The phrase "In vain ... or how to read the answers to 17-, 25-, 49- and 58-Across" is a crossword clue that was recently used in the New York Times Crossword on August 7, 2025. The answer to this clue is the 11-letter word FRUITLESSLY , meaning "in an unproductive manner" or "in vain." This clue reflects the meaning of "in vain" and provides insight on how to interpret certain crossword answers that share this theme in the puzzle.
Regarding how to read and solve crossword puzzles in general, here are some key tips:
- Look for "gimme" clues that are easy to fill in first.
- Use the letters you have filled in to guess more difficult answers.
- Think about common prefixes, suffixes, and English language rules.
- Remember plural clues usually end with "S" and verb tenses match (past tense clues yield past tense answers).
- A question mark in a clue means wordplay is involved.
- Go back and forth between Across and Down clues to help each other.
- Try running through the alphabet if you are stuck on one letter.
- Be aware that foreign words may come with language indicators like (fr.) or (sp.).
- Learn crossword lingo and common short words that appear frequently.
- For cryptic crosswords, clues typically have a definition and wordplay part and might involve anagrams, reversals, containers, etc.
This overall approach helps you decipher clues carefully and fill in the crossword grid successfully. The specific example "in vain" in the puzzle illustrates how definitions and word meaning guide the answers. If you want, I can also explain more details about particular types of clues or strategies for solving crosswords. Let me know!
