13 Down

NYT Daily • July 31, 2025

Some spies

Answer:

PLANTS

Hint:

["**Hint:** They might be undercover in more ways than one.\n\n*(This hint subtly suggests the dual meaning of \"plants\" without giving away the answer—both as vegetation and as covert operatives.)*"]

Explanation:

Certainly! Here's a clear and concise explanation of the clue and answer: **Clue:** "Some spies" **Answer:** "PLANTS" **Explanation:** This clue relies on a double meaning of the word "plants." In one sense, "plants" refers to vegetation, but in espionage terminology, a "plant" is a person secretly placed in an organization to gather information—essentially, a spy. The word "some" hints that the answer is a subset or type of spies, leading to "plants" as the answer. The wordplay here is straightforward but clever, using the dual definition of "plants" to connect the clue to the answer. No additional puns or cultural references are needed—the solution hinges on the espionage-related meaning of the word.

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