Come up short, maybe

Latest answer — August 14, 2026

58 Down

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Clue explained

To owe is to have an unpaid debt, so someone may “come up short” when they lack enough money and consequently owe a balance. “Maybe” signals that this is a possible result rather than a direct synonym.

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom
A person examining a bill after realizing they do not have enough money to pay it.

LA Times Crossword

This clue's Friday, August 14, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1"Cor, blimey!"
  2. 5Oxygen co-creator
  3. 10Mascaron image
  4. 14Drive-__
  5. 15Tricky tennis serve
  6. 16Traffic-dependent figs.
  7. 17Azaria of "Brockmire"
  8. 18*Action figure at the bottom of a pool?
  9. 20WSW reversal
  10. 21Virtual citizenry
  11. 22Dad's sister
  12. 23*Naval officer's very quiet "ahoy there"?
  13. 28Outdoor dining spot
  14. 29"Oh, now I see"
  15. 30TV controller?
  16. 3119th Greek letter
  17. 33Cryptography org.
  18. 34Mineralogist who created a scale
  19. 35*Jokes about miscellaneous items?
  20. 382025 WNBA champions
  21. 40Solstice mo.
  22. 41Live and __ live
  23. 42"Starship Troopers" backdrop
  24. 43Zing
  25. 44Gives, but not forever
  26. 48*Essential for authors who work at the beach?
  27. 53Olympic swimmer Torres
  28. 54Cruising
  29. 55__ leaf: stew herb
  30. 56Clean energy option, or a hint to what the answers to the starred clues have?
  31. 59Snitch (on)
  32. 60"Copacabana" bartender
  33. 61Hugo or Edgar
  34. 62Wayfair rival
  35. 63Referendum side
  36. 64Like some buns
  37. 65Join (up)

Down

  1. 1Networking assistance
  2. 2Grammy winner Twain
  3. 3"Is This Thing On?" star Will
  4. 4Big laugh
  5. 5Activist/actor Davis
  6. 6Straight up
  7. 7Classic laundry soap
  8. 8"Jeepers!"
  9. 9Little laugh
  10. 10Beyond irritated
  11. 11Try to make right
  12. 12Pasadena research univ.
  13. 13Pre-naturalization test course, for short
  14. 19Meemaw alternative
  15. 21"McSorley's Bar" painter
  16. 24"__ Andronicus"
  17. 25Ceremonial accessory
  18. 26Rental after closing, maybe
  19. 27Hardware for Xbox
  20. 32Cow's milk source
  21. 33US Open locale
  22. 34Interstate stopover
  23. 35Fig. for ordering replacement parts
  24. 36Set pieces
  25. 37Peach __
  26. 38"So sweet!"
  27. 39Side mirror spot
  28. 43Cider source
  29. 45Like some cheesecake
  30. 46Region with many Nats fans, briefly
  31. 47Overview producer?
  32. 49Canteen stack
  33. 50Perceived to be
  34. 511-Down callers
  35. 52Uncool
  36. 56Auto care brand
  37. 57Actress Grier
  38. 58Come up short, maybe
  39. 59Minor quibble

The answer to “Come up short, maybe” in the LA Times crossword is OWE — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on August 14, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 58-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Come up short, maybe” answer

OWE (3 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is OWE.

What does OWE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of OWE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(verb)

  • have an obligation to pay or repay (something, especially money) in return for something received

When else has “Come up short, maybe” appeared?

LA Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 14, 2026 (most recent) → OWE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Come up short, maybe”?

The answer is OWE, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on August 14, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Come up short, maybe”?

3 letters: OWE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the LA Times crossword on August 14, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 58-Down.

Can “Come up short, maybe” have a different answer?

Yes — LA Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's LA Times answers?

The full grid for August 14, 2026 is on the LA Times answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

LA Times Crossword is published by Los Angeles Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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