"Phooey!"

Latest answer — September 18, 2026

18 Down

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Clue explained

“Darn it!” is a mild euphemistic exclamation of annoyance, serving as a softened version of a stronger oath. It matches the expressive “Phooey!”

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom
A person reacting with mild frustration

NYT Crossword

This clue's Friday, September 18, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Server's warning at a restaurant
  2. 7Moved along (to)
  3. 13Modern tech aid whose design was inspired by a Go board
  4. 14Figuratively speaking
  5. 15Begin to boil
  6. 16Insects named for when they emerge
  7. 17Breaks off
  8. 18Water containers
  9. 19Dinosaur in Pixar's "The Good Dinosaur"
  10. 20Four-time N.B.A. All-Star Young
  11. 21Line at an Apple Store
  12. 22Permanent, perhaps
  13. 23Contents of some pockets
  14. 24Yell sharply
  15. 25Org. whose events are typically held at clubs
  16. 26Country club?
  17. 30Defensive effort in the red zone
  18. 32Not everyone agrees on this
  19. 34Ball girl
  20. 35"Big Brother" host Julie
  21. 36Org. concerned with traffic
  22. 37Ones catching rays, perhaps?
  23. 40Two in a row?
  24. 41Places to buy buckets, familiarly
  25. 42Common plant for a "plant mom"
  26. 43Long-bodied fish
  27. 44Cookie contents
  28. 45Not together, in a way
  29. 47"Is that a challenge?!"
  30. 49Some features of backyard landscaping
  31. 50"I'll be right with you"
  32. 51Gave the once-over
  33. 52"Don't believe me? Just watch!"

Down

  1. 1Brightness measures, in brief
  2. 2Element of a dating profile?
  3. 3Potential outcomes
  4. 4Mass
  5. 5___ of Solomon, literary collection written in the first or second century
  6. 6Sci-fi writer Chiang
  7. 7"&" follower, in some business names
  8. 8When much rainy weather occurs in Côte d'Ivoire
  9. 9Flip
  10. 10Seize
  11. 11High-ranking scout
  12. 12Company whose products suck
  13. 14Additional schoolwork?
  14. 16Simple cocktail named for two brands
  15. 18"Phooey!"
  16. 20Torque symbol, in physics
  17. 21Bit of nonsense writing that typically gets a laugh
  18. 22Delighted cry upon receiving an acceptance
  19. 24Ball girls
  20. 25Leap day baby, e.g.
  21. 27Clicked with a partner?
  22. 28Snicker
  23. 29Simple check for freshness
  24. 31Act like yourself, perhaps?
  25. 33Nasty ___ (noted rap moniker)
  26. 37Not in the minority?
  27. 38It often has four legs
  28. 39Fidget spinners or Angry Birds, once
  29. 40Give ___ (cause consternation in)
  30. 41Character played by Rashida Jones on "The Office"
  31. 43Set piece
  32. 44Longtime U.F.C. C.E.O. ___ White
  33. 46Aladdin's sidekick
  34. 47Many a nonfiction Oscar nominee, informally
  35. 48Lead-in to "lab" in the name of an S&P; 500 company

The answer to “"Phooey!"” in the New York Times crossword is DARNIT — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 18, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 18-Down. Other answers we've seen for this clue include NERTS, RATS, and DARN. 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.

“"Phooey!"” answer

DARNIT (6 letters) — most recent; also seen as NERTS, RATS, DARN

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 DARNIT.

Other answers for “"Phooey!"”

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

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “"Phooey!"”?

The answer is DARNIT, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 18, 2026. Other answers for this clue include NERTS, RATS, and DARN.

How many letters is the answer to “"Phooey!"”?

6 letters: DARNIT. Earlier fills for this clue have also been NERTS (5), RATS (4), DARN (4).

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on September 18, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 18-Down. Earlier appearances: July 1, 2026 → NERTS; May 11, 2025 → RATS; January 16, 2025 → DARN.

Can “"Phooey!"” have a different answer?

Yes. Besides DARNIT, New York Times has also used NERTS, RATS, and DARN 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 18, 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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