Took the car NYT Crossword Clue: Everything You Need to Know
The New York Times crossword puzzle is a daily challenge for many, and sometimes, a simple clue can be tricky! One common clue that often pops up is "Took the car." This clue is a bit of a wordplay puzzle, and today, we'll break down what this clue means and how to solve it.
What Does "Took the Car" Mean?
The clue "Took the car" is a play on words, specifically referencing the past tense of the verb "to take," which means to steal. The "car" in this case isn't a vehicle; it's referring to a "car" as a unit of measurement used in typography.
"Took the Car" in Typography
In typography, a "car" is a unit of measurement equal to 1/12 of a pica, or roughly 1/72 of an inch. This unit is often used to measure the width of a character in a font.
So, when the clue says "Took the car," it's asking for a word that means "to steal" but also has a typographic meaning.
The Answer: "Stole"
The answer to the clue "Took the car" is "stole". This is because "stole" is the past tense of "to steal," and it also refers to a measurement of type width called a "stole."
Understanding the Wordplay
The clue "Took the car" is a great example of how the New York Times crossword puzzle uses wordplay to create challenging clues. By understanding the different meanings of words and their relationship to the crossword puzzle's grid, you can start to decode even the trickiest clues.
More Clues Like "Took the Car"
Many clues in the New York Times crossword puzzle use wordplay similar to "Took the car." Here are a few more examples:
- "Went to the bank" - This clue refers to the verb "to bank" (as in, to tilt a plane) and the noun "bank" (as in a financial institution). The answer would be "tilted."
- "Took a swing" - This clue refers to the verb "to swing" (as in, to hit a baseball) and the noun "swing" (as in a set of swings at a playground). The answer could be either "hit" or "swung," depending on the crossword's grid.
By practicing with these types of wordplay clues, you'll become a crossword master in no time!
