Tricksy schemes

Crossword Answer — December 24, 2025

Answer

NYT Crossword

Wednesday, December 24, 2025

By Ella Dershowitz

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Whom you might say "hey" to every day
  2. 5Collect
  3. 10Indicator of an important email
  4. 14One of many in a Swiss Army knife
  5. 15"Name your ___"
  6. 16Predator in a pod
  7. 17Salad topping that's actually from America and is rarely consumed in its namesake land
  8. 20Wheelchair access paths
  9. 21Spanish "Listen up!"
  10. 22"Shucks, you're too kind"
  11. 23As a P.S.
  12. 25Sharp quality
  13. 27"Out of Africa" author actually named Karen Christentze von Blixen-Finecke
  14. 30Knee parts, for short
  15. 32Wee winter workers
  16. 33It keeps the rain away
  17. 36Shout at a Real Madrid game
  18. 37Kosher barbecue option
  19. 39Kenan's partner in comedy
  20. 40Where Noah's Ark landed
  21. 42Grant
  22. 44Observance celebrating a decision actually made on July 2 -- the date when John Adams predicted it would be celebrated
  23. 48"Scream" queen Campbell
  24. 49Jockey's handful
  25. 50Humans : Homo :: bees : ___
  26. 51Frees (of)
  27. 53Includes online, in a way
  28. 54Blueprint
  29. 55Some high-level H.S. classes
  30. 56Aids for minors buying liquor ... or a hint to 17-, 27- and 44-Across
  31. 59___ Faire
  32. 61Shrub that sounds regretful
  33. 62Telethon contributions
  34. 63Ironman race, familiarly
  35. 64Kind of oil in some edibles
  36. 65"How ___ It End?" (Taylor Swift song)
  37. 66Lunch lady's hair holder
  38. 67Fancy handbag inits.

Down

  1. 1Recipe directive
  2. 2Speck
  3. 3Travel without an itinerary, say
  4. 4"Count me out"
  5. 5Org. for therapists
  6. 6Silly character on the "Sesame Street" segment "Elmo's World"
  7. 7"S.N.L." alum Bryant
  8. 8Free copy of a film sent to awards show voters
  9. 9Perceive
  10. 10"That's very kind of you"
  11. 11Class where you learn how to get a tan?
  12. 12Pimples
  13. 13Fury
  14. 18Cuba, por ejemplo
  15. 19Looks weighed down
  16. 24Pesky biter, informally
  17. 26Patterns
  18. 27Unwise
  19. 28Procedure with frozen eggs, for short
  20. 29No-clothes college gathering
  21. 30"Really, we're still doing this?!"
  22. 31Convenient spot for a pint
  23. 34Orthodontists' offerings
  24. 35Tricksy schemes
  25. 37Cooked rice, in Korean cuisine
  26. 38Ballpoint brand
  27. 41Clarinetist's need
  28. 43Wiener schnitzel meat
  29. 45Snogged
  30. 46Cut into small cubes
  31. 47Coast Guard rank
  32. 52Cops near Alcatraz, for short
  33. 54"Hey! Over here!"
  34. 55Rainbow's shape
  35. 57___ Stroker, Tony Award-winning actress in "Oklahoma!"
  36. 58Low mark
  37. 60Zilch

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Whom you might say "hey" to every day — Answer: SIRI
  2. 5. Collect — Answer: AMASS
  3. 10. Indicator of an important email — Answer: STAR
  4. 14. One of many in a Swiss Army knife — Answer: TOOL
  5. 15. "Name your ___" — Answer: PRICE
  6. 16. Predator in a pod — Answer: ORCA
  7. 17. Salad topping that's actually from America and is rarely consumed in its namesake land — Answer: ITALIANDRESSING
  8. 20. Wheelchair access paths — Answer: RAMPS
  9. 21. Spanish "Listen up!" — Answer: OYE
  10. 22. "Shucks, you're too kind" — Answer: AWGEE
  11. 23. As a P.S. — Answer: ALSO
  12. 25. Sharp quality — Answer: EDGE
  13. 27. "Out of Africa" author actually named Karen Christentze von Blixen-Finecke — Answer: ISAKDINESEN
  14. 30. Knee parts, for short — Answer: ACLS. Hint: These are crucial for stabilizing your movement on the field! 🏃‍♂️
  15. 32. Wee winter workers — Answer: ELVES
  16. 33. It keeps the rain away — Answer: TARP
  17. 36. Shout at a Real Madrid game — Answer: GOL
  18. 37. Kosher barbecue option — Answer: BEEFRIB
  19. 39. Kenan's partner in comedy — Answer: KEL
  20. 40. Where Noah's Ark landed — Answer: ARARAT
  21. 42. Grant — Answer: GIVETO
  22. 44. Observance celebrating a decision actually made on July 2 -- the date when John Adams predicted it would be celebrated — Answer: INDEPENDENCEDAY
  23. 48. "Scream" queen Campbell — Answer: NEVE
  24. 49. Jockey's handful — Answer: REINS
  25. 50. Humans : Homo :: bees : ___ — Answer: APIS
  26. 51. Frees (of) — Answer: RIDS
  27. 53. Includes online, in a way — Answer: CCS
  28. 54. Blueprint — Answer: PLAN
  29. 55. Some high-level H.S. classes — Answer: APS
  30. 56. Aids for minors buying liquor ... or a hint to 17-, 27- and 44-Across — Answer: FAKEIDS
  31. 59. ___ Faire — Answer: REN
  32. 61. Shrub that sounds regretful — Answer: RUE
  33. 62. Telethon contributions — Answer: PLEDGES
  34. 63. Ironman race, familiarly — Answer: TRI
  35. 64. Kind of oil in some edibles — Answer: CBD
  36. 65. "How ___ It End?" (Taylor Swift song) — Answer: DID
  37. 66. Lunch lady's hair holder — Answer: NET
  38. 67. Fancy handbag inits. — Answer: YSL

