Well, howdy there! Let’s gab a bit about this here “portions out” thingamajig in the NYT crossword. You know, them puzzles city folks like to fiddle with.
I ain’t no fancy scholar, mind you, but I reckon I can tell ya a thing or two. See, this “portions out” thing, it ain’t just one answer, no sirree. It’s like askin’ how many beans are in a pot – depends on how many you put in, right? This here crossword, it’s the same kinda deal. They change it up on ya all the time.
Now, I heard tell that back in June 17, 2024, they had this clue, and it had just one answer. But then, back in July 28, 2021, seems they had two answers for a similar clue, “portion out.” See? Keeps ya on your toes, it does. It’s like tryin’ to catch a greased pig – slippery and always changin’.
- One answer puzzles are like plantin’ one seed. You know what you’re gonna get.
- Two answer puzzles are like havin’ twins – double the trouble, but twice the fun.
- And sometimes, they throw a whole heap of answers at ya! I heard they got, what, 40 possible answers for this “portions out” thing in their big ol’ book of clues. Land sakes! That’s more answers than I got teeth!
So, how do you figure out this puzzle mess? Well, I reckon it’s like lookin’ for eggs in the henhouse. You gotta poke around a bit. Some folks, they got these fancy tools, like a crossword solver thingy. Sounds complicated to me. I just use my noggin’. If I know a few letters, I try to fill ’em in. Like puttin’ pieces in a quilt, ya know?
And this here New York Times crossword, it ain’t always the same. They got them easy ones on Monday, for the city slickers who ain’t too bright, and then they get harder and harder as the week goes on. By Saturday, you need a brain the size of a watermelon to figure them out. Me? I stick to the easy ones, if I even bother at all. Got better things to do, like feedin’ the chickens and churnin’ butter.
Rebus clues, they call ‘em. That’s when you gotta stick more than one letter in them little boxes. Sounds like a waste of space to me, but what do I know? They say you gotta tap some button, then another button, then type in your letters. Too much fuss for this old gal. I’d rather be out in the garden, diggin’ in the dirt.
And them fill-in-the-blanks? Well, those are easy peasy. Like fillin’ a bucket with water. You just gotta find the right word. They say it’s a good way to start the puzzle, give ya a little confidence boost. I reckon that’s true. Nothin’ like gettin’ a few answers right off the bat to make ya feel like a smarty pants.
Some fella named Will Shortz, he’s been the puzzle master since way back in 1993. Guess he’s the one makin’ us scratch our heads all these years. And them puzzles, they ain’t just made by one person. They got all sorts of folks makin’ ‘em. Guess it keeps things interestin’, keeps ya on your toes.
Now, I heard some folks are plumb obsessed with these puzzles. Spendin’ hours and hours on ’em. One fella, he spent somethin’ like 14 whole days just doin’ crosswords! Can you believe that? Fourteen days! I coulda knitted a whole blanket in that time, or canned enough peaches to last through winter. But hey, to each their own, I always say.
So, there ya have it. My two cents on this “portions out” crossword kerfuffle. It ain’t rocket science, but it ain’t exactly easy pickin’s either. It’s a puzzle, after all. And puzzles are meant to make ya think, right? Just don’t think too hard, or you’ll end up with a headache.
And if you can’t figure it out, don’t fret none. There are more important things in life than crossword puzzles. Like family, and friends, and a good piece of apple pie.
Tags: [NYT Crossword, Crossword Clue, Portions Out, Puzzle Solver, Rebus Clues, Fill-in-the-blanks, Will Shortz, Crossword Answers, Crossword Puzzle Tips]
