39 Across

NYT Daily • August 1, 2025

Sale sign words

Answer:

ORLESS

Hint:

["Here’s a helpful hint for the clue **\"Sale sign words\"** with the answer **\"ORLESS\"**:\n\n*\"Look for a common phrase on price tags, often shortened to fit.\"*\n\nThis hint guides the solver toward thinking about retail abbreviations without directly giving away the answer. It suggests focusing on how phrases are condensed in advertising, which is key to solving the clue."]

Explanation:

The clue **"Sale sign words"** leads to the answer **"ORLESS"** through a combination of wordplay and common retail terminology. 1. **Sale Sign Context**: In retail, sale signs often use abbreviations or shortened phrases to convey discounts. For example, "20% OFF" or "SALE" are common. 2. **"OR LESS"**: The phrase "or less" frequently appears on sale signs to indicate a price range (e.g., "$10 or less"). When written on signs, it is often abbreviated as **"ORLESS"** to save space. 3. **Wordplay**: The clue hints at the words you'd see on a sale sign, and "ORLESS" is a direct, abbreviated form of a common sale sign phrase. Thus, the answer cleverly reflects the shorthand used in retail advertising.

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