Down

  1. 1. Recipe directive — Answer: STIR
  2. 2. Speck — Answer: IOTA
  3. 3. Travel without an itinerary, say — Answer: ROAM
  4. 4. "Count me out" — Answer: ILLPASS
  5. 5. Org. for therapists — Answer: APA
  6. 6. Silly character on the "Sesame Street" segment "Elmo's World" — Answer: MRNOODLE
  7. 7. "S.N.L." alum Bryant — Answer: AIDY
  8. 8. Free copy of a film sent to awards show voters — Answer: SCREENER
  9. 9. Perceive — Answer: SEE
  10. 10. "That's very kind of you" — Answer: SOSWEET
  11. 11. Class where you learn how to get a tan? — Answer: TRIG
  12. 12. Pimples — Answer: ACNE
  13. 13. Fury — Answer: RAGE
  14. 18. Cuba, por ejemplo — Answer: ISLA
  15. 19. Looks weighed down — Answer: SAGS
  16. 24. Pesky biter, informally — Answer: SKEETER
  17. 26. Patterns — Answer: DESIGNS
  18. 27. Unwise — Answer: ILLADVISED
  19. 28. Procedure with frozen eggs, for short — Answer: IVF
  20. 29. No-clothes college gathering — Answer: NAKEDPARTY
  21. 30. "Really, we're still doing this?!" — Answer: AGAIN
  22. 31. Convenient spot for a pint — Answer: CORNERPUB
  23. 34. Orthodontists' offerings — Answer: RETAINERS
  24. 35. Tricksy schemes — Answer: PLOYS
  25. 37. Cooked rice, in Korean cuisine — Answer: BAP
  26. 38. Ballpoint brand — Answer: BIC
  27. 41. Clarinetist's need — Answer: REED
  28. 43. Wiener schnitzel meat — Answer: VEAL
  29. 45. Snogged — Answer: NECKED
  30. 46. Cut into small cubes — Answer: DICED
  31. 47. Coast Guard rank — Answer: ENSIGN
  32. 52. Cops near Alcatraz, for short — Answer: SFPD
  33. 54. "Hey! Over here!" — Answer: PSST
  34. 55. Rainbow's shape — Answer: ARC
  35. 57. ___ Stroker, Tony Award-winning actress in "Oklahoma!" — Answer: ALI
  36. 58. Low mark — Answer: DEE
  37. 60. Zilch — Answer: NIL

The answer to “Tricksy schemes” in the New York Times crossword is PLOYS — a 5-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on December 24, 2025, a Wednesday puzzle, at 35-Down. If it's the entry standing between you and a clean grid, that's the word you need — and below you'll find why it fits, plus links to the day's other clues if more than one square is giving you trouble.

“Tricksy schemes” answer

PLOYS (5 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 PLOYS.

Why the answer is PLOYS

PLOYS is the 5-letter solution that fits "Tricksy schemes" in the NYT Crossword crossword on December 24, 2025 (35-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Tricksy schemes” 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 before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.

December 24, 2025 (this puzzle) → PLOYS. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword crossword on December 24, 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 December 24, 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 Wednesday 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 “Tricksy schemes”?

The answer is PLOYS, a 5-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on December 24, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Tricksy schemes”?

5 letters: PLOYS.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on December 24, 2025 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 35-Down.

Can “Tricksy schemes” 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 December 24, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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