USA Today Crossword Clue and Answer for April 11, 2024

USA Today Crossword Clue is a fun game where you put letters in boxes to solve a puzzle. The clues tell you what words to put in.

You have to fill every row and column with the right words. The puzzles can be easy or hard, so everyone can play.

It's a cool way to test your words and thinking skills. People like to play it in newspapers, on the computer, or with apps.

It's a fun way to spend time and make your mind stronger.

ACROSS

Clue: Prepare coffee

Answer: BREW

Explanation : Brewing is the process of making coffee. When you make coffee, you brew it by mixing hot water with ground coffee beans. So, "brew" means preparing coffee.

Clue: Promoted heavily

Answer: HYPED

Explanation: When something is hyped, it means it's being promoted or talked about a lot, often with exaggerated claims or excitement. So, if something is being promoted heavily, it's being "hyped."

Clue: Plays a role in "Merrily We Roll Along"

Answer: ACTS

Explanation: In a play or movie, actors play roles. So, when they perform a role in a play like "Merrily We Roll Along," they "act."

Clue: "The Thomas Crown Affair" actress Russo

Answer: RENE

Explanation: In the movie "The Thomas Crown Affair," there's an actress named Russo who plays an important character and her first name is Rene.

Clue: Garlicky mayonnaise

Answer: AIOLI

Explanation: Aioli is a sauce made with garlic and mayonnaise. It's often used as a dip or a condiment for various dishes. So, garlicky mayonnaise is called "aioli."

Clue: "This isn't good"

Answer: UHOH

Explanation: "Uh-oh" is a phrase people use when they realize something has gone wrong or isn't good. It's like an expression of worry or concern.

Clue: Flour made with a chakki mill

Answer: ATTA

Explanation: Atta is a type of flour used in Indian cuisine, particularly for making bread like roti or chapati. It's traditionally made by grinding wheat using a chakki mill, which is a type of stone mill. So, flour made with a chakki mill is called "atta."

Clue: Peddles

Answer: SELLS

Explanation: Sells means to exchange something for money. Peddles means to sell things, usually small items, often while traveling from place to place.

Clue: Hunky-___

Answer: DORY

Explanation: Dory is a type of small boat often seen in cartoons as a simple, sturdy vessel. "Hunky-" suggests a boat or a ship, and Dory fits this description as a small, serviceable craft.

Clue: Money that may be worth more than it's worth

Answer: COIN COLLECTION

Explanation: A coin collection is a group of coins that a collector has gathered over time. While each coin may have a face value (like a penny or a quarter), the collection as a whole can be worth more than the sum of its individual parts, especially if it contains rare or valuable coins.

Clue: Accidentally send a NSFW message to your boss, say

Answer: ERR

Explanation: When you mistakenly send a message that is not suitable for work (NSFW) to your boss, it's considered an error or a mistake. "Err" is a concise way to describe this action without explicitly stating the mistake.

Clue: "Is there more?"

Answer: AND

Explanation: "And" is a word used to connect two or more things. In the context of the clue, it implies asking if there are additional items, actions, or information beyond what has already been presented.

Clue: "What a shame!"

Answer: SOSAD

Explanation: "So sad" is an expression used to convey sympathy or disappointment. In casual conversation, it's common to combine the words into "sosad" to express the sentiment succinctly.

Clue: Take the helm

Answer: STEER

Explanation: To "take the helm" means to assume control or leadership, especially in a nautical context. "Steer" is the action of directing a boat or ship by turning the steering mechanism, which fits the clue's context.

Clue: Tony _ aka Iron Man

Answer: STARK

Explanation: Tony Stark is the real name of the fictional character Iron Man from the Marvel Comics universe. "Stark" is often used to describe something harsh or bare, fitting the character's personality and the clue's context.

Clue: Words exchanged before a bride or groom is kissed

Answer: IDO

Explanation: Couples say "I do" during wedding ceremonies before sealing their marriage with a kiss.

Clue: Odin or Thor

Answer: GOD

Explanation: Odin and Thor are both gods in Norse mythology, representing different aspects of power and authority.

Clue: Fruity drink suffix

Answer: ADE

Explanation: The suffix "ade" is commonly added to fruit names to indicate a drink made from that fruit, like lemonade or limeade.

Clue: Bowline or clove hitch

Answer: KNOT

Explanation: These are both types of knots used in different situations, like tying ropes securely for sailing or camping.

Clue: Using highlighters to organize study notes, for example

Answer: COLOR CODING

Explanation: Using highlighters is a method where you use different colors to mark important information in your notes, making it easier to understand and remember.

Clue: Drive a getaway car, say

Answer: ABET

Explanation: It's when someone helps or encourages someone else to commit a crime, like driving the car for a getaway after a robbery.

