Alley ___

Latest answer — September 05, 2025

28 Across

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Friday, September 05, 2025 appearance

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Across

  1. 1One who tries to make a good impression
  2. 8Go with
  3. 14It has its X's and O's
  4. 15Manscapes, perhaps
  5. 16Money wasted on poor decision-making, jocularly
  6. 17Destroyed emotionally
  7. 18Greg ___, author of the 1994 science fiction novel "Permutation City"
  8. 19Ones who might be looking toward careers at museums
  9. 21Elated
  10. 22Goal of a squeeze bunt, for short
  11. 23:(
  12. 25Pro whose work might be shocking
  13. 28Alley ___
  14. 30Sched. placeholder
  15. 31Small semiaquatic mammal with 22 tentacles on its snout
  16. 35Condiment at an Asian fusion restaurant
  17. 36Ground-breaking invention?
  18. 37Big N.Y.S.E. news
  19. 38Formal duds
  20. 39Kyrgyz city on the ancient Silk Road
  21. 40What the "sans" refers to in Comic Sans
  22. 43Bang into
  23. 45Musical lead-in to beat
  24. 49"OK, don't accept my apology then!"
  25. 52Bird that can build tools and remember human faces
  26. 53Not family-friendly, in a way
  27. 54Logical inconsistency in a story
  28. 56Game with a 32-card deck
  29. 57Refreshers that can be served with green wedges
  30. 58Present
  31. 59Gently presses, as a gas pedal

Down

  1. 1Skirt
  2. 2Water brand whose logo shows the Alps
  3. 3Colorful fish with iridescent stripes
  4. 4Need for a demo, maybe
  5. 5Really small amount
  6. 6Belle ___, real-life 19th-century outlaw celebrated in film and TV
  7. 7Paragon
  8. 8"___ bien!" ("All right!," in Spanish)
  9. 9Sliding screen in a Japanese tearoom
  10. 10Bounce
  11. 11Excess of inventory
  12. 12Like canvas grocery bags
  13. 13Cookbook qty.
  14. 14Does some stretching?
  15. 20Constriction of the pupils
  16. 24Daniel ___ Kim of "Hawaii Five-0"
  17. 26Seriously harm
  18. 27"Come on, just once!"
  19. 29Topping dolloped on fresh Italian tomatoes, maybe
  20. 31Misses watching a bullfight?
  21. 32Word with human or second
  22. 33Spot for a speaker
  23. 34Young 31-Down
  24. 35Bold choice, perhaps?
  25. 36Lead-in to integration
  26. 41Not going anywhere
  27. 42Provided with, as anonymous tips
  28. 44Obama family member with credits as a TV writer
  29. 46Noted ring bearer
  30. 47Slugger Scott with eight Gold Gloves
  31. 48Has an unsettled Venmo request, say
  32. 50Cold one
  33. 51Monks' honorifics
  34. 53Jewish honorific
  35. 55Bit of concert merch

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. One who tries to make a good impression — Answer: DENTIST
  2. 8. Go with — Answer: ESCORT
  3. 14. It has its X's and O's — Answer: LOVENOTE
  4. 15. Manscapes, perhaps — Answer: SHAVES
  5. 16. Money wasted on poor decision-making, jocularly — Answer: IDIOTTAX
  6. 17. Destroyed emotionally — Answer: TOREUP
  7. 18. Greg ___, author of the 1994 science fiction novel "Permutation City" — Answer: EGAN
  8. 19. Ones who might be looking toward careers at museums — Answer: ARTMAJORS
  9. 21. Elated — Answer: SENT
  10. 22. Goal of a squeeze bunt, for short — Answer: RBI
  11. 23. :( — Answer: IMSAD
  12. 25. Pro whose work might be shocking — Answer: EMT
  13. 28. Alley ___ — Answer: OOP
  14. 30. Sched. placeholder — Answer: TBA
  15. 31. Small semiaquatic mammal with 22 tentacles on its snout — Answer: STARNOSEDMOLE
  16. 35. Condiment at an Asian fusion restaurant — Answer: TERIYAKISAUCE
  17. 36. Ground-breaking invention? — Answer: DYNAMITESTICK
  18. 37. Big N.Y.S.E. news — Answer: IPO
  19. 38. Formal duds — Answer: TUX
  20. 39. Kyrgyz city on the ancient Silk Road — Answer: OSH
  21. 40. What the "sans" refers to in Comic Sans — Answer: SERIF
  22. 43. Bang into — Answer: RAM
  23. 45. Musical lead-in to beat — Answer: AFRO
  24. 49. "OK, don't accept my apology then!" — Answer: FINEBEMAD
  25. 52. Bird that can build tools and remember human faces — Answer: CROW
  26. 53. Not family-friendly, in a way — Answer: RATEDR
  27. 54. Logical inconsistency in a story — Answer: PLOTHOLE
  28. 56. Game with a 32-card deck — Answer: ECARTE
  29. 57. Refreshers that can be served with green wedges — Answer: LIMEADES
  30. 58. Present — Answer: BESTOW
  31. 59. Gently presses, as a gas pedal — Answer: EASESON

