"Hang on a sec"

Latest answer — September 25, 2026

22 Down

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Clue explained

BE RIGHT BACK is a casual way to say “Hang on a sec,” usually when someone is briefly stepping away. The answer is written without spaces in the grid.

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom
An illustration of a person briefly stepping away and returning.

NYT Crossword

This clue's Friday, September 25, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Olympic slalom equipment
  2. 6Spanish sparkling wine
  3. 10First, second or third
  4. 14"For real!"
  5. 16Fictional company famous for its duds
  6. 17Outcome of a match, maybe
  7. 18Forum setting
  8. 19U2 producer Brian
  9. 20Stew on it!
  10. 21Like a whodunit in which the butler did it [duh!]
  11. 22Device seen on a front desk
  12. 23Ho Chi Minh City's former name
  13. 25Exploit a loophole, e.g.
  14. 29Disinclined
  15. 30Supermodel Alek
  16. 31___ one's time
  17. 34Procedure after which you might wear flip-flops, informally
  18. 35Off
  19. 37___ Minor
  20. 38Pen that isn't used for writing, in brief
  21. 39"Karma is a cat / Purring in my ___ 'cause it loves me" (Taylor Swift lyric)
  22. 40Port on the Loire
  23. 42"Speaking of which ..."
  24. 45Like an earworm
  25. 46Play group
  26. 47Not bother
  27. 48Rapper and actor Smith
  28. 50Go-to doc
  29. 53Actress Shawkat
  30. 54Ones providing brief assistance?
  31. 56Alliance
  32. 57Invasive plants?
  33. 58One might be meat-only or dairy-only in a kosher household
  34. 59Morsels often found in fried rice
  35. 60The Devil's domain

Down

  1. 1Give credit to, in a way
  2. 2Analogous
  3. 3___ Sarratore, "My Brilliant Friend" character
  4. 4"How ___"
  5. 5Certain loopholes
  6. 6Spoon, e.g.
  7. 7Second Freudian stage
  8. 8Gives one's approval, in a way
  9. 9Past-tense verb that becomes its present tense when you move its last letter to the front
  10. 10Sources of some rock
  11. 11Some experts of interest?
  12. 12World capital once known as Philadelphia
  13. 13Instagram : ___ :: YouTube : Short
  14. 15Focus for the foul-mouthed?
  15. 21Skosh
  16. 22"Hang on a sec"
  17. 24Says "please," say
  18. 25Look stunned
  19. 26"___ plaisir" ("You're welcome," in French)
  20. 27Breathtaking activity?
  21. 28Take without paying ... or a motion made while paying
  22. 32Per ___
  23. 33Slip (into)
  24. 36Ganja
  25. 41Residence that can have thousands of chambers
  26. 43Unreturnable pickleball shot
  27. 44Polite titles
  28. 45Instruments in chamber groups
  29. 47Discovery sites
  30. 49What's distorted in a Mercator projection
  31. 50Part of a full house
  32. 51Ptolemaic royal, familiarly
  33. 52Poke alternative
  34. 54Vim
  35. 55Transcript fig.

The answer to “"Hang on a sec"” in the New York Times crossword is BERIGHTBACK — a 11-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 25, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 22-Down. Other answers we've seen for this clue include BRB. 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.

“"Hang on a sec"” answer

BERIGHTBACK (11 letters) — most recent; also seen as BRB

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 BERIGHTBACK.

Other answers for “"Hang on a sec"”

New York Times has used this clue with more than one solution. Besides BERIGHTBACK, it has also been BRB. Every appearance we've indexed is listed below with the date it ran.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “"Hang on a sec"”?

The answer is BERIGHTBACK, a 11-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 25, 2026. Other answers for this clue include BRB.

How many letters is the answer to “"Hang on a sec"”?

11 letters: BERIGHTBACK. Earlier fills for this clue have also been BRB (3).

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on September 25, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 22-Down. Earlier appearances: October 15, 2025 → BRB.

Can “"Hang on a sec"” have a different answer?

Yes. Besides BERIGHTBACK, New York Times has also used BRB for this clue. Every date and answer is listed above.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for September 25, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

New York Times Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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