Clue: Pigeon's sound

Answer: COO

Explanation: COO is the soft, gentle sound that pigeons make, often associated with their communication or mating behavior.

Clue: More than zero, less than two

Answer: ONE

Explanation: ONE is a number between zero and two, often used to represent a single item or entity.

Clue: "Star Wars" character Solo

Answer: HAN

Explanation: The clue refers to a character from "Star Wars" named Solo. The answer is the first name of this character which is HAN.

Clue: Smidgen

Answer: SKOSH

Explanation: Smidgen means a small amount, and the answer skosh is often used to describe a small portion of something.

Clue: Epic achievements

Answer: FEATS

Explanation: Epic achievements are about remarkable accomplishments. FEATS is used to describe impressive or extraordinary deeds.

Clue: Metaphorically lost

Answer: ATSEA

Explanation: Metaphorically lost means to feel confused or unsure about a situation. To be at sea is to get lost, which also is a phrase describing a state of being uncertain or disoriented.

Clue: Lucille Clifton's "homage to my hips," eg.

Answer: ODE

Explanation: It refers to a type of poem. ODE is a term for a lyrical tribute or celebration, like the mentioned poem.

Clue: Lady

Answer: GAL

Explanation: "GAL," is a relaxed or friendly term by which we can call a female person.

Clue: Basic politeness

Answer: COMMON COURTESY

Explanation: Courtesy means to show manners or be respectful. The answer, "COMMON COURTESY," describes simple acts of respect or consideration towards others, like saying "please" and "thank you."

Clue: Garment that can be draped over 100 ways

Answer: SARI

Explanation: A garment that can be draped over 100 ways is a Sari, a versatile piece of clothing from South Asia. It is a traditional attire worn by women, known for its elegant draping style.

Clue: Horn sounds

Answer: TOOTS

Explanation: Horn sounds are noises made by a musical instrument or vehicle warning. Toots is a word describing short, sharp sounds typically produced by horns.

Clue: Poker table contribution

Answer: ANTE

Explanation: Poker table contribution refers to a required bet before the start of a poker hand. ANTE is the term for the initial amount of money placed in the pot by each player.

Clue: 'The cow jumped ___ the moon"

Answer: OVER

Explanation: ‘The cow jumped ___ the moon’ is a famous nursery rhyme. The answer is the preposition indicating the direction in which the cow leaped in the story.

Clue: Bit of land in the sea

Answer: ISLET

Explanation: A bit of land in the sea is a small piece of land surrounded by water, commonly called an Islet which is often found in oceans or seas.

Clue: Bad day for Caesar

Answer: IDES

Explanation: The Bad Day for Caesar is a significant date in ancient Rome. IDES is the term for the middle of the month in the Roman calendar, notably associated with the assassination of Julius Caesar.

Clue: Places for comforters

Answer: BEDS

Explanation: Places for comforters is about locations for sleeping. BED is a term for furniture pieces where people rest and sleep, typically equipped with mattresses and blankets, and it is written in plural form.

Clue: Suspicious-seeming

Answer: SHADY

Explanation: Suspicious-seeming describes something that appears questionable or dubious. SHADY indicates a lack of trustworthiness or honesty.

Clue: Final

Answer: LAST

Explanation: Final is something that comes at the end. Last is an adjective indicating the ultimate or concluding item in a sequence.

DOWN

Clue: Invisalign alternative

Answer: BRACES

Explanation: Braces are another option to straighten teeth, similar to Invisalign but more visible. They're made of metal or ceramic and gradually move teeth into alignment over time.

Clue: Sassy comeback

Answer: RETORT

Explanation: A retort is a quick and often sharp response to someone's comment or criticism, showing wit or sassiness.

Clue: Complete

Answer: ENTIRE

Explanation: Entire means the whole or all of something, leaving nothing out. It's used when referring to something that includes everything in a particular set or group.

Clue: Stop nursing gradually

Answer: WEAN

Explanation: When a baby stops drinking milk from their mother's breast slowly over time, it's called weaning.

Clue: Is wearing

Answer: HASON

Explanation: When someone is wearing clothes or accessories right now, we say they "have on" those things.

Clue: Gives way

Answer: YIELDS

Explanation: When someone gives up or allows something to happen, like in a competition or an argument, they are said to yield.

Clue: Seek opinions from

Answer: POLL

Explanation: A poll is a way to ask many people for their opinions on something, like voting in an election or asking what their favorite color is.

Clue: Vogue rival

Answer: ELLE

Explanation: Elle is a popular fashion magazine that competes with Vogue, another famous fashion magazine, for readers and attention in the fashion industry.

Clue: Frisbee shape

Answer: DISC

Explanation: A disc is a flat, round object like a frisbee, often used in sports or games like disc golf or ultimate frisbee.

Clue: What the mute button mutes

Answer: AUDIO

Explanation: The mute button stops the sound from playing, so when you press it, you can't hear anything from your device.