Down

  1. 1. Skirt — Answer: DODGE
  2. 2. Water brand whose logo shows the Alps — Answer: EVIAN
  3. 3. Colorful fish with iridescent stripes — Answer: NEONTETRA
  4. 4. Need for a demo, maybe — Answer: TNT
  5. 5. Really small amount — Answer: IOTA
  6. 6. Belle ___, real-life 19th-century outlaw celebrated in film and TV — Answer: STARR
  7. 7. Paragon — Answer: TEXTBOOKEXAMPLE
  8. 8. "___ bien!" ("All right!," in Spanish) — Answer: ESTA
  9. 9. Sliding screen in a Japanese tearoom — Answer: SHOJI
  10. 10. Bounce — Answer: CAROM
  11. 11. Excess of inventory — Answer: OVERSTOCK
  12. 12. Like canvas grocery bags — Answer: REUSABLE
  13. 13. Cookbook qty. — Answer: TSP
  14. 14. Does some stretching? — Answer: LIES
  15. 20. Constriction of the pupils — Answer: MIOSIS
  16. 24. Daniel ___ Kim of "Hawaii Five-0" — Answer: DAE
  17. 26. Seriously harm — Answer: MAIM
  18. 27. "Come on, just once!" — Answer: TRYIT
  19. 29. Topping dolloped on fresh Italian tomatoes, maybe — Answer: PESTO
  20. 31. Misses watching a bullfight? — Answer: SENORITAS
  21. 32. Word with human or second — Answer: NATURE
  22. 33. Spot for a speaker — Answer: DAIS
  23. 34. Young 31-Down — Answer: MUCHACHAS
  24. 35. Bold choice, perhaps? — Answer: TYPEFACE
  25. 36. Lead-in to integration — Answer: DIS
  26. 41. Not going anywhere — Answer: INERT
  27. 42. Provided with, as anonymous tips — Answer: FEDTO
  28. 44. Obama family member with credits as a TV writer — Answer: MALIA
  29. 46. Noted ring bearer — Answer: FRODO
  30. 47. Slugger Scott with eight Gold Gloves — Answer: ROLEN
  31. 48. Has an unsettled Venmo request, say — Answer: OWES
  32. 50. Cold one — Answer: BREW
  33. 51. Monks' honorifics — Answer: DOMS
  34. 53. Jewish honorific — Answer: REB
  35. 55. Bit of concert merch — Answer: TEE

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Alley ___” in the New York Times crossword is OOP — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 5, 2025, a Friday puzzle, at 28-Across, and it has also run on 4 earlier dates with the same answer. 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.

“Alley ___” answer

OOP (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 OOP.

Why the answer is OOP

OOP is the 3-letter solution that fits "Alley ___" in the NYT Crossword crossword on September 5, 2025 (28-Across). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Alley ___” appeared?

New York 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.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on September 5, 2025

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times answer list for September 5, 2025 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Crossword

The New York Times crossword, edited by Will Shortz, is the most famous daily puzzle in the United States. It runs a 15×15 grid Monday through Saturday and a larger 21×21 grid on Sunday, and its difficulty deliberately ramps through the week: Monday is the most approachable, Saturday the toughest, with Thursday often reserved for a trick or twist like rebus squares. This page covers a Friday puzzle. A straight-definition entry is the kind of solid mid-grid answer that anchors the trickier crossings around it. Because the NYT reuses short, crossing-friendly words regularly, seeing them once makes them easier to spot next time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Alley ___”?

The answer is OOP, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 5, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Alley ___”?

3 letters: OOP.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on September 5, 2025 (a Friday puzzle), at 28-Across. Earlier appearances: July 20, 2025 → OOP; July 6, 2025 → OOP; June 24, 2025 → OOP; June 5, 2025 → OOP.

Can “Alley ___” have a different answer?

Yes — New York 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 NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for September 5, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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