer
6 letters Hints for "Water Music" composer Clue page for "Water Music" composer
13
Fr. title
3 letters Hints for Fr. title Clue page for Fr. title
14
"Watermark" vocalist
4 letters Hints for "Watermark" vocalist Clue page for "Watermark" vocalist
15
Really bugging
9 letters Hints for Really bugging Clue page for Really bugging
16
Woolly
6 letters Hints for Woolly Clue page for Woolly
17
English royal
6 letters Hints for English royal Clue page for English royal
18
Covers up
5 letters Hints for Covers up Clue page for Covers up
25
Street opening
7 letters Hints for Street opening Clue page for Street opening
29
Sports announcer's scream
4 letters Hints for Sports announcer's scream Clue page for Sports announcer's scream
31
Lost-parcel inquiries
7 letters Hints for Lost-parcel inquiries Clue page for Lost-parcel inquiries
33
Newspaper section
7 letters Hints for Newspaper section Clue page for Newspaper section
36
It's almost nothing
3 letters Hints for It's almost nothing Clue page for It's almost nothing
39
Prefix with -porosis
5 letters Hints for Prefix with -porosis Clue page for Prefix with -porosis
41
Took turns recklessly
8 letters Hints for Took turns recklessly Clue page for Took turns recklessly
42
Things may be written in it
5 letters Hints for Things may be written in it Clue page for Things may be written in it
44
Cap'n's mate
4 letters Hints for Cap'n's mate Clue page for Cap'n's mate
45
Kind of well
8 letters Hints for Kind of well Clue page for Kind of well
47
Piece for nine
5 letters Hints for Piece for nine Clue page for Piece for nine
49
Hockey area in front of the crease
4 letters Hints for Hockey area in front of the crease Clue page for Hockey area in front of the crease
51
Seemingly forever
3 letters Hints for Seemingly forever Clue page for Seemingly forever
54
Long-running TV show featuring the Hortons and the Bradys
14 letters Hints for Long-running TV show featuring the Hortons and the Bradys Clue page for Long-running TV show featuring the Hortons and the Bradys
55
Fishing boats
8 letters Hints for Fishing boats Clue page for Fishing boats
56
South American zoo animal
3 letters Hints for South American zoo animal Clue page for South American zoo animal
59
Revolutionary 1960s Chinese youth
8 letters Hints for Revolutionary 1960s Chinese youth Clue page for Revolutionary 1960s Chinese youth
60
Open ___
3 letters Hints for Open ___ Clue page for Open ___
64
They're often behind glass
12 letters Hints for They're often behind glass Clue page for They're often behind glass
67
Prompt
3 letters Hints for Prompt Clue page for Prompt
68
Apocryphal
5 letters Hints for Apocryphal Clue page for Apocryphal
69
ABC, for one
7 letters Hints for ABC, for one Clue page for ABC, for one
70
Wall St. credential
3 letters Hints for Wall St. credential Clue page for Wall St. credential
71
Small boat made of wickerwork
7 letters Hints for Small boat made of wickerwork Clue page for Small boat made of wickerwork
72
"___ / Had 'em" (classic two-line poem about fleas)
4 letters Hints for "___ / Had 'em" (classic two-line poem about fleas) Clue page for "___ / Had 'em" (classic two-line poem about fleas)
73
Quibblers split them
5 letters Hints for Quibblers split them Clue page for Quibblers split them
74
The Sun Devils' sch.
3 letters Hints for The Sun Devils' sch. Clue page for The Sun Devils' sch.
75
Sci-fi or western
5 letters Hints for Sci-fi or western Clue page for Sci-fi or western
76
Result of a bang-up job?
4 letters Hints for Result of a bang-up job? Clue page for Result of a bang-up job?
78
One running
9 letters Hints for One running Clue page for One running
80
Beta carotene and others
7 letters Hints for Beta carotene and others Clue page for Beta carotene and others
86
Go out
3 letters Hints for Go out Clue page for Go out
87
Trick-winning attempt in bridge
7 letters Hints for Trick-winning attempt in bridge Clue page for Trick-winning attempt in bridge
88
___ beer
4 letters Hints for ___ beer Clue page for ___ beer
90
Dwellings
6 letters Hints for Dwellings Clue page for Dwellings
91
TV announcer who broke the news of John Lennon's murder
6 letters Hints for TV announcer who broke the news of John Lennon's murder Clue page for TV announcer who broke the news of John Lennon's murder
93
Earn hand over fist
6 letters Hints for Earn hand over fist Clue page for Earn hand over fist
96
Firenze friends
5 letters Hints for Firenze friends Clue page for Firenze friends
99
Rumpled
5 letters Hints for Rumpled Clue page for Rumpled
101
Put up
5 letters Hints for Put up Clue page for Put up
102
Lamb specialty
5 letters Hints for Lamb specialty Clue page for Lamb specialty
104
Unwilling to budge
4 letters Hints for Unwilling to budge Clue page for Unwilling to budge
106
Kick back
4 letters Hints for Kick back Clue page for Kick back
107
People conquered by the Spanish
4 letters Hints for People conquered by the Spanish Clue page for People conquered by the Spanish
108
Wound protector
4 letters Hints for Wound protector Clue page for Wound protector
109
Much merriment
4 letters Hints for Much merriment Clue page for Much merriment
113
Heat org.
3 letters Hints for Heat org. Clue page for Heat org.
115
Got ___ (did great)
3 letters Hints for Got ___ (did great) Clue page for Got ___ (did great)

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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.

Can I see one answer without spoiling the rest?

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.