Clue: Opting

Answer: CHOOSING

Explanation: When you're opting for something, you're making a choice or decision about what you want or what you'll do.

Clue: Natural disaster in "The Wizard of Oz"

Answer: TORNADO

Explanation: In "The Wizard of Oz," a tornado is a powerful storm with swirling winds that causes destruction.

Clue: Timid

Answer: SHY

Explanation: "Timid" means being shy or lacking confidence in social situations. So, "shy" is the word that fits this description.

Clue: Cate Blanchett film based on the novel "The Price of Salt"

Answer: CAROL

Explanation: Carol is a movie starring Cate Blanchett that is based on the book "The Price of Salt." It's a romantic drama film.

Clue: Disapproving sound

Answer: TSK

Explanation: Tsk is a sound people make when they are annoyed or disapprove of something. It's like a quick sucking sound made with the tongue.

Clue: Symbol in a URL

Answer: DOT

Explanation: In a URL, a "dot" is used to separate different parts of the web address, like "www.example.com", indicating the end of one section and the start of another.

Clue: Grand slam of showbiz

Answer: EGOT

Explanation: Achieving an EGOT means winning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony award, which is considered the highest honor in the entertainment industry.

Clue: Common food truck fore

Answer: TACOS

Explanation: Tacos are a popular food often sold from food trucks, made with a tortilla filled with meat, vegetables, and other toppings.

Clue: Kerfuffle

Answer: ADO

Explanation: Ado refers to a fuss or commotion, often used to describe a minor disturbance or disagreement which also means kerfuffle.

Clue: Take another shot at

Answer: REDO

Explanation: Redo means to do something again or to try something a second time, often to improve upon the first attempt.

Clue: Place to tie up a boat

Answer: DOCK

Explanation: A dock is a structure built along the shore or extending into the water where boats can be moored or tied up.

Clue: Leg joint

Answer: KNEE

Explanation: The knee is a joint in the middle of the leg that allows it to bend, helping in movements like walking, running, and jumping.

Clue: Bleeped out

Answer: CENSORED

Explanation: When something is censored, it means certain words or parts are removed or covered up, often to hide information or language that's considered inappropriate.

Clue: Piglet's pal

Answer: ROO

Explanation: Roo is a character from Winnie the Pooh who is friends with Piglet. They go on adventures together in the Hundred Acre Wood.

Clue: Conclude through logic

Answer: INFER

Explanation: To infer means to use clues or evidence to come to a conclusion or understanding about something without it being directly stated.

Clue: 'Oh, now I get it!"

Answer: AHA

Explanation: "Aha" is an expression people use when they suddenly understand or figure something out.

Clue: Secret lair under Wayne Manor

Answer: BATCAVE

Explanation: The Batcave is a hidden underground location beneath Wayne Manor where Batman stores his gadgets and vehicles.

Clue: Actor and playwright Shepard

Answer: SAM

Explanation: Sam Shepard was an American actor and playwright known for his roles in films and his work in theater.

Clue: Imitated an owl

Answer: HOOTED

Explanation: Hooted means making a sound like an owl does. Owls often make a "hoot" sound, especially at night.

Clue: Meeting plan

Answer: AGENDA

Explanation: An agenda is a list of things to be discussed or done at a meeting. It helps keep the meeting organized and ensures that important topics are covered.

Clue: Samples

Answer: TATSES

Explanation: Samples refer to small portions of food or other products that allow you to try or experience a taste of something before making a decision.

Clue: Most crafty

Answer: SLYEST

Explanation: "Slyest" means the most cunning or deceitful, like a person who is very good at tricking others or being sneaky.

Clue: Middle East leaders

Answer: EMIRS

Explanation: Emirs are leaders or rulers in some Middle Eastern countries, similar to princes or governors, often in charge of smaller regions within a larger territory.

Clue: Like many attics

Answer: DUSTY

Explanation: "Dusty" describes something covered in dust, which is common for attics because they're often used for storage and not cleaned regularly.

Clue: Redding who sang '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay"

Answer: OTIS

Explanation: Otis Redding was a singer who became famous for his soulful music, including the song "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay."

Clue: Snack

Answer: NOSH

Explanation: Nosh is a slang term for a light meal or snack, often eaten casually between regular meals.

Clue: Brown carbonated beverage

Answer: COLA

Explanation: Cola is a type of soda that is the most common carbonated beverage. It is dark brown in color and has a fizzy, carbonated texture.

Clue: Follow closely

Answer: TAIL

Explanation: To tail means to closely follow someone or something, usually with the intention of monitoring or observing their actions.

Clue: Weep loudly

Answer: SOB

Explanation: Sobbing is when someone cries loudly, often accompanied by deep, audible breaths, expressing intense emotion or distress.